Architects Pay Range in California
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$75,640
- 25th Percentile — Junior$85,990
- 50th Percentile — Median$108,540
- 75th Percentile — Senior$152,430
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$171,160
Half of Architects in California earn more than $108,540. The top 10% make $171,160 or more, while entry-level workers start around $75,640.
Architects in California: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- California ranks 1st of 51 states for Architects pay, at $121,910 per year (14.7% above the U.S. average of $106,260).
- 13,270 people work as Architects in California — 12.4% of all U.S. Architects jobs.
- Location quotient 1.06: Architects jobs are more concentrated in California than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $75,640; the top 10% earn over $171,160.
- Hourly equivalent: $58.61 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- Among engineering jobs in California, Computer Hardware Engineers pays the most ($190,590).
Architects Job Market in California
Key factors affecting compensation
California's key industries are Technology, Entertainment, Agriculture, and its job market is rated very strong. Architects here earn $121,910 on average, placing the state 1st nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 1.42 (U.S. = 1.00), a California salary of $121,910 is roughly equivalent to $85,852 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Maryland ($119,770), Massachusetts ($119,100), Wyoming ($118,920) are the closest alternatives for Architects weighing a move.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Other Engineering Jobs in California
Related career salary benchmarks
- Computer Hardware Engineers $190,590/yr California +56.3% vs this role
- Nuclear Engineers $160,980/yr California +32.0% vs this role
- Aerospace Engineers $159,960/yr California +31.2% vs this role
- Electrical Engineers $151,180/yr California +24.0% vs this role
- Petroleum Engineers $147,940/yr California +21.4% vs this role
- Engineers All Other $139,670/yr California +14.6% vs this role
- Mechanical Engineers $136,660/yr California +12.1% vs this role
- Biomedical Engineers $132,400/yr California +8.6% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Architects salary in California?
The average Architects salary in California is $121,910 per year (median $108,540), which is 14.7% above the national average of $106,260.
How does California rank for Architects pay?
California ranks 1st out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is California ($121,910/yr).
How much do entry-level Architects make in California?
The lowest-paid 10% of Architects in California earn about $75,640 per year and the 25th percentile is $85,990.
How much do Architects make per hour in California?
About $58.61 per hour, based on the $121,910 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Architects work in California?
BLS counts 13,270 Architects jobs in California (OEWS May 2025).
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