Best cities for a design architect
The best cities for design architects are Columbus, OH, Kansas City, MO, and Boston, MA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for design architects vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for design architects in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a design architect or considering a move, this list of the best cities for design architects to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for design architects. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a design architect. While the absolute best city for design architects is Columbus, OH, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for design architects in 2024.
If you're looking for a design architect job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for design architects in 2025
1. Columbus, OH
Total design architect jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $86,286 Lowest 10 percent warn: $54,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $137,000 Location quotient: 2.27 2. Kansas City, MO
Total design architect jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $90,437 Lowest 10 percent warn: $55,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $146,000 Location quotient: 2.72 3. Boston, MA
Total design architect jobs: 14 Average annual salary: $97,830 Lowest 10 percent warn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $152,000 Location quotient: 2.83 4. Chicago, IL
Total design architect jobs: 14 Average annual salary: $97,802 Lowest 10 percent warn: $61,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $155,000 Location quotient: 2.05 5. Philadelphia, PA
Total design architect jobs: 14 Average annual salary: $80,408 Lowest 10 percent warn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $126,000 Location quotient: 4.18 6. Fremont, CA
Total design architect jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $103,312 Lowest 10 percent warn: $58,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $181,000 Location quotient: 2.87 7. San Francisco, CA
Total design architect jobs: 17 Average annual salary: $103,953 Lowest 10 percent warn: $59,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $182,000 Location quotient: 2.46 8. Cleveland, OH
Total design architect jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $86,339 Lowest 10 percent warn: $54,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $136,000 Location quotient: 0.00 9. Toledo, OH
Total design architect jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $86,155 Lowest 10 percent warn: $54,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $136,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. Saint Louis, MO
Total design architect jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $89,935 Lowest 10 percent warn: $56,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $144,000 Location quotient: 1.36
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Best cities for design architects
- Columbus, OH
- Kansas City, MO
- Boston, MA
- Chicago, IL
- Philadelphia, PA
- Fremont, CA
- San Francisco, CA
- Cleveland, OH
- Toledo, OH
- Saint Louis, MO
- (7 design architect jobs)
- (4 design architect jobs)
- (14 design architect jobs)
- (14 design architect jobs)
- (14 design architect jobs)
- (4 design architect jobs)
- (17 design architect jobs)
- (0 design architect jobs)
- (0 design architect jobs)
- (3 design architect jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a design architect
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Columbus, OH | $86,286 | $54,000 | 860,090 | 7 |
| 2 | Kansas City, MO | $90,437 | $55,000 | 481,420 | 4 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $97,830 | $62,000 | 673,184 | 14 |
| 4 | Chicago, IL | $97,802 | $61,000 | 2,704,958 | 14 |
| 5 | Philadelphia, PA | $80,408 | $50,000 | 1,567,872 | 14 |
| 6 | Fremont, CA | $103,312 | $58,000 | 233,136 | 4 |
| 7 | San Francisco, CA | $103,953 | $59,000 | 870,887 | 17 |
| 8 | Cleveland, OH | $86,339 | $54,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 9 | Toledo, OH | $86,155 | $54,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 10 | Saint Louis, MO | $89,935 | $56,000 | 311,404 | 3 |
| 11 | San Jose, CA | $103,074 | $58,000 | 1,025,350 | 11 |
| 12 | Detroit, MI | $89,404 | $56,000 | 672,795 | - |
| 13 | Oakland, CA | $103,714 | $58,000 | 420,005 | 1 |
| 14 | Cincinnati, OH | $86,115 | $53,000 | 298,800 | - |
| 15 | Austin, TX | $78,434 | $47,000 | 947,890 | 11 |
| 16 | Houston, TX | $78,054 | $47,000 | 2,303,482 | 22 |
| 17 | New Orleans, LA | $92,685 | $57,000 | 391,495 | - |
| 18 | Albuquerque, NM | $89,996 | $53,000 | 559,277 | - |
| 19 | Seattle, WA | $89,965 | $51,000 | 704,352 | 19 |
| 20 | Denver, CO | $91,909 | $55,000 | 693,060 | 13 |
| 21 | Glendale, AZ | $87,343 | $50,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 22 | Phoenix, AZ | $87,324 | $50,000 | 1,615,017 | 1 |
| 23 | San Antonio, TX | $78,359 | $47,000 | 1,492,510 | 4 |
| 24 | Scottsdale, AZ | $87,315 | $50,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 25 | Reno, NV | $83,225 | $47,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 26 | Fort Worth, TX | $78,170 | $47,000 | 854,113 | 2 |
| 27 | Mesa, AZ | $86,912 | $50,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 28 | Chandler, AZ | $86,873 | $50,000 | 247,477 | - |
| 29 | Wichita, KS | $86,079 | $52,000 | 389,902 | - |
| 30 | Gilbert, AZ | $86,824 | $50,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 31 | Indianapolis, IN | $79,428 | $49,000 | 855,164 | 3 |
| 32 | Irvine, CA | $94,223 | $54,000 | 266,122 | 9 |
| 33 | Dallas, TX | $77,998 | $47,000 | 1,317,929 | 7 |
| 34 | Anchorage, AK | $91,315 | $55,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 35 | Pittsburgh, PA | $79,470 | $50,000 | 303,625 | 2 |
| 36 | Los Angeles, CA | $95,476 | $55,000 | 3,976,322 | 23 |
| 37 | Sacramento, CA | $102,878 | $58,000 | 495,234 | 1 |
| 38 | Colorado Springs, CO | $91,849 | $54,000 | 465,101 | - |
| 39 | Fort Wayne, IN | $79,543 | $49,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 40 | El Paso, TX | $80,514 | $47,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 41 | Lincoln, NE | $76,252 | $47,000 | 280,364 | 1 |
| 42 | Stockton, CA | $102,760 | $58,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 43 | Lubbock, TX | $79,450 | $47,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 44 | Aurora, CO | $91,867 | $55,000 | 361,710 | - |
| 45 | Tucson, AZ | $84,934 | $49,000 | 530,706 | - |
| 46 | Arlington, TX | $78,119 | $47,000 | 392,772 | - |
| 47 | Atlanta, GA | $81,389 | $51,000 | 472,522 | 5 |
| 48 | New York, NY | $85,403 | $54,000 | 8,537,673 | 127 |
| 49 | Irving, TX | $78,007 | $47,000 | 238,289 | - |
| 50 | Fresno, CA | $100,572 | $57,000 | 522,053 | - |
Highest paying cities for design architects
| Rank | City | Avg. design architect salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $103,953 |
| 2 | Boston, MA | $97,830 |
| 3 | Chicago, IL | $97,802 |
| 4 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $95,617 |
| 5 | Washington, DC | $94,045 |
| 6 | Denver, CO | $91,909 |
| 7 | Kansas City, MO | $90,437 |
| 8 | Seattle, WA | $89,965 |
| 9 | Baltimore, MD | $89,071 |
| 10 | Peoria, AZ | $87,713 |
| 11 | Columbus, OH | $86,286 |
| 12 | New York, NY | $85,403 |
| 13 | Hillsboro, OR | $83,253 |
| 14 | Atlanta, GA | $81,389 |
| 15 | Philadelphia, PA | $80,408 |
| 16 | Austin, TX | $78,434 |
| 17 | Charlotte, NC | $73,301 |
| 18 | New Berlin, WI | $71,859 |
| 19 | Orlando, FL | $66,820 |
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Updated January 8, 2025