Architects Pay Range in District of Columbia
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$75,900
- 25th Percentile — Junior$78,110
- 50th Percentile — Median$102,040
- 75th Percentile — Senior$130,200
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$163,440
Half of Architects in District of Columbia earn more than $102,040. The top 10% make $163,440 or more, while entry-level workers start around $75,900.
Architects in District of Columbia: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- District of Columbia ranks 7th of 51 states for Architects pay, at $113,890 per year (7.2% above the U.S. average of $106,260).
- 1,700 people work as Architects in District of Columbia — 1.6% of all U.S. Architects jobs.
- Location quotient 3.52: Architects jobs are more concentrated in District of Columbia than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $75,900; the top 10% earn over $163,440.
- Hourly equivalent: $54.75 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is California at $121,910.
- Among engineering jobs in District of Columbia, Nuclear Engineers pays the most ($180,480).
Architects Job Market in District of Columbia
Key factors affecting compensation
District of Columbia's key industries are Government, Finance, Technology, and its job market is rated very strong. Architects here earn $113,890 on average, placing the state 7th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 1.52 (U.S. = 1.00), a District of Columbia salary of $113,890 is roughly equivalent to $74,928 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Massachusetts ($119,100), Wyoming ($118,920), New Jersey ($118,250) 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 District of Columbia
Related career salary benchmarks
- Nuclear Engineers $180,480/yr District of Columbia +58.5% vs this role
- Computer Hardware Engineers $162,180/yr District of Columbia +42.4% vs this role
- Marine Engineers and Naval Architects $156,300/yr District of Columbia +37.2% vs this role
- Aerospace Engineers $154,410/yr District of Columbia +35.6% vs this role
- Engineers All Other $146,600/yr District of Columbia +28.7% vs this role
- Electrical Engineers $142,760/yr District of Columbia +25.3% vs this role
- Mechanical Engineers $138,500/yr District of Columbia +21.6% vs this role
- Civil Engineers $115,810/yr District of Columbia +1.7% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Architects salary in District of Columbia?
The average Architects salary in District of Columbia is $113,890 per year (median $102,040), which is 7.2% above the national average of $106,260.
How does District of Columbia rank for Architects pay?
District of Columbia ranks 7th out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is California ($121,910/yr).
How much do entry-level Architects make in District of Columbia?
The lowest-paid 10% of Architects in District of Columbia earn about $75,900 per year and the 25th percentile is $78,110.
How much do Architects make per hour in District of Columbia?
About $54.75 per hour, based on the $113,890 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Architects work in District of Columbia?
BLS counts 1,700 Architects jobs in District of Columbia (OEWS May 2025).
Related Salary Pages
Explore more salary data