Best cities for an Architect
The best cities for architects are Toledo, OH, Irving, TX, and Kansas City, MO, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for architects vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for architects in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as an architect or considering a move, this list of the best cities for architects to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for architects. We also consider how easy it is to find work as an architect. While the absolute best city for architects is Toledo, OH, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for architects in 2024.
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10 best cities for Architects In 2025
1. Toledo, OH
Architect Jobs in ToledoTotal Architect jobs: 53 Average annual salary: $84,063 Lowest 10 percent warn: $54,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $128,000 Location quotient: 6.98 2. Irving, TX
Architect Jobs in IrvingTotal Architect jobs: 253 Average annual salary: $83,286 Lowest 10 percent warn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $131,000 Location quotient: 11.36 3. Kansas City, MO
Architect Jobs in Kansas CityTotal Architect jobs: 141 Average annual salary: $91,550 Lowest 10 percent warn: $59,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $141,000 Location quotient: 3.89 4. Plano, TX
Architect Jobs in PlanoTotal Architect jobs: 59 Average annual salary: $83,272 Lowest 10 percent warn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $130,000 Location quotient: 10.19 5. Cincinnati, OH
Architect Jobs in CincinnatiTotal Architect jobs: 182 Average annual salary: $84,040 Lowest 10 percent warn: $54,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $129,000 Location quotient: 4.94 6. Norfolk, VA
Architect Jobs in NorfolkTotal Architect jobs: 46 Average annual salary: $101,175 Lowest 10 percent warn: $65,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $155,000 Location quotient: 3.73 7. Atlanta, GA
Architect Jobs in AtlantaTotal Architect jobs: 69 Average annual salary: $87,282 Lowest 10 percent warn: $56,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $135,000 Location quotient: 6.94 8. Lincoln, NE
Architect Jobs in LincolnTotal Architect jobs: 56 Average annual salary: $95,460 Lowest 10 percent warn: $61,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $147,000 Location quotient: 2.98 9. Nashville, TN
Architect Jobs in NashvilleTotal Architect jobs: 121 Average annual salary: $91,696 Lowest 10 percent warn: $59,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $141,000 Location quotient: 2.70 10. Austin, TX
Architect Jobs in AustinTotal Architect jobs: 183 Average annual salary: $83,039 Lowest 10 percent warn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $130,000 Location quotient: 8.34
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Best cities for architects
- Toledo, OH
- Irving, TX
- Kansas City, MO
- Plano, TX
- Cincinnati, OH
- Norfolk, VA
- Atlanta, GA
- Lincoln, NE
- Nashville, TN
- Austin, TX
Detailed list of the best cities for an Architect
| Rank | City | Average Salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job Count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Toledo, OH | $84,063 | $54,000 | 278,508 | 53 |
| 2 | Irving, TX | $83,286 | $52,000 | 238,289 | 253 |
| 3 | Kansas City, MO | $91,550 | $59,000 | 481,420 | 141 |
| 4 | Plano, TX | $83,272 | $52,000 | 286,057 | 59 |
| 5 | Cincinnati, OH | $84,040 | $54,000 | 298,800 | 182 |
