Architect Salary: How Much Do Architects Make?
How much do architects make? See current architect salary data, entry-level pay, six-figure potential, and how experience and firm ownership affect earnings.
Architect salary in the U.S. averages about $106,260 per year, while pay can range from roughly $47,000 for some entry-level roles to well over $150,000 for experienced architects and firm leaders. The biggest factors are experience, location, specialization, and whether you work for a firm or own your own practice.
Architect Rob Dupont, who has spent decades in the profession, puts it simply: architecture can be poorly paid at the beginning, but it can become lucrative if you stay with it and build your own client base. Listen to the full interview →
According to the latest U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) wage data, architects, except landscape and naval architects, earned an average annual wage of $106,260 in May 2025. The average hourly wage was about $51.09.
The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook reports that in 2024, the median architect salary was $96,690, with the lowest 10% earning under $60,510 and the highest 10% earning more than $159,800.
| Career Level | Approximate Salary |
| Entry-level architect | $47,000–$76,000 |
| Average architect | About $106,000 |
| Experienced architect | $100,000–$150,000+ |
| Top 10% of architects | $159,800+ |
| Firm partner /owner | Six figures and potentially higher |
Entry-level pay varies widely. Indeed currently reports an average of about $75,828 per year for entry-level architects in the U.S., while Salary.com reports an average closer to $61,459.
Starting salaries can be much lower than many students expect after completing years of architecture education. In our interview, Rob Dupont contacted a partner at a Boston-area architecture firm to ask what younger architects were earning. He was told students still in school were making around $20 an hour, while recent graduates were earning about $25 an hour.
Current national salary sites show higher averages for jobs labeled “entry-level architect,” generally ranging from roughly $47,000 to $76,000, depending heavily on location and employer.
That difference is important: architecture pay can vary dramatically depending on whether you are still completing required experience, working as an architectural designer, or already licensed.
Yes. The current national average for architects is already above $100,000, and the highest-paid architects can earn well above $150,000. Rob says one experienced architect he knows who became a partner in a firm earns six figures. He also stresses that owning your own architecture firm can make a major difference in earning potential.
Several factors can make a major difference in what an architect earns.
Experience: Early-career architects usually earn significantly less than architects who have built a reputation and client base.
Location: Architects in expensive markets such as New York, Boston, Los Angeles, and other major metropolitan areas often earn more, although their cost of living is also higher.
Specialization: Architects who specialize in complex projects such as hospitals, schools, sports facilities, commercial buildings, or building-envelope work may command higher salaries.
Licensing: Becoming a licensed architect generally increases career opportunities and earning potential.
Firm ownership: Architects who build their own practices can potentially earn more because they control their fees, projects, and client relationships.
Specialized architecture firms can become especially profitable because they develop expertise and efficiency in a particular type of project.
Becoming a licensed architect generally requires three major steps:
The Bureau of Labor Statistics identifies these as the typical steps to becoming a licensed architect. That long training period is one reason people considering architecture should compare both the education required and the starting salary before choosing the profession.
Often, yes. The BLS notes that many architects work additional hours when deadlines approach.
Rob says he and several longtime architect friends regularly work 50 to 60 hours per week. Earlier in his career, he sometimes worked six or even seven days a week. For someone comparing architecture with other careers, salary alone does not tell the whole story. Workload, training time, deadlines, and responsibility also matter.
Architecture can become a strong-paying career, but it is generally not a fast route to high income. The profession offers:
But there are also tradeoffs:
It is not a sprint. It’s a marathon. Building connections, doing consistently good work, and developing a reputation can eventually lead to higher-paying opportunities.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment of architects to grow 4% from 2024 to 2034, about as fast as the average for all occupations. Approximately 7,800 architect openings per year are projected over that period, including openings created when workers retire or move into other careers.
AI is beginning to change how architects work, but it has not eliminated the profession. Clients already bring AI-generated renderings to architects, showing how they might like to change a house. Those tools are helpful because they allow clients to communicate ideas more clearly. Rob compares AI to the introduction of computer-aided design. Architects once drafted almost everything by hand; digital tools automated much of that work without eliminating architects themselves.
AI may change certain tasks and staffing needs, but architecture still requires understanding construction, regulations, structural systems, clients, budgets, and real-world building conditions.
What is the average architect salary in the U.S.?
The latest BLS wage data shows an average annual architect salary of about $106,260 for architects excluding landscape and naval architects.
What is the median architect salary?
The BLS reported a median annual wage of $96,690 in May 2024.
How much do entry-level architects make?
Current estimates vary. Salary.com reports about $61,459, while Indeed reports an average around $75,828 for entry-level architect positions.
Can architects make more than $100,000?
Yes. The national average is already above $100,000, and experienced architects, partners, specialists, and firm owners can earn considerably more.
What is the highest architect salary?
The BLS reports that the highest 10% of architects earned more than $159,800 per year in 2024.
Does owning an architecture firm pay more?
It can. Firm owners have the opportunity to generate their own projects and control their fees rather than relying entirely on an employee salary. Rob Dupont says owning his own firm made a major difference in his earning potential.
Is becoming an architect worth it?
For someone who enjoys design, construction, problem-solving, and working with clients, architecture can become a rewarding and well-paying career. But because the training is lengthy and starting salaries can be modest, Rob’s advice is to choose architecture because you genuinely love the work.
Hear What the Career Is Really Like
Listen to architect Rob Dupont explain what architecture is really like—from school and licensing to finding clients, working 50–60 hour weeks, building your own practice, and reaching six-figure earning potential. Listen to the Architect Career episode →