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Best states for an architect
Quoted expert
Ross Weinreb
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
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- 41 - 51
We decided to bring you a list of the best states for jobs for architects in the United States. Architect positions are available in every state, but not all states are the same. Some states do not offer the same wages, benefits, time off, etc for architects.Our research found that Virginia is the best state for architects, while Alaska and Virginia are ranked highest in terms of median salary. Virginia has a median salary of $101,062 and Alaska has the highest median salary among all 50 states for architects.
The median salary for architects in Virginia is $101,062. Compare that to the median salary in Iowa of $68,775, which ranked worst for architects, and you can see how your location is important for your career.We found that Virginia is the best state for architect jobs, whereas Iowa is the worst.
10 best states for architects in 2025
1. Virginia
Total architect jobs: 2,117 Average annual salary: $101,062 Lowest 10 percent earn: $66,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $154,000 Location Quotient: 1.65
2. Massachusetts
Total architect jobs: 1,510 Average annual salary: $99,764 Lowest 10 percent earn: $66,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $150,000 Location Quotient: 1.21
3. Nevada
Total architect jobs: 269 Average annual salary: $97,524 Lowest 10 percent earn: $60,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $156,000 Location Quotient: 0.95
4. Alaska
Total architect jobs: 78 Average annual salary: $125,375 Lowest 10 percent earn: $86,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $182,000 Location Quotient: 0.69
5. California
Total architect jobs: 5,279 Average annual salary: $100,716 Lowest 10 percent earn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $161,000 Location Quotient: 1.33
6. New Hampshire
Total architect jobs: 203 Average annual salary: $97,828 Lowest 10 percent earn: $64,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $147,000 Location Quotient: 0.85
7. Oregon
Total architect jobs: 845 Average annual salary: $92,241 Lowest 10 percent earn: $57,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $147,000 Location Quotient: 1.5
8. Nebraska
Total architect jobs: 213 Average annual salary: $95,462 Lowest 10 percent earn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $146,000 Location Quotient: 0.7
9. South Dakota
Total architect jobs: 82 Average annual salary: $97,658 Lowest 10 percent earn: $63,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $149,000 Location Quotient: 0.56
10. Utah
Total architect jobs: 609 Average annual salary: $88,899 Lowest 10 percent earn: $56,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $140,000 Location Quotient: 1.4
Architect jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be an architect
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for an architect
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Virginia | $101,062 | $66,000 | 8,470,020 | 2,117 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $99,764 | $66,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,510 |
| 3 | Nevada | $97,524 | $60,000 | 2,998,039 | 269 |
| 4 | Alaska | $125,375 | $86,000 | 739,795 | 78 |
| 5 | California | $100,716 | $62,000 | 39,536,653 | 5,279 |
| 6 | New Hampshire | $97,828 | $64,000 | 1,342,795 | 203 |
| 7 | Oregon | $92,241 | $57,000 | 4,142,776 | 845 |
| 8 | Nebraska | $95,462 | $62,000 | 1,920,076 | 213 |
| 9 | South Dakota | $97,658 | $63,000 | 869,666 | 82 |
| 10 | Utah | $88,899 | $56,000 | 3,101,833 | 609 |
| 11 | Colorado | $93,361 | $59,000 | 5,607,154 | 792 |
| 12 | Rhode Island | $86,306 | $57,000 | 1,059,639 | 288 |
| 13 | District of Columbia | $94,989 | $62,000 | 693,972 | 790 |
| 14 | Maryland | $94,435 | $61,000 | 6,052,177 | 1,023 |
| 15 | Missouri | $91,354 | $59,000 | 6,113,532 | 655 |
| 16 | Pennsylvania | $87,563 | $57,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,528 |
| 17 | New Mexico | $91,449 | $58,000 | 2,088,070 | 184 |
