Best cities for a staff architect
The best cities for staff architects are Phoenix, AZ, San Jose, CA, and Fort Worth, TX, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for staff architects vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for staff architects in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a staff architect or considering a move, this list of the best cities for staff architects to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for staff architects. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a staff architect. While the absolute best city for staff architects is Phoenix, AZ, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for staff architects in 2024.
If you're looking for a staff architect job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for staff architects in 2026
1. Phoenix, AZ
Total staff architect jobs: 27 Average annual salary: $84,307 Lowest 10 percent warn: $51,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $136,000 Location quotient: 9.15 2. San Jose, CA
Total staff architect jobs: 23 Average annual salary: $102,494 Lowest 10 percent warn: $60,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $174,000 Location quotient: 6.86 3. Fort Worth, TX
Total staff architect jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $81,001 Lowest 10 percent warn: $51,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $126,000 Location quotient: 5.12 4. Austin, TX
Total staff architect jobs: 21 Average annual salary: $81,679 Lowest 10 percent warn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $127,000 Location quotient: 6.64 5. Saint Paul, MN
Total staff architect jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $87,650 Lowest 10 percent warn: $58,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $132,000 Location quotient: 2.20 6. Dallas, TX
Total staff architect jobs: 11 Average annual salary: $80,818 Lowest 10 percent warn: $51,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $125,000 Location quotient: 3.80 7. Minneapolis, MN
Total staff architect jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $87,622 Lowest 10 percent warn: $58,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $132,000 Location quotient: 1.68 8. San Francisco, CA
Total staff architect jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $103,324 Lowest 10 percent warn: $60,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $176,000 Location quotient: 1.69 9. Glendale, AZ
Total staff architect jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $84,323 Lowest 10 percent warn: $51,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $136,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. Scottsdale, AZ
Total staff architect jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $84,302 Lowest 10 percent warn: $51,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $136,000 Location quotient: 0.00
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Best cities for staff architects
- Phoenix, AZ
- San Jose, CA
- Fort Worth, TX
- Austin, TX
- Saint Paul, MN
- Dallas, TX
- Minneapolis, MN
- San Francisco, CA
- Glendale, AZ
- Scottsdale, AZ
- (27 staff architect jobs)
- (23 staff architect jobs)
- (4 staff architect jobs)
- (21 staff architect jobs)
- (2 staff architect jobs)
- (11 staff architect jobs)
- (3 staff architect jobs)
- (8 staff architect jobs)
- (0 staff architect jobs)
- (0 staff architect jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a staff architect
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Phoenix, AZ | $84,307 | $51,000 | 1,615,017 | 27 |
| 2 | San Jose, CA | $102,494 | $60,000 | 1,025,350 | 23 |
| 3 | Fort Worth, TX | $81,001 | $51,000 | 854,113 | 4 |
| 4 | Austin, TX | $81,679 | $52,000 | 947,890 | 21 |
| 5 | Saint Paul, MN | $87,650 | $58,000 | 302,398 | 2 |
| 6 | Dallas, TX | $80,818 | $51,000 | 1,317,929 | 11 |
| 7 | Minneapolis, MN | $87,622 | $58,000 | 413,651 | 3 |
| 8 | San Francisco, CA | $103,324 | $60,000 | 870,887 | 8 |
| 9 | Glendale, AZ | $84,323 | $51,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 10 | Scottsdale, AZ | $84,302 | $51,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 11 | El Paso, TX | $83,668 | $52,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 12 | Oakland, CA | $103,115 | $60,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 13 | Mesa, AZ | $83,873 | $51,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 14 | Fremont, CA | $102,729 | $60,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 15 | Chandler, AZ | $83,810 | $51,000 | 247,477 | - |
| 16 | Sacramento, CA | $102,536 | $60,000 | 495,234 | - |
| 17 | Gilbert, AZ | $83,763 | $51,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 18 | San Antonio, TX | $81,599 | $52,000 | 1,492,510 | 3 |
| 19 | Stockton, CA | $102,285 | $60,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 20 | Detroit, MI | $78,070 | $51,000 | 672,795 | - |
| 21 | Lubbock, TX | $82,253 | $52,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 22 | Arlington, TX | $80,948 | $51,000 | 392,772 | - |
| 23 | Milwaukee, WI | $78,462 | $51,000 | 595,047 | - |
| 24 | Irving, TX | $80,826 | $51,000 | 238,289 | - |
| 25 | Los Angeles, CA | $96,888 | $58,000 | 3,976,322 | 11 |
| 26 | Kansas City, MO | $75,544 | $49,000 | 481,420 | 5 |
| 27 | Albuquerque, NM | $73,385 | $45,000 | 559,277 | 6 |
| 28 | Cleveland, OH | $72,461 | $47,000 | 385,809 | 3 |
| 29 | Irvine, CA | $95,863 | $58,000 | 266,122 | 4 |
| 30 | Houston, TX | $81,073 | $52,000 | 2,303,482 | 4 |
| 31 | Garland, TX | $80,665 | $51,000 | 234,943 | - |
| 32 | San Diego, CA | $93,565 | $57,000 | 1,406,630 | 16 |
| 33 | Plano, TX | $80,608 | $51,000 | 286,057 | - |
| 34 | Madison, WI | $78,028 | $51,000 | 252,551 | - |
| 35 | Tucson, AZ | $82,263 | $51,000 | 530,706 | - |
| 36 | Fresno, CA | $100,228 | $59,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 37 | Laredo, TX | $80,710 | $52,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 38 | Corpus Christi, TX | $80,482 | $52,000 | 325,733 | - |
| 39 | Colorado Springs, CO | $78,657 | $49,000 | 465,101 | 4 |
| 40 | Atlanta, GA | $76,283 | $49,000 | 472,522 | 11 |
| 41 | Long Beach, CA | $96,333 | $58,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 42 | Anaheim, CA | $96,222 | $58,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 43 | Santa Ana, CA | $96,044 | $58,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 44 | Columbus, OH | $71,824 | $46,000 | 860,090 | 4 |
| 45 | Bakersfield, CA | $98,713 | $59,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 46 | Riverside, CA | $95,965 | $58,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 47 | Portland, OR | $78,804 | $47,000 | 639,863 | 6 |
| 48 | Aurora, CO | $78,567 | $49,000 | 361,710 | 2 |
| 49 | Saint Louis, MO | $75,026 | $49,000 | 311,404 | 2 |
| 50 | Pittsburgh, PA | $68,821 | $44,000 | 303,625 | 5 |
Highest paying cities for staff architects
| Rank | City | Avg. staff architect salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $103,324 |
| 2 | Minneapolis, MN | $87,622 |
| 3 | Phoenix, AZ | $84,307 |
| 4 | Austin, TX | $81,679 |
| 5 | Washington, DC | $81,227 |
| 6 | Portland, OR | $78,804 |
| 7 | Denver, CO | $78,612 |
| 8 | Menomonee Falls, WI | $78,418 |
| 9 | New York, NY | $77,449 |
| 10 | Atlanta, GA | $76,283 |
| 11 | Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ | $76,137 |
| 12 | Kansas City, MO | $75,544 |
| 13 | Boston, MA | $74,208 |
| 14 | Albuquerque, NM | $73,385 |
| 15 | Columbus, OH | $71,824 |
| 16 | Seattle, WA | $70,674 |
| 17 | Alexandria, VA | $70,325 |
| 18 | Baltimore, MD | $70,303 |
| 19 | Philadelphia, PA | $70,112 |
| 20 | New Haven, CT | $67,704 |
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Updated January 8, 2025