verified BLS-Verified Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) May 2025 release

Architect Salary in California

Median Annual in California
$108,540/yr
Median Hourly Wage
$52.19/hr
▲ 9% above U.S. median

Salary Distribution in California

groups Employed in CA
13,270
public U.S. Median
$99,280
savings Real pay (cost-adjusted)
$98,031 #30 of 51

Architect pay in California, explained

Architects in California earn a median of $108,540 per year ($52.19 per hour), which is 9% above the national median of $99,280. Entry-level workers earn around $75,640, while the most experienced architects reach about $171,160. Pay varies by employer, setting, and metro area within California.

Is $108,540 good pay in California?

Adjusted for California's cost of living (which runs 111% of the U.S. average), that $108,540 is worth about $98,031 in national buying power — ranking California #30 for real pay (vs #5 on the sticker number).

See the full Architect Real Pay Index arrow_forward

Architect pay by experience in California

Entry level (10th pct)
$75,640
$36.37/hr
Median
Mid-career (50th pct)
$108,540
$52.19/hr
Experienced (90th pct)
$171,160
$82.29/hr

Architect pay in neighboring states

StateMedian / yrReal payvs CA
California (here) $108,540 $98,031
Arizona $102,000 $101,314 +$6,540
Nevada $101,570 $101,591 +$6,970
Oregon $98,800 $95,587 +$9,740

Architect in California: FAQ

How much do architects make in California?

Architects in California earn a median of $108,540 per year ($52.19 per hour), compared with $99,280 nationally.

Does California pay architects well?

At $108,540, California pays 9% above the national median for architects. An estimated 13,270 work in the state.

Architect salary in other states

All 51 states ranked arrow_forward

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