Best cities for a principal architect
The best cities for principal architects are North Las Vegas, NV, San Francisco, CA, and San Jose, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for principal architects vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for principal architects in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a principal architect or considering a move, this list of the best cities for principal architects to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for principal architects. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a principal architect. While the absolute best city for principal architects is North Las Vegas, NV, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for principal architects in 2024.
If you're looking for a principal architect job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for principal architects in 2026
1. North Las Vegas, NV
Total principal architect jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $142,754 Lowest 10 percent warn: $99,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $205,000 Location quotient: 3.25 2. San Francisco, CA
Total principal architect jobs: 84 Average annual salary: $176,236 Lowest 10 percent warn: $121,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $254,000 Location quotient: 2.99 3. San Jose, CA
Total principal architect jobs: 60 Average annual salary: $175,011 Lowest 10 percent warn: $121,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $252,000 Location quotient: 3.01 4. Santa Ana, CA
Total principal architect jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $160,864 Lowest 10 percent warn: $111,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $231,000 Location quotient: 3.56 5. Las Vegas, NV
Total principal architect jobs: 14 Average annual salary: $142,975 Lowest 10 percent warn: $99,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $206,000 Location quotient: 2.11 6. Fort Worth, TX
Total principal architect jobs: 33 Average annual salary: $121,327 Lowest 10 percent warn: $86,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $170,000 Location quotient: 7.10 7. Scottsdale, AZ
Total principal architect jobs: 12 Average annual salary: $124,273 Lowest 10 percent warn: $86,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $178,000 Location quotient: 4.10 8. Austin, TX
Total principal architect jobs: 48 Average annual salary: $122,803 Lowest 10 percent warn: $86,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $174,000 Location quotient: 2.55 9. Glendale, AZ
Total principal architect jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $124,491 Lowest 10 percent warn: $86,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $178,000 Location quotient: 2.58 10. Plano, TX
Total principal architect jobs: 39 Average annual salary: $120,494 Lowest 10 percent warn: $86,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $168,000 Location quotient: 4.22
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Best cities for principal architects
- North Las Vegas, NV
- San Francisco, CA
- San Jose, CA
- Santa Ana, CA
- Las Vegas, NV
- Fort Worth, TX
- Scottsdale, AZ
- Austin, TX
- Glendale, AZ
- Plano, TX
- (1 principal architect jobs)
- (84 principal architect jobs)
- (60 principal architect jobs)
- (5 principal architect jobs)
- (14 principal architect jobs)
- (33 principal architect jobs)
- (12 principal architect jobs)
- (48 principal architect jobs)
- (2 principal architect jobs)
- (39 principal architect jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a principal architect
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Las Vegas, NV | $142,754 | $99,000 | 238,702 | 1 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $176,236 | $121,000 | 870,887 | 84 |
| 3 | San Jose, CA | $175,011 | $121,000 | 1,025,350 | 60 |
| 4 | Santa Ana, CA | $160,864 | $111,000 | 334,217 | 5 |