| 18 | Washington | $90,554 | $57,000 | 7,405,743 | 1,087 |
| 19 | Tennessee | $91,600 | $59,000 | 6,715,984 | 449 |
| 20 | Georgia | $87,170 | $56,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,425 |
| 21 | West Virginia | $90,853 | $59,000 | 1,815,857 | 100 |
| 22 | Vermont | $85,381 | $56,000 | 623,657 | 144 |
| 23 | Connecticut | $86,838 | $57,000 | 3,588,184 | 545 |
| 24 | Illinois | $86,385 | $56,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,837 |
| 25 | Texas | $83,234 | $53,000 | 28,304,596 | 3,262 |
| 26 | Kansas | $87,282 | $56,000 | 2,913,123 | 256 |
| 27 | New York | $89,375 | $58,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,706 |
| 28 | North Dakota | $81,067 | $53,000 | 755,393 | 161 |
| 29 | Ohio | $84,111 | $55,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,090 |
| 30 | Hawaii | $88,708 | $63,000 | 1,427,538 | 103 |
| 31 | Minnesota | $84,334 | $55,000 | 5,576,606 | 790 |
| 32 | Alabama | $83,964 | $54,000 | 4,874,747 | 306 |
| 33 | South Carolina | $83,997 | $54,000 | 5,024,369 | 332 |
| 34 | North Carolina | $78,217 | $50,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,364 |
| 35 | Wisconsin | $78,468 | $51,000 | 5,795,483 | 483 |
| 36 | Oklahoma | $79,386 | $51,000 | 3,930,864 | 190 |
| 37 | Arizona | $77,091 | $48,000 | 7,016,270 | 744 |
| 38 | Michigan | $76,415 | $50,000 | 9,962,311 | 783 |
| 39 | Florida | $78,266 | $50,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,685 |
| 40 | New Jersey | $75,453 | $49,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,283 |
| 41 | Montana | $76,551 | $49,000 | 1,050,493 | 141 |
| 42 | Louisiana | $79,170 | $50,000 | 4,684,333 | 203 |
| 43 | Wyoming | $75,693 | $48,000 | 579,315 | 62 |
| 44 | Idaho | $73,360 | $46,000 | 1,716,943 | 201 |
| 45 | Arkansas | $73,719 | $47,000 | 3,004,279 | 246 |
| 46 | Maine | $75,319 | $50,000 | 1,335,907 | 111 |
| 47 | Delaware | $73,436 | $48,000 | 961,939 | 139 |
| 48 | Indiana | $73,920 | $48,000 | 6,666,818 | 515 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $74,435 | $48,000 | 2,984,100 | 97 |
| 50 | Kentucky | $66,340 | $43,000 | 4,454,189 | 293 |
| 51 | Iowa | $68,775 | $44,000 | 3,145,711 | 243 |
Highest paying states for architects
| Rank | State | Avg. Architect Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Virginia | $101,062 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $99,764 |
| 3 | Nevada | $97,524 |
| 4 | Alaska | $125,375 |
| 5 | California | $100,716 |
| 6 | New Hampshire | $97,828 |
| 7 | Oregon | $92,241 |
| 8 | Nebraska | $95,462 |
| 9 | South Dakota | $97,658 |
| 10 | Utah | $88,899 |
| 11 | Colorado | $93,361 |
| 12 | Rhode Island | $86,306 |
| 13 | District of Columbia | $94,989 |
| 14 | Maryland | $94,435 |
| 15 | Missouri | $91,354 |
| 16 | Pennsylvania | $87,563 |
| 17 | New Mexico | $91,449 |
| 18 | Washington | $90,554 |
| 19 | Tennessee | $91,600 |
| 20 | Georgia | $87,170 |
| 21 | West Virginia | $90,853 |
| 22 | Vermont | $85,381 |
| 23 | Connecticut | $86,838 |
| 24 | Illinois | $86,385 |
| 25 | Texas | $83,234 |
| 26 | Kansas | $87,282 |
| 27 | New York | $89,375 |
| 28 | North Dakota | $81,067 |
| 29 | Ohio | $84,111 |
| 30 | Hawaii | $88,708 |
| 31 | Minnesota | $84,334 |
| 32 | Alabama | $83,964 |
| 33 | South Carolina | $83,997 |
| 34 | North Carolina | $78,217 |
| 35 | Wisconsin | $78,468 |
| 36 | Oklahoma | $79,386 |
| 37 | Arizona | $77,091 |
| 38 | Michigan | $76,415 |
| 39 | Florida | $78,266 |
| 40 | New Jersey | $75,453 |
| 41 | Montana | $76,551 |
| 42 | Louisiana | $79,170 |
| 43 | Wyoming | $75,693 |
| 44 | Idaho | $73,360 |
| 45 | Arkansas | $73,719 |
| 46 | Maine | $75,319 |
| 47 | Delaware | $73,436 |
| 48 | Indiana | $73,920 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $74,435 |
| 50 | Kentucky | $66,340 |
| 51 | Iowa | $68,775 |
Expert opinions on the best states for architects
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for architects to find work opportunities?
Ross Weinreb
Instructor | Career Adviser, The Pennsylvania State University
Not that I am aware of. Our Penn State graduates generally find work in the Northeast (Philadelphia, New York, etc.).
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Updated January 8, 2025