Best cities for a senior architect
The best cities for senior architects are Atlanta, GA, Cincinnati, OH, and San Jose, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for senior architects vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for senior architects in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a senior architect or considering a move, this list of the best cities for senior architects to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for senior architects. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a senior architect. While the absolute best city for senior architects is Atlanta, GA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for senior architects in 2024.
If you're looking for a senior architect job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for senior architects in 2026
1. Atlanta, GA
Total senior architect jobs: 241 Average annual salary: $98,493 Lowest 10 percent warn: $63,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $153,000 Location quotient: 4.42 2. Cincinnati, OH
Total senior architect jobs: 55 Average annual salary: $84,381 Lowest 10 percent warn: $56,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $126,000 Location quotient: 4.31 3. San Jose, CA
Total senior architect jobs: 252 Average annual salary: $109,655 Lowest 10 percent warn: $66,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $179,000 Location quotient: 6.02 4. Columbus, OH
Total senior architect jobs: 89 Average annual salary: $84,673 Lowest 10 percent warn: $56,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $126,000 Location quotient: 3.38 5. San Francisco, CA
Total senior architect jobs: 225 Average annual salary: $110,273 Lowest 10 percent warn: $67,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $181,000 Location quotient: 3.81 6. Philadelphia, PA
Total senior architect jobs: 89 Average annual salary: $91,027 Lowest 10 percent warn: $60,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $136,000 Location quotient: 3.11 7. Scottsdale, AZ
Total senior architect jobs: 22 Average annual salary: $89,926 Lowest 10 percent warn: $55,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $145,000 Location quotient: 3.58 8. Cleveland, OH
Total senior architect jobs: 25 Average annual salary: $85,202 Lowest 10 percent warn: $56,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $127,000 Location quotient: 2.66 9. Washington, DC
Total senior architect jobs: 93 Average annual salary: $122,781 Lowest 10 percent warn: $81,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $184,000 Location quotient: 2.73 10. Phoenix, AZ
Total senior architect jobs: 119 Average annual salary: $89,961 Lowest 10 percent warn: $55,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $145,000 Location quotient: 3.23
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Best cities for senior architects
- Atlanta, GA
- Cincinnati, OH
- San Jose, CA
- Columbus, OH
- San Francisco, CA
- Philadelphia, PA
- Scottsdale, AZ
- Cleveland, OH
- Washington, DC
- Phoenix, AZ
- (241 senior architect jobs)
- (55 senior architect jobs)
- (252 senior architect jobs)
- (89 senior architect jobs)
- (225 senior architect jobs)
- (89 senior architect jobs)
- (22 senior architect jobs)
- (25 senior architect jobs)
- (93 senior architect jobs)
- (119 senior architect jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a senior architect
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Atlanta, GA | $98,493 | $63,000 | 472,522 | 241 |
| 2 | Cincinnati, OH | $84,381 | $56,000 | 298,800 | 55 |
| 3 | San Jose, CA | $109,655 | $66,000 | 1,025,350 | 252 |
