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Architect salary in California

Updated October 30, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Published by Humblebee.

$108,540median pay per year in California, or $52.19 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $75,640lowest 10% earn less
  2. $85,99025th percentile
  3. $108,540median
  4. $152,43075th percentile
  5. $171,160top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[2]US median for this job, $99,280[3]

The median pay for architects in California was $108,540 a year in May 2025[1]. That was $9,260 higher than the US median for architects[6].

Jobs in CA
13,270[4]
Rank by median pay
5 of 51[5]
Compared with US median
+9.3%[6]

How much do architects make in California?

Half of architects in California earned more than $108,540 a year, and half earned less[1]. That works out to $52.19 an hour[1]. The average was higher at $121,910[7]. Across the US, the median for architects was $99,280[3], so California was 9.3% above it[6]. It also sat $50,300 above the median for all jobs in the state, which was $58,240[8][9].

The lowest-paid 10% of architects in California earned less than $75,640[2]. The top 10% earned more than $171,160[2]. The middle half of the pay range ran from $85,990 to $152,430[2].

By metro area, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara had the highest median at $129,640[10]. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont had 3,780 jobs with a median of $126,550, and Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim had 4,870 jobs with a median of $104,170[11]. OEWS counts wage and salary workers only. It leaves out the self-employed and does not include bonuses or the cost of benefits[12].

California vs US pay

Pay for architects in California next to the national figures[1][3].

CAUS
Median per year$108,540[1]$99,280[3]
Median per hour$52.19[1]$47.73[3]
Lowest 10% earn less than$75,640[2]$62,300[13]
Top 10% earn more than$171,160[2]$161,420[13]
Jobs13,270[4]106,770[3]

Pay by metro area in California

Metro areas in California with the most jobs for architects, and the median pay in each[11].

Metro areaMedian per yearJobs
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA[11]$104,1704,870
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$126,5503,780
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$120,0401,280
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$129,640660
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$125,980640
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA$100,460410
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA$103,820220
Fresno, CA$100,360180

Pay in nearby states

Median pay for architects in the states that border California, highest first[14].

StateMedian per yearJobs
Arizona[14]$102,0001,550
Nevada$101,570530
Oregon$98,8002,050

Median pay for architects in every state

Job outlook and training

Across the US, jobs for architects are projected to grow 4.3% from 2025 to 2035[15]. BLS does not publish this projection by state. The typical education for entry is: bachelor's degree[16].

How to become one: steps, training and duties

Frequently asked questions

How much does an architect make in California?
The median pay for architects in California was $108,540 a year in May 2025[1]. The average was $121,910[7].
How much does an architect make an hour in California?
The median hourly wage for architects in California was $52.19[1]. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $36.37 an hour[17][2]. The 90th percentile was $82.29 an hour[17].
Which city in California pays architects the most?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara had the highest median for architects, at $129,640 a year[10]. It was the top of 18 metro areas in or partly in California with a published median[10].
Is California a good state for architects?
California had the 5th highest median annual wage for architects out of the 50 states and DC with a published median[5]. Its median of $108,540 was above the US median of $99,280[6].
What do you need to become an architect in California?
Across the US, the typical entry path is a bachelor's degree, no related work experience, and an internship or residency[16]. This is a US figure, not a California one.

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Architects, Except Landscape and Naval in California was $108,540 per year and $52.19 per hour. Half of these workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Architects, Except Landscape and Naval in California: 10th percentile $75,640, 25th percentile $85,990, 75th percentile $152,430, 90th percentile $171,160. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less, the 90th means 10% earned more. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Architects, Except Landscape and Naval in the US as a whole was $99,280 per year and $47.73 per hour, with about 106,770 jobs nationwide. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 13,270 people worked as Architects, Except Landscape and Naval in California (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: California had the 5th highest median annual wage for Architects, Except Landscape and Naval out of the 50 states and DC with a published median. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Architects, Except Landscape and Naval in California ($108,540) was $9,260 (9.3%) higher than the US median ($99,280). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Architects, Except Landscape and Naval in California was $121,910 per year and $58.61 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Architects, Except Landscape and Naval in California was $50,300 higher than the median for all occupations in the state ($58,240). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in California was $58,240. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025: of the 18 metro areas in or partly in California with a published median for Architects, Except Landscape and Naval, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA had the highest median annual wage, $129,640. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. Metro areas with the most jobs in this occupation, with median annual wage, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Architects, Except Landscape and Naval in the US: 10th percentile $62,300, 25th percentile $77,960, 75th percentile $126,550, 90th percentile $161,420. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, median annual wage for Architects, Except Landscape and Naval in states that border California (highest first): Arizona $102,000; Nevada $101,570; Oregon $98,800. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state): employment of Architects, Except Landscape and Naval is projected to grow 4.3% nationwide from 2025 to 2035, with about 6,900 openings a year on average. All occupations are projected to grow 3.5%. BLS Employment Projections
  16. BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state), typical path into Architects, Except Landscape and Naval: education needed for entry: Bachelor's degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Internship/residency. BLS Employment Projections
  17. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Architects, Except Landscape and Naval in California: 10th percentile $36.37, 25th percentile $41.34, 75th percentile $73.28, 90th percentile $82.29. BLS OEWS, May 2025

State figures cover only California. Job outlook and entry requirements are national (US) figures: BLS does not publish them by state in our sources. Figures labelled “CareerFacts calculation” are simple differences between the BLS numbers shown.