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Best states for a principal architect
Quoted expert
Ross Weinreb
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Job opportunities vary from state to state, and computer and mathematical careers are no different. Because we know how difficult it can be to know which states are the best when it comes to principal architect jobs, we decided to crunch some numbers to bring you the best states for principal architects.Our research shows that Oregon is the best state in the country for principal architects.
In order to get you the best states for principal architects, we looked at our data on jobs and wages -- specifically the average annual wage and the number of available jobs per capita.We found that the Midwest is best for principal architects, and the West is the worst. San Francisco, CA is the best city in the country for principal architect jobs, where as Oregon is the best state in the country.
10 best states for principal architects in 2026
1. Oregon
Total principal architect jobs: 1,172 Average annual salary: $136,553 Lowest 10 percent earn: $94,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $197,000 Location Quotient: 1.63
2. California
Total principal architect jobs: 5,408 Average annual salary: $163,641 Lowest 10 percent earn: $116,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $229,000 Location Quotient: 1.07
3. Nevada
Total principal architect jobs: 389 Average annual salary: $143,637 Lowest 10 percent earn: $100,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $204,000 Location Quotient: 1.07
4. Washington
Total principal architect jobs: 1,131 Average annual salary: $157,432 Lowest 10 percent earn: $110,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $223,000 Location Quotient: 0.89
5. Idaho
Total principal architect jobs: 320 Average annual salary: $132,422 Lowest 10 percent earn: $92,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $190,000 Location Quotient: 1.12
6. North Dakota
Total principal architect jobs: 179 Average annual salary: $131,609 Lowest 10 percent earn: $98,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $176,000 Location Quotient: 1.11
7. Alaska
Total principal architect jobs: 89 Average annual salary: $150,851 Lowest 10 percent earn: $107,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $211,000 Location Quotient: 0.61
8. Connecticut
Total principal architect jobs: 686 Average annual salary: $130,660 Lowest 10 percent earn: $96,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $177,000 Location Quotient: 1.19
9. Massachusetts
Total principal architect jobs: 1,592 Average annual salary: $135,023 Lowest 10 percent earn: $99,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $183,000 Location Quotient: 1
10. West Virginia
Total principal architect jobs: 140 Average annual salary: $136,922 Lowest 10 percent earn: $101,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $185,000 Location Quotient: 0.53
Principal architect jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a principal architect
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a principal architect
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oregon | $136,553 | $94,000 | 4,142,776 | 1,172 |
| 2 | California | $163,641 | $116,000 | 39,536,653 | 5,408 |
| 3 | Nevada | $143,637 | $100,000 | 2,998,039 | 389 |
| 4 | Washington | $157,432 | $110,000 | 7,405,743 | 1,131 |
| 5 | Idaho | $132,422 | $92,000 | 1,716,943 | 320 |
| 6 | North Dakota | $131,609 | $98,000 | 755,393 | 179 |
| 7 | Alaska | $150,851 | $107,000 | 739,795 | 89 |
| 8 | Connecticut | $130,660 | $96,000 | 3,588,184 | 686 |
| 9 | Massachusetts | $135,023 | $99,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,592 |
| 10 | West Virginia | $136,922 | $101,000 | 1,815,857 | 140 |
| 11 | Rhode Island | $122,451 | $90,000 | 1,059,639 | 325 |
| 12 | Virginia | $127,625 | $94,000 | 8,470,020 | 2,718 |
| 13 | Arizona | $124,119 | $86,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,157 |
| 14 | New York | $132,629 | $97,000 | 19,849,399 | 2,510 |
| 15 | Texas | $121,995 | $86,000 | 28,304,596 | 4,202 |
| 16 | District of Columbia | $131,294 | $96,000 | 693,972 | 715 |
| 17 | Pennsylvania | $122,073 | $89,000 | 12,805,537 | 2,267 |