| 4 | Columbus, OH | $84,673 | $56,000 | 860,090 | 89 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $110,273 | $67,000 | 870,887 | 225 |
| 6 | Philadelphia, PA | $91,027 | $60,000 | 1,567,872 | 89 |
| 7 | Scottsdale, AZ | $89,926 | $55,000 | 246,645 | 22 |
| 8 | Cleveland, OH | $85,202 | $56,000 | 385,809 | 25 |
| 9 | Washington, DC | $122,781 | $81,000 | 681,170 | 93 |
| 10 | Phoenix, AZ | $89,961 | $55,000 | 1,615,017 | 119 |
| 11 | Boston, MA | $95,030 | $64,000 | 673,184 | 163 |
| 12 | Sacramento, CA | $108,455 | $66,000 | 495,234 | 41 |
| 13 | Irvine, CA | $102,423 | $63,000 | 266,122 | 56 |
| 14 | Chandler, AZ | $89,770 | $55,000 | 247,477 | 17 |
| 15 | Austin, TX | $81,506 | $50,000 | 947,890 | 8 |
| 16 | Indianapolis, IN | $83,639 | $55,000 | 855,164 | 59 |
| 17 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $110,281 | $85,000 | 351,792 | 26 |
| 18 | Anchorage, AK | $98,335 | $65,000 | 298,192 | 7 |
| 19 | Plano, TX | $81,122 | $51,000 | 286,057 | 130 |
| 20 | Irving, TX | $81,168 | $51,000 | 238,289 | 137 |
| 21 | Pittsburgh, PA | $89,359 | $59,000 | 303,625 | 38 |
| 22 | Lincoln, NE | $80,053 | $52,000 | 280,364 | 38 |
| 23 | Anaheim, CA | $102,598 | $63,000 | 351,043 | 9 |
| 24 | Arlington, TX | $81,205 | $51,000 | 392,772 | 11 |
| 25 | Greensboro, NC | $77,982 | $51,000 | 287,027 | 34 |
| 26 | Fremont, CA | $109,762 | $66,000 | 233,136 | 25 |
| 27 | Los Angeles, CA | $102,971 | $63,000 | 3,976,322 | 115 |
| 28 | San Diego, CA | $101,624 | $62,000 | 1,406,630 | 111 |
| 29 | New Orleans, LA | $97,954 | $61,000 | 391,495 | 2 |
| 30 | Nashville, TN | $73,539 | $47,000 | 660,388 | 65 |
| 31 | Durham, NC | $78,078 | $51,000 | 263,016 | 36 |
| 32 | Wichita, KS | $90,638 | $59,000 | 389,902 | 2 |
| 33 | Houston, TX | $81,093 | $50,000 | 2,303,482 | 219 |
| 34 | Toledo, OH | $84,793 | $56,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 35 | Fort Worth, TX | $81,254 | $51,000 | 854,113 | 25 |
| 36 | Albuquerque, NM | $93,406 | $58,000 | 559,277 | 2 |
| 37 | Oakland, CA | $110,020 | $67,000 | 420,005 | 3 |
| 38 | Virginia Beach, VA | $92,448 | $61,000 | 452,602 | 9 |
| 39 | Seattle, WA | $94,152 | $59,000 | 704,352 | 79 |
| 40 | Raleigh, NC | $78,057 | $51,000 | 458,880 | 49 |
| 41 | Fort Wayne, IN | $83,880 | $56,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 42 | San Antonio, TX | $81,673 | $50,000 | 1,492,510 | 37 |
| 43 | Saint Paul, MN | $81,513 | $54,000 | 302,398 | 49 |
| 44 | Santa Ana, CA | $102,510 | $63,000 | 334,217 | 3 |
| 45 | Glendale, AZ | $89,980 | $55,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 46 | Long Beach, CA | $102,656 | $63,000 | 470,130 | 2 |
| 47 | Tampa, FL | $75,242 | $47,000 | 377,165 | 95 |
| 48 | Lexington, KY | $67,536 | $44,000 | 318,449 | 28 |
| 49 | Stockton, CA | $108,830 | $66,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 50 | Tucson, AZ | $89,054 | $55,000 | 530,706 | 2 |
Highest paying cities for senior architects
| Rank | City | Avg. senior architect salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $122,781 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $110,273 |
| 3 | Alpharetta, GA | $98,559 |
| 4 | Albany, NY | $95,067 |
| 5 | Quincy, MA | $95,031 |
| 6 | Seattle, WA | $94,152 |
| 7 | Richmond, VA | $92,238 |
| 8 | Philadelphia, PA | $91,027 |
| 9 | Phoenix, AZ | $89,961 |
| 10 | Englewood, CO | $87,162 |
| 11 | Hartford, CT | $85,059 |
| 12 | Columbus, OH | $84,673 |
| 13 | Chicago, IL | $84,128 |
| 14 | Columbus, MS | $84,118 |
| 15 | Indianapolis, IN | $83,639 |
| 16 | Hillsboro, OR | $82,355 |
| 17 | Austin, TX | $81,506 |
| 18 | Minneapolis, MN | $81,503 |
| 19 | Bellevue, NE | $79,983 |
| 20 | Raleigh, NC | $78,057 |
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Updated January 8, 2025