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Architecture professor: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 28, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$96,870median pay per year, May 2025[1]
  1. $58,430lowest 10% earn less
  2. $74,97025th percentile
  3. $96,870median
  4. $128,51075th percentile
  5. $159,030top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[3]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[4]

An architecture professor, which BLS calls an architecture teacher at the postsecondary level, had a median pay of $96,870 a year in May 2025[1]. BLS projects 2.6% job growth from 2025 to 2035[2].

Job growth, 2025–35
+2.6%[2]
Openings per year
700[5]
Typical entry education
Doctoral or professional degree[6]

How much do architecture professors make?

The median pay for postsecondary architecture teachers was $96,870 a year in May 2025[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less[1]. The average was $101,250[7]. For comparison, the median for all occupations was $50,980[4]. BLS publishes only annual wages for this job, not hourly wages[8].

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $58,430 a year, and the lowest-paid 25% earned less than $74,970[3]. The highest-paid 25% earned more than $128,510, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $159,030[3]. A percentile is a boundary, and BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[9].

The figures cover wage and salary workers. They leave out the self-employed and do not include benefits or nonproduction bonuses[10]. About 7,700 people held these jobs in May 2025[11].

Pay by state and city

New York had the highest median at $126,430, followed by Connecticut at $122,880 and Virginia at $105,940[12]. New Mexico had the lowest of the 33 states and DC with published data, at $69,820[12].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, College Station-Bryan, TX had the highest median at $128,670, then New York-Newark-Jersey City at $123,760 and Boston-Cambridge-Newton at $121,660[13].

The most jobs were in New York (1,460), Texas (770), California (530), Pennsylvania (440) and Massachusetts (430)[14]. The New York metro area alone had 1,460 jobs, and the Boston metro area had 320[15].

Show median pay in 33 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
New York[12]$126,4301,460
Connecticut$122,880n/a
Virginia$105,940230
Illinois$104,580230
California$103,520530
Massachusetts$102,920430
Maryland$102,24050
Utah$102,18050
Pennsylvania$101,740440
Texas$101,040770
Michigan$100,700190
Minnesota$95,560120
Rhode Island$92,010100
North Carolina$86,850150
Kansas$85,970140
District of Columbia$84,950n/a
Indiana$84,040160
New Jersey$83,620330
Louisiana$83,000140
Washington$81,950100
Oklahoma$81,80050
Alabama$80,770120
Oregon$80,640250
Colorado$80,530110
Wisconsin$79,98050
Ohio$79,520290
Tennessee$79,17080
Iowa$79,10080
Florida$78,960n/a
Mississippi$77,93060
Montana$77,63060
Nebraska$77,54060
South Carolina$76,90090
New Mexico$69,82040

How to become an architecture professor

BLS lists a doctoral or professional degree as the typical education for entry. It lists no related work experience and no on-the-job training[6]. Training details below come from a BLS profile that covers a wider group of postsecondary teachers, not only architecture[16].

Community colleges may hire people with a master's degree, though some prefer a Ph.D.[20]. For some specialties or part-time posts, schools may hire a master's holder or a doctoral candidate[17].

In an O*NET survey of 20 workers, 45% said a doctoral degree is required, 20% a first professional degree, 14% a bachelor's and 10% a master's[21]. That is a small survey, so treat it as a rough picture.

Teachers with a doctorate often seek tenure, which can take up to 7 years[22].

What architecture professors do

They teach courses in architecture and architectural design, including interior architecture and landscape architecture. Some mainly teach, and others split time between teaching and research[23]. Tasks listed by O*NET include:

Workers report titles such as assistant professor, associate professor and adjunct professor[25].

