Best cities for a lead architect
The best cities for lead architects are Louisville, KY, Columbus, OH, and Cleveland, OH, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for lead architects vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for lead architects in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a lead architect or considering a move, this list of the best cities for lead architects to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for lead architects. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a lead architect. While the absolute best city for lead architects is Louisville, KY, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for lead architects in 2024.
If you're looking for a lead architect job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for lead architects in 2025
1. Louisville, KY
Total lead architect jobs: 19 Average annual salary: $94,679 Lowest 10 percent warn: $71,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $124,000 Location quotient: 6.10 2. Columbus, OH
Total lead architect jobs: 44 Average annual salary: $92,171 Lowest 10 percent warn: $70,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $120,000 Location quotient: 5.58 3. Cleveland, OH
Total lead architect jobs: 16 Average annual salary: $93,141 Lowest 10 percent warn: $71,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $121,000 Location quotient: 5.69 4. San Jose, CA
Total lead architect jobs: 55 Average annual salary: $127,549 Lowest 10 percent warn: $90,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $179,000 Location quotient: 4.39 5. Philadelphia, PA
Total lead architect jobs: 37 Average annual salary: $98,591 Lowest 10 percent warn: $75,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $129,000 Location quotient: 4.33 6. Greensboro, NC
Total lead architect jobs: 9 Average annual salary: $95,919 Lowest 10 percent warn: $72,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $126,000 Location quotient: 6.67 7. Irving, TX
Total lead architect jobs: 44 Average annual salary: $96,039 Lowest 10 percent warn: $69,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $132,000 Location quotient: 6.30 8. Winston-Salem, NC
Total lead architect jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $95,717 Lowest 10 percent warn: $72,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $126,000 Location quotient: 5.82 9. Austin, TX
Total lead architect jobs: 54 Average annual salary: $97,741 Lowest 10 percent warn: $69,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $136,000 Location quotient: 4.57 10. Plano, TX
Total lead architect jobs: 64 Average annual salary: $95,438 Lowest 10 percent warn: $69,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $131,000 Location quotient: 11.01
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Best cities for lead architects
- Louisville, KY
- Columbus, OH
- Cleveland, OH
- San Jose, CA
- Philadelphia, PA
- Greensboro, NC
- Irving, TX
- Winston-Salem, NC
- Austin, TX
- Plano, TX
- (19 lead architect jobs)
- (44 lead architect jobs)
- (16 lead architect jobs)
- (55 lead architect jobs)
- (37 lead architect jobs)
- (9 lead architect jobs)
- (44 lead architect jobs)
- (5 lead architect jobs)
- (54 lead architect jobs)
- (64 lead architect jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a lead architect
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Louisville, KY | $94,679 | $71,000 | 597,337 | 19 |
| 2 | Columbus, OH | $92,171 | $70,000 | 860,090 | 44 |
| 3 | Cleveland, OH | $93,141 | $71,000 | 385,809 | 16 |
| 4 | San Jose, CA | $127,549 | $90,000 | 1,025,350 | 55 |
| 5 | Philadelphia, PA | $98,591 | $75,000 | 1,567,872 | 37 |
