How Much Do Architects Make in 2026? (Salary by Specialty)

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Architects in the US earn $93,310 on average — but firm principals and specialty architects can earn $150,000-$300,000+.

Average Architect Salary in 2026

Metric Amount
Average salary $93,310
Median salary $82,840
Entry level (unlicensed) $55,000-$70,000
Licensed architect $80,000-$120,000
Senior/Project architect $100,000-$150,000
Principal/Partner $150,000-$300,000+
Hourly rate $44.86

Architect Salary by Position

Position Salary Range License Required
Intern Architect $50,000-$65,000 No
Junior Architect $55,000-$75,000 Pursuing
Architect (licensed) $75,000-$100,000 Yes
Project Architect $90,000-$130,000 Yes
Project Manager $100,000-$150,000 Usually
Senior Architect $110,000-$160,000 Yes
Associate Principal $130,000-$180,000 Yes
Principal/Partner $150,000-$350,000+ Yes

Architect Salary by Specialty

Specialty Average Salary Notes
Healthcare Architecture $105,000-$140,000 Complex specialization
Data Center Architecture $100,000-$150,000 High demand
Commercial/Corporate $95,000-$130,000 Large projects
Sustainable/LEED $90,000-$125,000 Growing field
Residential (high-end) $90,000-$130,000 Custom homes
Hospitality $85,000-$115,000 Hotels, restaurants
Educational $80,000-$110,000 Schools, universities
Residential (standard) $70,000-$95,000 Most common

Architect Salary by Firm Type

Firm Type Average Salary Notes
Large firms (500+ employees) $95,000-$130,000 Starchitect firms
Mid-size firms (50-500) $80,000-$115,000 Balanced
Small firms (10-50) $70,000-$100,000 Varied
Solo/Small practice $60,000-$150,000+ Self-employed
Corporate in-house $90,000-$130,000 Tech, retail
Government $80,000-$110,000 Benefits, stability

Architect Salary by State

State Average Salary vs. National
California $111,590 +20%
New York $109,720 +18%
Massachusetts $105,350 +13%
New Jersey $103,800 +11%
Connecticut $99,400 +7%
Texas $95,700 +3%
Washington $94,200 +1%
Colorado $92,100 -1%
Illinois $91,400 -2%
Florida $85,300 -9%
Ohio $79,100 -15%
Career Average Salary Education
Software Architect $130,000-$200,000 CS degree
Civil Engineer $95,890 Bachelor’s
Architect $93,310 5-year B.Arch
Interior Designer $61,590 Bachelor’s
Urban Planner $79,540 Master’s
Landscape Architect $73,210 Bachelor’s

Path to Licensed Architect

Step Duration Cost
Bachelor of Architecture 5 years $100,000-$250,000
OR Master’s (after non-arch degree) 3 years $60,000-$150,000
AXP (experience hours) 2-3 years Paid employment
ARE exams (6 divisions) 1-3 years $1,500-$2,000
Total time 8-14 years —
Average debt — $80,000-$150,000

Architecture has one of the longest professional paths to licensure.

Architect Salary by Experience

Experience Salary Range
0-2 years $55,000-$70,000
2-5 years $65,000-$85,000
5-10 years $85,000-$115,000
10-15 years $105,000-$145,000
15+ years $120,000-$200,000+

Licensure typically occurs around years 5-8, triggering salary jump.

Architect Salary After Taxes

Gross Salary Federal Tax FICA State Tax Take-Home
$70,000 $6,800 $5,355 $2,800 $55,045
$93,310 $10,600 $7,138 $3,730 $71,842
$120,000 $17,500 $9,180 $4,800 $88,520
$180,000 $35,000 $11,773 $9,000 $124,227

Firm Principal/Owner Income

Architecture firm owners’ income varies significantly:

Firm Size Principal Income Notes
Solo practice $80,000-$150,000 Depends on projects
Small firm (5-10) $120,000-$200,000 + profit share
Mid-size partner $150,000-$300,000 Equity significant
Large firm principal $200,000-$500,000+ Starchitect firms

Principals also have significant business expenses and risk.

“Star Architects” and Celebrity Pay

Architect Estimated Fee Notes
Bjarke Ingels (BIG) 8-12% of budget $10M+ projects
Zaha Hadid Architects 8-15% of budget Iconic designs
Foster + Partners 8-12% of budget Global practice
Top solo practitioners 10-20% of budget Luxury residential

Top architects charge percentage of construction, making $500,000-$10M+ on major projects.

Job Outlook

Metric Value
Job growth (2022-2032) 5% (average)
Annual openings ~8,200
Competition High
Demand drivers Construction, sustainability

Competition for positions at top firms remains intense.

Is Architecture a Good Career?

Pros:

  • Creative, design-focused work
  • See built projects in the world
  • Respected profession
  • Variety of project types
  • Path to firm ownership

Cons:

  • Long education (8-14 years to license)
  • Lower starting pay vs. debt
  • High competition
  • Long hours (especially early career)
  • Project-based stress

How to Maximize Architect Salary

  1. Specialize — Healthcare, data center pay premiums
  2. Large firm experience — Higher pay, complex projects
  3. Get licensed quickly — Enables salary jumps
  4. Move to high-paying markets — NYC, SF, Boston
  5. Become a principal — Equity and profit sharing
  6. Tech/corporate in-house — Above-market salaries

Bottom Line

Architects earn $93,310 average, with principals and specialists earning $150,000-$300,000+. The profession requires 8-14 years to full licensure, creating a long path to higher earnings. Architecture offers creative fulfillment but lower financial returns compared to comparable education investments. Those who become firm principals or develop specializations see the strongest income growth.

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