Architect Salary in United States

Architect pay in United States: Washington DC leads, San Antonio trails

The United States national median for a architect is $114,000 a year. Among 9 metros with observed data, pay runs from about $89,500 in San Antonio to $143,000 in Washington DC (1.6×).

Architects design buildings and spaces that balance function, safety, and aesthetics. Common screening skills include Design, CAD, Codes, and Project mgmt.

A modeled national band runs about $73,000–$164,200 around that midpoint. Many top cash roles in the United States still run through employer sponsorship and specialty licensing. Employment outlook for the occupation is sketched at +5% over a decade — a national demand guess, not a hiring guarantee in every American city.

Washington DC sits +25% vs the national median; San Antonio sits -21%. Relocating inside United States for this title can move cash more than a small raise at the same desk. Open a city page for take-home and rent context — this national page is the map, not the offer.

United States shows about 2.9% CPI in 2024. A architect raise that trails inflation is a real-pay cut even if it still beats last year’s peers. This occupation is also covered in 39 other countries — useful for remote or relocation shortlists, after FX and local tax. Nearby creative titles on this site include Graphic Designer, Copywriter, Video Editor, and Photographer.