BLS Official Data · OEWS May 2025

Architectural and Engineering Managers Salary in the United States (2026)

Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data · 220,260 jobs nationwide · High Demand

$181,540 / year · average (mean) annual wage
$87.28 per hour
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Dataset: OEWS May 2025 Published: May 2026 Coverage: All 50 States + DC
Average$181,540per year
Median$171,270per year
Hourly$87.28per hour
10th – 90th percentile$120,810 – $262,760per year

Salary Range & Percentiles

Pay distribution across experience levels

  • 10th Percentile — Entry Level$120,810
  • 25th Percentile — Junior$139,360
  • 50th Percentile — Median$171,270
  • 75th Percentile — Senior$212,500
  • 90th Percentile — Top Earners$262,760

The top 10% of Architectural and Engineering Managers earn $262,760 or more per year. Entry-level professionals can expect to start around $120,810, with significant growth over the first 5 years.

Salary by State

Geographic salary comparison

StateAvg Salaryvs National
New Mexico $215,540 +18.7%
California $213,110 +17.4%
Massachusetts $203,040 +11.8%
Washington $200,030 +10.2%
Colorado $197,840 +9.0%
New Jersey $193,220 +6.4%
New York $188,270 +3.7%
Texas $187,520 +3.3%
New Hampshire $185,980 +2.4%
District of Columbia $185,230 +2.0%
Oregon $185,070 +1.9%
Virginia $184,530 +1.6%
Rhode Island $183,910 +1.3%
Delaware $180,960 -0.3%
Arizona $180,870 -0.4%
Connecticut $180,190 -0.7%
Minnesota $180,050 -0.8%
Florida $178,010 -1.9%
Maryland $175,740 -3.2%
Alaska $174,190 -4.0%
North Carolina $173,390 -4.5%
South Carolina $173,140 -4.6%
Illinois $170,480 -6.1%
Nevada $170,190 -6.3%
Ohio $170,090 -6.3%
Pennsylvania $167,960 -7.5%
Michigan $167,660 -7.6%
Tennessee $167,280 -7.9%
Alabama $167,150 -7.9%
Kansas $166,850 -8.1%
Louisiana $166,850 -8.1%
Wyoming $166,490 -8.3%
South Dakota $166,030 -8.5%
Utah $165,940 -8.6%
Idaho $164,770 -9.2%
Oklahoma $163,900 -9.7%
Vermont $163,210 -10.1%
Georgia $163,150 -10.1%
Missouri $161,140 -11.2%
Indiana $158,930 -12.5%
North Dakota $156,360 -13.9%
West Virginia $154,690 -14.8%
Maine $154,620 -14.8%
Nebraska $154,310 -15.0%
Hawaii $153,240 -15.6%
Montana $153,170 -15.6%
Iowa $153,060 -15.7%
Wisconsin $152,620 -15.9%
Kentucky $151,880 -16.3%
Arkansas $148,470 -18.2%
Mississippi $147,070 -19.0%

What Factors Affect Architectural and Engineering Managers Salary?

Key factors affecting compensation

Pay for Architectural and Engineering Managers is influenced by geographic location, years of experience, employer type, and educational background. Location alone is a large factor: New Mexico pays an average of $215,540, while Mississippi pays $147,070 — a gap of $68,470 per year.

Experience plays a major role in compensation. Entry-level Architectural and Engineering Managers typically earn $120,810–$139,360 per year, while senior professionals with 10+ years of experience can command $212,500–$262,760 annually. Specialization and advanced certifications can further boost earning potential.

Employer size also matters. Large corporations and government agencies tend to offer more competitive packages including benefits, retirement plans, and bonuses. The Architectural and Engineering Managers role currently has high demand in the job market with a 3.5% growth rate, making it one of the steadily growing careers in the Management sector.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025

Related career salary benchmarks

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about this salary

What is the average salary for Architectural and Engineering Managers?

The average salary for Architectural and Engineering Managers in the United States is $181,540 per year, with a median of $171,270.

What is the starting salary for Architectural and Engineering Managers?

Entry-level Architectural and Engineering Managers typically earn between $120,810 and $139,360 per year depending on location and employer.

What state pays Architectural and Engineering Managers the most?

New Mexico pays Architectural and Engineering Managers the most at $215,540 per year on average, followed by California ($213,110) and Massachusetts ($203,040).

How much do Architectural and Engineering Managers make per hour?

Based on the average annual salary of $181,540, Architectural and Engineering Managers earn approximately $87.28 per hour (based on 2,080 working hours/year).

Is Architectural and Engineering Managers a good career in 2026?

BLS counts 220,260 Architectural and Engineering Managers jobs in the United States, with a mean annual wage of $181,540 and a median of $171,270 (OEWS May 2025). This site does not publish job-growth projections; the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook covers the outlook for each occupation.

Explore more salary data