Best States For an Architect

  • Rank 1 - 10
  • 11 - 20
  • 21 - 30
  • 31 - 40
  • 41 - 51
We decided to bring you a list of the best states for jobs for architects, considering how big the profession is in the United States. Architect positions are available in every area, but not all places are the same -- they do not offer the same wages, benefits, time off, etc. 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 the South is best for architects, and the Northeast is the worst. San Francisco, CA is the best city in the country for architect jobs, where as Virginia is the best state in the country.

Here Are the Best States for Architects In 2023:

  1. 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
    Architect Jobs in Virginia

  2. 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
    Architect Jobs in Massachusetts

  3. 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
    Architect Jobs in Nevada

  4. 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
    Architect Jobs in Alaska

  5. 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
    Architect Jobs in California

  6. Are There Any Particularly Good Places In The United States For Architects To Find Work Opportunities?

    Korydon Smith

    Professor and Chair, University at Buffalo – The State University of New York

    Architectural work tends to be in population centers. Architectural practice has become globalized, where many firms work in multiple cities in the U.S. and abroad. Growth in mid- and large-sized cities in the U.S. will continue; likewise for Europe and Asia. Latin America and Africa are emergent markets.Show more

    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
    Architect Jobs in New Hampshire

  7. 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
    Architect Jobs in Oregon

  8. 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
    Architect Jobs in Nebraska

  9. 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
    Architect Jobs in South Dakota

  10. 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 Jobs in Utah

  11. Architect JobsNear Ashburn, VA

    11. Colorado

    Total Architect Jobs:
    		792
    Average Annual Salary:$93,361
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$59,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$145,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.98
    Architect Jobs in Colorado

  12. 12. Rhode Island

    Total Architect Jobs:
    		288
    Average Annual Salary:$86,306
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$57,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$130,000
    Location Quotient:
    1.74
    Architect Jobs in Rhode Island

  13. 13. District of Columbia

    Total Architect Jobs:
    		790
    Average Annual Salary:$94,989
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$62,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$144,000
    Location Quotient:
    3.46
    Architect Jobs in District of Columbia

  14. 14. Maryland

    Total Architect Jobs:
    		1,023
    Average Annual Salary:$94,435
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$61,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$144,000
    Location Quotient:
    1.19
    Architect Jobs in Maryland

  15. 15. Missouri

    Total Architect Jobs:
    		655
    Average Annual Salary:$91,354
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$59,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$140,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.82
    Architect Jobs in Missouri

  16. 16. Pennsylvania

    Total Architect Jobs:
    		1,528
    Average Annual Salary:$87,563
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$57,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$133,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.97
    Architect Jobs in Pennsylvania

  17. 17. New Mexico

    Total Architect Jobs:
    		184
    Average Annual Salary:$91,449
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$58,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$144,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.69
    Architect Jobs in New Mexico

  18. 18. Washington

    Total Architect Jobs:
    		1,087
    Average Annual Salary:$90,554
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$57,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$142,000
    Location Quotient:
    1.09
    Architect Jobs in Washington

  19. 19. Tennessee

    Total Architect Jobs:
    		449
    Average Annual Salary:$91,600
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$59,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$140,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.56
    Architect Jobs in Tennessee

  20. 20. Georgia

    Total Architect Jobs:
    		1,425
    Average Annual Salary:$87,170
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$56,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$134,000
    Location Quotient:
    1.01
    Architect Jobs in Georgia

  21. Architect Jobs In The Top 10 States

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    21. West Virginia

    Total Architect Jobs:
    		100
    Average Annual Salary:$90,853
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$59,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$138,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.48
    Architect Jobs in West Virginia

  22. 22. Vermont

    Total Architect Jobs:
    		144
    Average Annual Salary:$85,381
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$56,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$128,000
    Location Quotient:
    1.38
    Architect Jobs in Vermont

  23. 23. Connecticut

    Total Architect Jobs:
    		545
    Average Annual Salary:$86,838
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$57,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$131,000
    Location Quotient:
    1.21
    Architect Jobs in Connecticut

  24. 24. Illinois

    Total Architect Jobs:
    		1,837
    Average Annual Salary:$86,385
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$56,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$131,000
    Location Quotient:
    1.13
    Architect Jobs in Illinois

  25. 25. Texas

    Total Architect Jobs:
    		3,262
    Average Annual Salary:$83,234
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$53,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$130,000
    Location Quotient:
    1.19
    Architect Jobs in Texas