| 18 | Utah | $120,610 | $84,000 | 3,101,833 | 662 |
| 19 | Maryland | $128,362 | $94,000 | 6,052,177 | 1,339 |
| 20 | Vermont | $119,996 | $88,000 | 623,657 | 154 |
| 21 | New Jersey | $127,605 | $93,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,501 |
| 22 | Wyoming | $119,659 | $86,000 | 579,315 | 90 |
| 23 | Florida | $122,464 | $88,000 | 20,984,400 | 2,508 |
| 24 | Mississippi | $125,614 | $92,000 | 2,984,100 | 124 |
| 25 | New Hampshire | $118,168 | $87,000 | 1,342,795 | 343 |
| 26 | North Carolina | $117,096 | $86,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,859 |
| 27 | Tennessee | $119,384 | $88,000 | 6,715,984 | 553 |
| 28 | Delaware | $122,889 | $90,000 | 961,939 | 172 |
| 29 | Michigan | $118,940 | $87,000 | 9,962,311 | 921 |
| 30 | Illinois | $116,052 | $85,000 | 12,802,023 | 2,563 |
| 31 | Georgia | $115,674 | $85,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,687 |
| 32 | Arkansas | $112,048 | $82,000 | 3,004,279 | 365 |
| 33 | New Mexico | $114,140 | $80,000 | 2,088,070 | 297 |
| 34 | Colorado | $114,502 | $82,000 | 5,607,154 | 1,162 |
| 35 | Minnesota | $114,261 | $84,000 | 5,576,606 | 1,240 |
| 36 | Kansas | $112,674 | $82,000 | 2,913,123 | 384 |
| 37 | Ohio | $109,433 | $80,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,510 |
| 38 | Iowa | $113,708 | $84,000 | 3,145,711 | 279 |
| 39 | Hawaii | $119,533 | $85,000 | 1,427,538 | 106 |
| 40 | Nebraska | $111,274 | $81,000 | 1,920,076 | 343 |
| 41 | Montana | $107,950 | $77,000 | 1,050,493 | 243 |
| 42 | Indiana | $109,466 | $81,000 | 6,666,818 | 669 |
| 43 | Kentucky | $107,954 | $80,000 | 4,454,189 | 414 |
| 44 | South Carolina | $110,865 | $82,000 | 5,024,369 | 438 |
| 45 | Louisiana | $112,207 | $80,000 | 4,684,333 | 217 |
| 46 | Missouri | $108,645 | $79,000 | 6,113,532 | 809 |
| 47 | Maine | $109,198 | $80,000 | 1,335,907 | 130 |
| 48 | Wisconsin | $105,712 | $78,000 | 5,795,483 | 719 |
| 49 | Alabama | $106,736 | $78,000 | 4,874,747 | 409 |
| 50 | South Dakota | $102,384 | $75,000 | 869,666 | 103 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $102,381 | $74,000 | 3,930,864 | 213 |
Highest paying states for principal architects
| Rank | State | Avg. Principal Architect Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oregon | $136,553 |
| 2 | California | $163,641 |
| 3 | Nevada | $143,637 |
| 4 | Washington | $157,432 |
| 5 | Idaho | $132,422 |
| 6 | North Dakota | $131,609 |
| 7 | Alaska | $150,851 |
| 8 | Connecticut | $130,660 |
| 9 | Massachusetts | $135,023 |
| 10 | West Virginia | $136,922 |
| 11 | Rhode Island | $122,451 |
| 12 | Virginia | $127,625 |
| 13 | Arizona | $124,119 |
| 14 | New York | $132,629 |
| 15 | Texas | $121,995 |
| 16 | District of Columbia | $131,294 |
| 17 | Pennsylvania | $122,073 |
| 18 | Utah | $120,610 |
| 19 | Maryland | $128,362 |
| 20 | Vermont | $119,996 |
| 21 | New Jersey | $127,605 |
| 22 | Wyoming | $119,659 |
| 23 | Florida | $122,464 |
| 24 | Mississippi | $125,614 |
| 25 | New Hampshire | $118,168 |
| 26 | North Carolina | $117,096 |
| 27 | Tennessee | $119,384 |
| 28 | Delaware | $122,889 |
| 29 | Michigan | $118,940 |
| 30 | Illinois | $116,052 |
| 31 | Georgia | $115,674 |
| 32 | Arkansas | $112,048 |
| 33 | New Mexico | $114,140 |
| 34 | Colorado | $114,502 |
| 35 | Minnesota | $114,261 |
| 36 | Kansas | $112,674 |
| 37 | Ohio | $109,433 |
| 38 | Iowa | $113,708 |
| 39 | Hawaii | $119,533 |
| 40 | Nebraska | $111,274 |
| 41 | Montana | $107,950 |
| 42 | Indiana | $109,466 |
| 43 | Kentucky | $107,954 |
| 44 | South Carolina | $110,865 |
| 45 | Louisiana | $112,207 |
| 46 | Missouri | $108,645 |
| 47 | Maine | $109,198 |
| 48 | Wisconsin | $105,712 |
| 49 | Alabama | $106,736 |
| 50 | South Dakota | $102,384 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $102,381 |
Expert opinions on the best states for principal architects
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for principal architects to find work opportunities?
Ross Weinreb
Instructor | Career Adviser, The Pennsylvania State University
Not that I am aware of. Our Penn State graduates generally find work in the Northeast (Philadelphia, New York, etc.).
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Updated January 8, 2025