| 6 | Norfolk, VA | $101,175 | $65,000 | 245,115 | 46 |
| 7 | Atlanta, GA | $87,282 | $56,000 | 472,522 | 69 |
| 8 | Lincoln, NE | $95,460 | $61,000 | 280,364 | 56 |
| 9 | Nashville, TN | $91,696 | $59,000 | 660,388 | 121 |
| 10 | Austin, TX | $83,039 | $52,000 | 947,890 | 183 |
| 11 | Pittsburgh, PA | $86,779 | $56,000 | 303,625 | 219 |
| 12 | Cleveland, OH | $84,169 | $55,000 | 385,809 | 93 |
| 13 | Philadelphia, PA | $87,709 | $57,000 | 1,567,872 | 6 |
| 14 | Columbus, OH | $84,127 | $54,000 | 860,090 | 28 |
| 15 | San Antonio, TX | $83,110 | $52,000 | 1,492,510 | 85 |
| 16 | San Jose, CA | $106,649 | $65,000 | 1,025,350 | 226 |
| 17 | San Francisco, CA | $107,962 | $66,000 | 870,887 | 200 |
| 18 | Boston, MA | $99,878 | $65,000 | 673,184 | 136 |
| 19 | Dallas, TX | $83,259 | $52,000 | 1,317,929 | 193 |
| 20 | Fremont, CA | $107,101 | $65,000 | 233,136 | 104 |
| 21 | Memphis, TN | $91,643 | $58,000 | 652,717 | 69 |
| 22 | Saint Louis, MO | $91,163 | $59,000 | 311,404 | 152 |
| 23 | Las Vegas, NV | $96,491 | $59,000 | 632,912 | 82 |
| 24 | Charlotte, NC | $78,098 | $50,000 | 842,051 | 200 |
| 25 | Minneapolis, MN | $84,415 | $55,000 | 413,651 | 124 |
| 26 | Sacramento, CA | $107,659 | $65,000 | 495,234 | 94 |
| 27 | Virginia Beach, VA | $101,220 | $65,000 | 452,602 | 23 |
| 28 | Chicago, IL | $86,389 | $56,000 | 2,704,958 | 90 |
| 29 | Oakland, CA | $107,712 | $65,000 | 420,005 | 40 |
| 30 | Saint Paul, MN | $84,404 | $55,000 | 302,398 | 159 |
| 31 | Omaha, NE | $95,316 | $61,000 | 446,970 | 44 |
| 32 | Los Angeles, CA | $98,007 | $60,000 | 3,976,322 | 201 |
| 33 | Raleigh, NC | $78,301 | $50,000 | 458,880 | 177 |
| 34 | Phoenix, AZ | $77,146 | $48,000 | 1,615,017 | 64 |
| 35 | Houston, TX | $82,812 | $52,000 | 2,303,482 | 52 |
| 36 | Denver, CO | $93,416 | $59,000 | 693,060 | 71 |
| 37 | Seattle, WA | $91,244 | $57,000 | 704,352 | 204 |
| 38 | Reno, NV | $103,460 | $63,000 | 245,255 | 9 |
| 39 | Albuquerque, NM | $91,660 | $57,000 | 559,277 | 26 |
| 40 | Arlington, TX | $83,286 | $52,000 | 392,772 | 20 |
| 41 | Chesapeake, VA | $101,133 | $65,000 | 237,940 | 5 |
| 42 | Fort Worth, TX | $83,318 | $52,000 | 854,113 | 63 |
| 43 | Henderson, NV | $96,109 | $59,000 | 292,969 | 2 |
| 44 | New York, NY | $89,453 | $58,000 | 8,537,673 | 55 |
| 45 | Scottsdale, AZ | $77,131 | $48,000 | 246,645 | 92 |
| 46 | Anchorage, AK | $126,540 | $86,000 | 298,192 | 1 |
| 47 | North Las Vegas, NV | $96,477 | $59,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 48 | Colorado Springs, CO | $93,310 | $59,000 | 465,101 | 70 |
| 49 | Portland, OR | $92,161 | $57,000 | 639,863 | 114 |
| 50 | Greensboro, NC | $78,277 | $50,000 | 287,027 | 38 |
Highest paying cities for architects
| Rank | City | Avg. Architect Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $107,962 |
| 2 | Richmond, VA | $101,054 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $99,878 |
| 4 | Bellevue, NE | $95,308 |
| 5 | Washington, DC | $95,047 |
| 6 | Denver, CO | $93,416 |
| 7 | Seattle, WA | $91,244 |
| 8 | Saint Louis, MO | $91,163 |
| 9 | New York, NY | $89,453 |
| 10 | Philadelphia, PA | $87,709 |
| 11 | Alpharetta, GA | $87,341 |
| 12 | Chicago, IL | $86,389 |
| 13 | Minneapolis, MN | $84,415 |
| 14 | Columbus, OH | $84,127 |
| 15 | Irving, TX | $83,286 |
| 16 | Miami, FL | $78,671 |
| 17 | Raleigh, NC | $78,301 |
| 18 | Phoenix, AZ | $77,146 |
| 19 | Jersey City, NJ | $75,520 |
| 20 | Columbus, MS | $74,595 |
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Updated January 8, 2025