  26. 26. Kansas

    Total Architect Jobs:
    		256
    Average Annual Salary:$87,282
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$56,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$134,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.62
    Architect Jobs in Kansas

  27. 27. New York

    Total Architect Jobs:
    		1,706
    Average Annual Salary:$89,375
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$58,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$135,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.98
    Architect Jobs in New York

  28. 28. North Dakota

    Total Architect Jobs:
    		161
    Average Annual Salary:$81,067
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$53,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$123,000
    Location Quotient:
    1.27
    Architect Jobs in North Dakota

  29. 29. Ohio

    Total Architect Jobs:
    		1,090
    Average Annual Salary:$84,111
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$55,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$128,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.78
    Architect Jobs in Ohio

  30. 30. Hawaii

    Total Architect Jobs:
    		103
    Average Annual Salary:$88,708
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$63,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$124,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.9
    Architect Jobs in Hawaii

  31. 31. Minnesota

    Total Architect Jobs:
    		790
    Average Annual Salary:$84,334
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$55,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$127,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.87
    Architect Jobs in Minnesota

  32. 32. Alabama

    Total Architect Jobs:
    		306
    Average Annual Salary:$83,964
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$54,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$129,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.51
    Architect Jobs in Alabama

  33. 33. South Carolina

    Total Architect Jobs:
    		332
    Average Annual Salary:$83,997
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$54,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$129,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.55
    Architect Jobs in South Carolina

  34. 34. North Carolina

    Total Architect Jobs:
    		1,364
    Average Annual Salary:$78,217
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$50,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$119,000
    Location Quotient:
    1.04
    Architect Jobs in North Carolina

  35. 35. Wisconsin

    Total Architect Jobs:
    		483
    Average Annual Salary:$78,468
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$51,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$119,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.64
    Architect Jobs in Wisconsin

  36. 36. Oklahoma

    Total Architect Jobs:
    		190
    Average Annual Salary:$79,386
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$51,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$123,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.45
    Architect Jobs in Oklahoma

  37. 37. Arizona

    Total Architect Jobs:
    		744
    Average Annual Salary:$77,091
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$48,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$122,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.93
    Architect Jobs in Arizona

  38. 38. Michigan

    Total Architect Jobs:
    		783
    Average Annual Salary:$76,415
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$50,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$115,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.74
    Architect Jobs in Michigan

  39. 39. Florida

    Total Architect Jobs:
    		1,685
    Average Annual Salary:$78,266
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$50,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$121,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.79
    Architect Jobs in Florida

  40. 40. New Jersey

    Total Architect Jobs:
    		1,283
    Average Annual Salary:$75,453
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$49,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$114,000
    Location Quotient:
    1.19
    Architect Jobs in New Jersey

  41. 41. Montana

    Total Architect Jobs:
    		141
    Average Annual Salary:$76,551
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$49,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$118,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.9
    Architect Jobs in Montana

  42. 42. Louisiana

    Total Architect Jobs:
    		203
    Average Annual Salary:$79,170
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$50,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$123,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.47
    Architect Jobs in Louisiana

  43. 43. Wyoming

    Total Architect Jobs:
    		62
    Average Annual Salary:$75,693
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$48,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$117,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.76
    Architect Jobs in Wyoming

  44. 44. Idaho

    Total Architect Jobs:
    		201
    Average Annual Salary:$73,360
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$46,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$115,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.9
    Architect Jobs in Idaho

  45. 45. Arkansas

    Total Architect Jobs:
    		246
    Average Annual Salary:$73,719
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$47,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$113,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.69
    Architect Jobs in Arkansas

  46. 46. Maine

    Total Architect Jobs:
    		111
    Average Annual Salary:$75,319
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$50,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$112,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.62
    Architect Jobs in Maine

  47. 47. Delaware

    Total Architect Jobs:
    		139
    Average Annual Salary:$73,436
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$48,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$112,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.81
    Architect Jobs in Delaware

  48. 48. Indiana

    Total Architect Jobs:
    		515
    Average Annual Salary:$73,920
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$48,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$112,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.58
    Architect Jobs in Indiana

  49. 49. Mississippi

    Total Architect Jobs:
    		97
    Average Annual Salary:$74,435
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$48,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$115,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.34
    Architect Jobs in Mississippi

  50. 50. Kentucky

    Total Architect Jobs:
    		293
    Average Annual Salary:$66,340
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$43,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$101,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.58
    Architect Jobs in Kentucky