Where they work and when

This section draws on the wider postsecondary teacher profile[16]. State-run colleges, universities and professional schools were the largest employer of postsecondary teachers in 2025, at 41%[26]. Most postsecondary teachers work full time, though part-time work is common[27]. Classes are generally held during the day, with some in evenings or on weekends[28]. Schedules are generally flexible outside class time and office hours[29]. Balancing teaching with research and publication can be stressful, especially for beginning teachers seeking advancement[30].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment of postsecondary architecture teachers to grow 2.6% from 2025 to 2035, from about 9,700 to 10,000 jobs, a gain of 300[2]. Employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5%[31]. The projection counts include self-employed workers[2].

BLS expects about 700 openings a year on average[5]. Openings include jobs vacated by people who retire or switch occupations, as well as new jobs[5]. Each year, 3.5% of workers are projected to leave the labor force and 3% to move to a different occupation[32].

Is it a good fit?

The pay is well above the all-occupation median[1][4]. The path is long, since the typical entry education is a doctoral or professional degree[6]. Growth of 2.6% is slightly below the 3.5% for all occupations, and the field is small[2][31][11]. The schedule is flexible, but balancing teaching and research can be stressful[29][30].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[33].

Frequently asked questions

How much does an architecture professor make?
The median was $96,870 a year in May 2025, and the average was $101,250[1][7].
What degree do you need to be an architecture professor?
BLS lists a doctoral or professional degree as the typical entry education[6].
Is architecture professor a growing job?
BLS projects 2.6% growth from 2025 to 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations, and about 700 openings a year[2][31][5].
Which state pays architecture professors the most?
New York had the highest median at $126,430, then Connecticut at $122,880[12].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Architecture Teachers, Postsecondary in the US was $96,870 per year. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Architecture Teachers, Postsecondary is projected to grow 2.6% from 2025 to 2035, from about 9,700 to 10,000 jobs (a change of +300). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Architecture Teachers, Postsecondary: 10th percentile $58,430, 25th percentile $74,970, 75th percentile $128,510, 90th percentile $159,030. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS Employment Projections: about 700 openings for Architecture Teachers, Postsecondary are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  6. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Architecture Teachers, Postsecondary: education needed for entry: Doctoral or professional degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Architecture Teachers, Postsecondary was $101,250 per year. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS publishes only annual wages for Architecture Teachers, Postsecondary, not hourly wages, because many work fewer than 2,080 hours a year but are paid yearly. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. 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
  11. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 7,700 people were employed as Architecture Teachers, Postsecondary in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. Median annual wage for Architecture Teachers, Postsecondary in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Architecture Teachers, Postsecondary (areas with at least 100 jobs): College Station-Bryan, TX $128,670; New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $123,760; Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $121,660; Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $105,770; Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN $104,420; Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX $103,420; Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA $103,210; Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $100,560. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Architecture Teachers, Postsecondary jobs: New York 1,460; Texas 770; California 530; Pennsylvania 440; Massachusetts 430. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Architecture Teachers, Postsecondary jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 1,460 (median $123,760); Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH 320 (median $121,660); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 260 (median $79,100); Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 250 (median $105,770); Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA 170 (median $79,650); College Station-Bryan, TX 160 (median $128,670). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Postsecondary Teachers" covers Architecture Teachers, Postsecondary together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Work Experience in a Related Occupation. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. O*NET 25-1031.00 survey of workers (20 respondents), education level they say is required: Doctoral Degree 45%, First Professional Degree 20%, Bachelor's Degree 14%, Master's Degree 10%, Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree 9% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Advancement. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. O*NET description of Architecture Teachers, Postsecondary. O*NET OnLine
  24. O*NET task list for Architecture Teachers, Postsecondary. O*NET OnLine
  25. O*NET 25-1031.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Adjunct Instructor, Adjunct Professor, Architecture Professor, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Faculty Member, Instructor, Interior Design Professor. O*NET OnLine
  26. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of postsecondary teachers in 2025: Colleges, universities, and professional schools; state 41%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  27. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  29. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  30. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  32. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Architecture Teachers, Postsecondary: 3.5% of workers leave the labor force each year and 3% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  33. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers. The Occupational Outlook Handbook text covers a wider group of occupations than this page.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.