| 6 | Greensboro, NC | $95,919 | $72,000 | 287,027 | 9 |
| 7 | Irving, TX | $96,039 | $69,000 | 238,289 | 44 |
| 8 | Winston-Salem, NC | $95,717 | $72,000 | 242,203 | 5 |
| 9 | Austin, TX | $97,741 | $69,000 | 947,890 | 54 |
| 10 | Plano, TX | $95,438 | $69,000 | 286,057 | 64 |
| 11 | Lexington, KY | $95,176 | $72,000 | 318,449 | 4 |
| 12 | San Francisco, CA | $128,190 | $91,000 | 870,887 | 54 |
| 13 | Durham, NC | $96,312 | $72,000 | 263,016 | 13 |
| 14 | Sacramento, CA | $125,791 | $89,000 | 495,234 | 13 |
| 15 | Charlotte, NC | $95,071 | $71,000 | 842,051 | 52 |
| 16 | Las Vegas, NV | $99,542 | $70,000 | 632,912 | 13 |
| 17 | Raleigh, NC | $96,335 | $72,000 | 458,880 | 17 |
| 18 | Detroit, MI | $91,783 | $70,000 | 672,795 | 17 |
| 19 | Atlanta, GA | $96,894 | $72,000 | 472,522 | 79 |
| 20 | Fremont, CA | $127,736 | $90,000 | 233,136 | 8 |
| 21 | Indianapolis, IN | $96,509 | $73,000 | 855,164 | 19 |
| 22 | Lincoln, NE | $89,167 | $67,000 | 280,364 | 17 |
| 23 | Houston, TX | $96,942 | $69,000 | 2,303,482 | 66 |
| 24 | Jersey City, NJ | $106,873 | $81,000 | 264,152 | 27 |
| 25 | Memphis, TN | $85,018 | $63,000 | 652,717 | 20 |
| 26 | Milwaukee, WI | $87,770 | $67,000 | 595,047 | 21 |
| 27 | Dallas, TX | $96,077 | $69,000 | 1,317,929 | 31 |
| 28 | Santa Ana, CA | $114,351 | $81,000 | 334,217 | 4 |
| 29 | Nashville, TN | $85,862 | $64,000 | 660,388 | 21 |
| 30 | Anaheim, CA | $114,645 | $82,000 | 351,043 | 4 |
| 31 | Oakland, CA | $127,954 | $91,000 | 420,005 | 2 |
| 32 | Fort Worth, TX | $96,422 | $69,000 | 854,113 | 7 |
| 33 | Pittsburgh, PA | $96,462 | $73,000 | 303,625 | 10 |
| 34 | Irvine, CA | $114,083 | $81,000 | 266,122 | 20 |
| 35 | Saint Louis, MO | $89,125 | $67,000 | 311,404 | 31 |
| 36 | Cincinnati, OH | $90,961 | $69,000 | 298,800 | 8 |
| 37 | Reno, NV | $101,592 | $72,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 38 | Fort Wayne, IN | $97,399 | $74,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 39 | Stockton, CA | $126,714 | $90,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 40 | Los Angeles, CA | $115,811 | $82,000 | 3,976,322 | 51 |
| 41 | San Antonio, TX | $97,641 | $69,000 | 1,492,510 | 9 |
| 42 | North Las Vegas, NV | $99,354 | $70,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 43 | Fresno, CA | $124,555 | $88,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 44 | Henderson, NV | $98,995 | $70,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 45 | Toledo, OH | $92,116 | $70,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 46 | Boston, MA | $99,849 | $77,000 | 673,184 | 59 |
| 47 | El Paso, TX | $99,871 | $71,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 48 | Lubbock, TX | $97,797 | $70,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 49 | Phoenix, AZ | $93,780 | $67,000 | 1,615,017 | 29 |
| 50 | Scottsdale, AZ | $93,730 | $67,000 | 246,645 | 5 |
Highest paying cities for lead architects
| Rank | City | Avg. lead architect salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $128,190 |
| 2 | Washington, DC | $116,312 |
| 3 | Jersey City, NJ | $106,873 |
| 4 | Bellevue, WA | $106,181 |
| 5 | Columbia, MD | $103,108 |
| 6 | Hartford, CT | $102,666 |
| 7 | Boston, MA | $99,849 |
| 8 | New York, NY | $98,752 |
| 9 | Philadelphia, PA | $98,591 |
| 10 | Austin, TX | $97,741 |
| 11 | Richmond, VA | $97,710 |
| 12 | Alpharetta, GA | $97,037 |
| 13 | Indianapolis, IN | $96,509 |
| 14 | Raleigh, NC | $96,335 |
| 15 | Chicago, IL | $95,976 |
| 16 | Englewood, CO | $93,920 |
| 17 | Phoenix, AZ | $93,780 |
| 18 | Cleveland, OH | $93,141 |
| 19 | Des Moines, IA | $91,827 |
| 20 | Detroit, MI | $91,783 |
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Updated January 8, 2025