| 5 | Las Vegas, NV | $142,975 | $99,000 | 632,912 | 14 |
| 6 | Fort Worth, TX | $121,327 | $86,000 | 854,113 | 33 |
| 7 | Scottsdale, AZ | $124,273 | $86,000 | 246,645 | 12 |
| 8 | Austin, TX | $122,803 | $86,000 | 947,890 | 48 |
| 9 | Glendale, AZ | $124,491 | $86,000 | 245,895 | 2 |
| 10 | Plano, TX | $120,494 | $86,000 | 286,057 | 39 |
| 11 | Seattle, WA | $160,261 | $109,000 | 704,352 | 41 |
| 12 | Philadelphia, PA | $122,514 | $89,000 | 1,567,872 | 35 |
| 13 | Phoenix, AZ | $124,421 | $86,000 | 1,615,017 | 39 |
| 14 | Nashville, TN | $119,579 | $88,000 | 660,388 | 15 |
| 15 | Memphis, TN | $118,703 | $87,000 | 652,717 | 11 |
| 16 | Sacramento, CA | $174,509 | $120,000 | 495,234 | 10 |
| 17 | Irvine, CA | $160,567 | $111,000 | 266,122 | 14 |
| 18 | Oakland, CA | $175,880 | $121,000 | 420,005 | 3 |
| 19 | Anchorage, AK | $153,510 | $107,000 | 298,192 | 2 |
| 20 | Durham, NC | $117,644 | $87,000 | 263,016 | 29 |
| 21 | Fremont, CA | $175,339 | $121,000 | 233,136 | 6 |
| 22 | San Diego, CA | $158,001 | $109,000 | 1,406,630 | 31 |
| 23 | Dallas, TX | $120,978 | $86,000 | 1,317,929 | 32 |
| 24 | Boston, MA | $135,162 | $99,000 | 673,184 | 44 |
| 25 | Houston, TX | $121,938 | $86,000 | 2,303,482 | 36 |
| 26 | Raleigh, NC | $117,653 | $87,000 | 458,880 | 17 |
| 27 | Irving, TX | $120,973 | $86,000 | 238,289 | 16 |
| 28 | San Antonio, TX | $123,079 | $86,000 | 1,492,510 | 6 |
| 29 | Chandler, AZ | $124,046 | $86,000 | 247,477 | 3 |
| 30 | Los Angeles, CA | $162,401 | $112,000 | 3,976,322 | 17 |
| 31 | Reno, NV | $151,010 | $104,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 32 | Henderson, NV | $142,226 | $98,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 33 | Charlotte, NC | $116,394 | $86,000 | 842,051 | 24 |
| 34 | Stockton, CA | $174,383 | $120,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 35 | Cincinnati, OH | $108,204 | $79,000 | 298,800 | 14 |
| 36 | Long Beach, CA | $161,426 | $111,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 37 | Portland, OR | $136,071 | $93,000 | 639,863 | 6 |
| 38 | Fresno, CA | $171,027 | $118,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 39 | Anaheim, CA | $161,136 | $111,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 40 | Laredo, TX | $123,129 | $86,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 41 | Bakersfield, CA | $167,030 | $115,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 42 | Tampa, FL | $122,989 | $88,000 | 377,165 | 18 |
| 43 | Lincoln, NE | $111,411 | $81,000 | 280,364 | 8 |
| 44 | Riverside, CA | $160,515 | $111,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 45 | Miami, FL | $123,062 | $87,000 | 453,579 | 17 |
| 46 | Jersey City, NJ | $127,834 | $93,000 | 264,152 | 35 |
| 47 | Detroit, MI | $119,354 | $87,000 | 672,795 | 2 |
| 48 | Winston-Salem, NC | $117,075 | $86,000 | 242,203 | 1 |
| 49 | El Paso, TX | $126,136 | $88,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 50 | Chula Vista, CA | $157,645 | $109,000 | 267,172 | - |
Highest paying cities for principal architects
| Rank | City | Avg. principal architect salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $176,236 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $160,261 |
| 3 | Carson City, NV | $151,524 |
| 4 | Salem, OR | $137,137 |
| 5 | Boston, MA | $135,162 |
| 6 | New York, NY | $132,826 |
| 7 | Bismarck, ND | $131,812 |
| 8 | Annapolis, MD | $128,435 |
| 9 | Richmond, VA | $127,587 |
| 10 | Trenton, NJ | $127,434 |
| 11 | Jackson, MS | $125,683 |
| 12 | Phoenix, AZ | $124,421 |
| 13 | Austin, TX | $122,803 |
| 14 | Philadelphia, PA | $122,514 |
| 15 | Providence, RI | $122,411 |
| 16 | Salt Lake City, UT | $120,112 |
| 17 | Lansing, MI | $118,407 |
| 18 | Concord, NH | $118,085 |
| 19 | Raleigh, NC | $117,653 |
| 20 | Chicago, IL | $116,249 |
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Updated January 8, 2025