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Architect salary in United States

How much does an Architect make in the United States?

Average base salary

$113,723
Average $113,723
Low $60,630
High $213,308

The average salary for a architect is $113,723 per year in the United States. 2.2k salaries taken from job postings on Indeed in the past 36 months (updated August 9, 2026).

What Does an Architect Do?

Architects design plans for homes, offices and other types of structures. They can design buildings in both indoor and outdoor spaces, working on private projects or public jobs on behalf of government agencies. They’re tasked with translating the client’s ideas into a three-dimensional construction that will meet all of the project’s specifications. An architect’s plans include all elements of the building, including heating, venting and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems, electrical wiring, door and window placement, appliance placement and more. An architect’s responsibilities include:
  • Meeting with clients and assessing the project’s purpose, requirements, budget and other client needs.
  • Providing cost estimates, approximate timelines and services such as site selection and environmental impact studies to gauge the sustainability of the project.
  • Developing construction plans, which include scaled drawings and structure specifications using computer-aided design and drafting, building information modeling or hand drawings
  • Drafting construction documents and negotiating contracts
  • Creating construction drawings and renderings to illustrate the building design and construction process
  • Assisting clients as they collect construction bids and choose contractors
  • Visiting construction sites to make sure contractors are following the architectural plans accurately
Learn more about what an Architect does

Architect job openings in United States

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Architect
HDR3.8out of 5 stars.
Philadelphia, PA
Full-time
15 hours ago

Highest paying companies for Architect in United States

Average year pay is based on job postings on Indeed in the past 36 months.
Rohadfox Corporation
 
$353,600per year
View company
Workday
 
$339,500per year
ByteDance
 
$312,520per year
Ohio State University Physicia...
 
$300,000per year
Capital One
 
$294,200per year
Open Systems Technologies, Inc...
 
$291,200per year

Hiring an Architect?

Hiring Guide
Hiring GuideLearn how to hire an Architect
Interview Questions
Interview QuestionsQuestions to ask Architect candidates
Job Description
Job DescriptionWrite an Architect job description

Highest paying cities for Architects near United States

  1. San Francisco, CA
    $152,306 per year
  2. Washington, DC
    $148,626 per year
  3. Los Angeles, CA
    $125,004 per year
  4. Denver, CO
    $121,392 per year
  5. Dallas, TX
    $115,251 per year

Where can an Architect earn more?

Compare salaries for Architects in different locations
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Architect

How much do similar professions as Architect get paid in United States?

Architect II

Job openings
Average $92,572 per year