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The average salary for a Junior Architect in the United States is $60,719 per year or about $29 per hour. Entry-level positions typically require a degree in architecture and may offer opportunities for on-the-job training. As Junior Architects gain experience, their earning potential increases significantly.
Geographic location plays a crucial role in salary variation. States like California, New York, and Massachusetts tend to offer higher salaries, reflecting the demand for architectural services in urban areas. Additionally, industries such as construction and engineering often provide competitive compensation for Junior Architects.
With experience, Junior Architects can transition into roles such as Project Manager or Senior Architect, leading to salaries above $80,000. Continuous learning and obtaining relevant certifications can further enhance job prospects.
For those considering a career as a Junior Architect, understanding the salary landscape and opportunities for growth is essential. This profession not only offers a competitive starting salary but also a pathway to rewarding career advancements.
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The highest-paying states for junior architects are Rhode Island, New Hampshire, and Louisiana. The lowest average junior architect salary states are Florida, Tennessee, and Oklahoma.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas | $66,486 | $31.96 |
| 2 | New Hampshire | $70,170 | $33.74 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $67,031 | $32.23 |
| 4 | North Dakota | $63,555 | $30.56 |
| 5 | Washington | $66,773 | $32.10 |
| 6 | Maryland | $66,864 | $32.15 |
| 7 | Rhode Island | $71,700 | $34.47 |
| 8 | District of Columbia | $69,726 | $33.52 |
| 9 | Michigan | $66,241 | $31.85 |
| 10 | Louisiana | $69,745 | $33.53 |
| 11 | Wyoming | $64,759 | $31.13 |
| 12 | Missouri | $66,071 | $31.76 |
| 13 | New York | $66,656 | $32.05 |
| 14 | Colorado | $65,712 | $31.59 |
| 15 | Ohio | $63,394 | $30.48 |
| 16 | New Mexico | $65,139 | $31.32 |
| 17 | Maine | $65,883 | $31.67 |
| 18 | Arizona | $63,120 | $30.35 |
| 19 | Georgia | $61,016 | $29.33 |
| 20 | Pennsylvania | $60,426 | $29.05 |
| 21 | Alabama | $61,825 | $29.72 |
| 22 | Kansas | $62,744 | $30.17 |
| 23 | South Dakota | $61,461 | $29.55 |
| 24 | Utah | $61,784 | $29.70 |
| 25 | Hawaii | $68,414 | $32.89 |
| 26 | California | $66,776 | $32.10 |
| 27 | Alaska | $60,315 | $29.00 |
| 28 | Vermont | $63,011 | $30.29 |
| 29 | South Carolina | $60,205 | $28.94 |
| 30 | Illinois | $55,985 | $26.92 |
| 31 | Virginia | $60,309 | $28.99 |
| 32 | Nevada | $55,396 | $26.63 |
| 33 | Montana | $55,847 | $26.85 |
| 34 | North Carolina | $54,322 | $26.12 |
| 35 | Indiana | $57,692 | $27.74 |
| 36 | West Virginia | $58,235 | $28.00 |
| 37 | Minnesota | $56,551 | $27.19 |
| 38 | Nebraska | $55,547 | $26.71 |
| 39 | Mississippi | $59,126 | $28.43 |
| 40 | Connecticut | $55,173 | $26.53 |
| 41 | Iowa | $56,362 | $27.10 |
| 42 | New Jersey | $53,246 | $25.60 |
| 43 | Delaware | $53,942 | $25.93 |
| 44 | Florida | $52,573 | $25.28 |
| 45 | Wisconsin | $52,656 | $25.32 |
| 46 | Oregon | $55,427 | $26.65 |
| 47 | Idaho | $44,109 | $21.21 |
| 48 | Tennessee | $50,913 | $24.48 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $47,146 | $22.67 |
| 50 | Kentucky | $46,473 | $22.34 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $48,001 | $23.08 |
The highest-paying cities for junior architects are Washington, DC, San Francisco, CA, and Corpus Christi, TX.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $69,786 | $33.55 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $68,407 | $32.89 |
| 3 | Corpus Christi, TX | $67,140 | $32.28 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $67,112 | $32.27 |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | $66,821 | $32.13 |
| 6 | Long Beach, NY | $66,821 | $32.13 |
| 7 | Detroit, MI | $66,391 | $31.92 |
| 8 | Colorado Springs, CO | $65,866 | $31.67 |
| 9 | Huntsville, AL | $61,556 | $29.59 |
| 10 | Atlanta, GA | $60,967 | $29.31 |
| 11 | Philadelphia, PA | $60,703 | $29.18 |
| 12 | Alexandria, VA | $60,644 | $29.16 |