  51. 51. Iowa

    Total Architect Jobs:
    		243
    Average Annual Salary:$68,775
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$44,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$105,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.49
    Architect Jobs in Iowa

How We Determined 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

RankStateAverage SalaryLowest 10% EarnPopulationJob Count
1Virginia$101,062$66,0008,470,0202,117
2Massachusetts$99,764$66,0006,859,8191,510
3Nevada$97,524$60,0002,998,039269
4Alaska$125,375$86,000739,79578
5California$100,716$62,00039,536,6535,279
6New Hampshire$97,828$64,0001,342,795203
7Oregon$92,241$57,0004,142,776845
8Nebraska$95,462$62,0001,920,076213
9South Dakota$97,658$63,000869,66682
10Utah$88,899$56,0003,101,833609
11Colorado$93,361$59,0005,607,154792
12Rhode Island$86,306$57,0001,059,639288
13District of Columbia$94,989$62,000693,972790
14Maryland$94,435$61,0006,052,1771,023
15Missouri$91,354$59,0006,113,532655
16Pennsylvania$87,563$57,00012,805,5371,528
17New Mexico$91,449$58,0002,088,070184
18Washington$90,554$57,0007,405,7431,087
19Tennessee$91,600$59,0006,715,984449
20Georgia$87,170$56,00010,429,3791,425
21West Virginia$90,853$59,0001,815,857100
22Vermont$85,381$56,000623,657144
23Connecticut$86,838$57,0003,588,184545
24Illinois$86,385$56,00012,802,0231,837
25Texas$83,234$53,00028,304,5963,262
26Kansas$87,282$56,0002,913,123256
27New York$89,375$58,00019,849,3991,706
28North Dakota$81,067$53,000755,393161
29Ohio$84,111$55,00011,658,6091,090
30Hawaii$88,708$63,0001,427,538103
31Minnesota$84,334$55,0005,576,606790
32Alabama$83,964$54,0004,874,747306
33South Carolina$83,997$54,0005,024,369332
34North Carolina$78,217$50,00010,273,4191,364
35Wisconsin$78,468$51,0005,795,483483
36Oklahoma$79,386$51,0003,930,864190
37Arizona$77,091$48,0007,016,270744
38Michigan$76,415$50,0009,962,311783
39Florida$78,266$50,00020,984,4001,685
40New Jersey$75,453$49,0009,005,6441,283
41Montana$76,551$49,0001,050,493141
42Louisiana$79,170$50,0004,684,333203
43Wyoming$75,693$48,000579,31562
44Idaho$73,360$46,0001,716,943201
45Arkansas$73,719$47,0003,004,279246
46Maine$75,319$50,0001,335,907111
47Delaware$73,436$48,000961,939139
48Indiana$73,920$48,0006,666,818515
49Mississippi$74,435$48,0002,984,10097
50Kentucky$66,340$43,0004,454,189293
51Iowa$68,775$44,0003,145,711243

Highest paying states for Architects

RankStateAvg. Architect Salary
1Virginia$101,062
2Massachusetts$99,764
3Nevada$97,524
4Alaska$125,375
5California$100,716
6New Hampshire$97,828
7Oregon$92,241
8Nebraska$95,462
9South Dakota$97,658
10Utah$88,899
11Colorado$93,361
12Rhode Island$86,306
13District of Columbia$94,989
14Maryland$94,435
15Missouri$91,354
16Pennsylvania$87,563
17New Mexico$91,449
18Washington$90,554
19Tennessee$91,600
20Georgia$87,170
21West Virginia$90,853
22Vermont$85,381
23Connecticut$86,838
24Illinois$86,385
25Texas$83,234
26Kansas$87,282
27New York$89,375
28North Dakota$81,067
29Ohio$84,111
30Hawaii$88,708
31Minnesota$84,334
32Alabama$83,964
33South Carolina$83,997
34North Carolina$78,217
35Wisconsin$78,468
36Oklahoma$79,386
37Arizona$77,091
38Michigan$76,415
39Florida$78,266
40New Jersey$75,453
41Montana$76,551
42Louisiana$79,170
43Wyoming$75,693
44Idaho$73,360
45Arkansas$73,719
46Maine$75,319
47Delaware$73,436
48Indiana$73,920
49Mississippi$74,435
50Kentucky$66,340
51Iowa$68,775
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Updated April 6, 2021