| 13 | Indianapolis, IN | $57,597 | $27.69 |
| 14 | Chicago, IL | $56,085 | $26.96 |
| 15 | Portland, OR | $55,183 | $26.53 |
| 16 | Stamford, CT | $55,161 | $26.52 |
| 17 | Newark, DE | $53,954 | $25.94 |
| 18 | Fort Lee, NJ | $53,262 | $25.61 |
| 19 | Coral Gables, FL | $53,054 | $25.51 |
A junior architect's salary ranges from $45,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $81,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $81,000 | $6,750 | $39 |
| 75th Percentile | $70,000 | $5,833 | $34 |
| Average | $60,719 | $5,060 | $29 |
| 25th Percentile | $52,000 | $4,333 | $25 |
| 10th Percentile | $45,000 | $3,750 | $22 |
The highest paying types of junior architects are principal, architectural firm, integration architect, and technology architect.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Job Captain | $71,047 | $5,921 | $34.16 | 60,149 |
| Computer Aided Design Designer | $60,150 | $5,012 | $28.92 | 92,503 |
| Architectural Internship | $53,914 | $4,493 | $25.92 | 57,981 |
| Architectural Consultant | $72,886 | $6,074 | $35.04 | 43,113 |
| Architectural Designer | $59,122 | $4,927 | $28.42 | 54,358 |
| Staff Architect | $74,065 | $6,172 | $35.61 | 144,134 |
Top companies hiring junior architects now:
Junior architect salaries at Chubb and NRG Energy are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average junior architect salary at companies like Intel and Ralph Lauren are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chubb | $115,908 | $55.73 |
| 2 | NRG Energy | $112,816 | $54.24 |
| 3 | Intel | $111,847 | $53.77 |
| 4 | Ralph Lauren | $101,147 | $48.63 |
| 5 | Salesforce | $97,256 | $46.76 |
| 6 | Mastech Digital | $88,755 | $42.67 |
| 7 | Haynes International | $82,294 | $39.56 |
| 8 | Hacker | $77,398 | $37.21 |
| 9 | Barry-Wehmiller | $75,691 | $36.39 |
| 10 | DSM Services USA Inc | $72,686 | $34.95 |
| 11 | Qualcomm | $70,537 | $33.91 |
| 12 | TSD Rental | $70,296 | $33.80 |
| 13 | Robert A.M. Stern Architects | $67,194 | $32.30 |
| 14 | Elkus Manfredi Arch | $67,064 | $32.24 |
| 15 | KPF | $66,462 | $31.95 |
| 16 | Arquitectonica | $66,099 | $31.78 |
| 17 | Perkins Eastman | $65,615 | $31.55 |
| 18 | Skidmore, Owings & Merrill | $65,064 | $31.28 |
| 19 | Beyer Blinder Belle | $64,669 | $31.09 |
| 20 | Selldorf Architects | $63,351 | $30.46 |
The average junior architect salary varies across industries:
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Energy | $71,511 | $34.38 |
| 2 | Technology | $64,103 | $30.82 |
| 3 | Professional | $63,050 | $30.31 |
| 4 | Real Estate | $62,794 | $30.19 |
The average junior architect salary has risen by $6,624 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average junior architect earned $54,095 annually, but today, they earn $60,719 a year. That works out to a 7% change in pay for junior architects over the last decade.
Compare junior architect salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare junior architect salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $60,700 | $29.19 | +1.9% |
| 2025 | $59,600 | $28.63 | +1.7% |
| 2024 | $58,500 | $28.15 | +1.1% |
| 2023 | $57,900 | $27.83 | +2.0% |
| 2022 | $56,700 | $27.28 | +1.1% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Actalent | JR. Architect | Boca Raton, FL | 06/29/2025 | $75,257 |
| Archimaera | Junior Architect | New York, NY | 05/20/2025 | $65,000 |
| Hollis + Miller Architects | Junior Architect | Castle Rock, CO | 04/24/2025 | $58,000 |
| Actalent | JR. Architect | Asbury Park, NJ | 04/22/2025 | $52,175 |
| Sabel Systems Technology Solutions | Teamcenter JR. Architect | Beavercreek, OH | 04/05/2025 | $65,000 |
| Bsb Design | Multifamily Architect Junior | Palatine, IL | 03/28/2025 | $85,000 |
| Cardello Architects | Junior/Intermediate Architect | Westport, CT | 03/26/2025 | $90,000 |
| Dejager Design, Inc. | Junior Interior Architect-High-End Residential Design | Newport Beach, CA | 03/26/2025 | $70,000 |
| Actalent | Junior Architect | Newark, NJ | 03/13/2025 | $75,132 |
| Lim Chang & Associates, Inc. | Junior Architect | Pasadena, CA | 03/12/2025 | $64,459 |
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