Architecture30% remote-eligible+4% YoY growth

Director of Architecture Salary
by City (2026)

Lead architecture teams, set design standards, and manage large-scale projects. National median: $155K/year. See how your city compares.

National median

$155K

Top 10% earn

$260K

Entry level

$118K

Salary growth

+4%/yr

Director of Architecture salary by city

Sorted by median salary

City	Entry	Median	Senior	COL	Tax
San Francisco, CA	$171K	$225K	$290K	224	9.3%
San Jose, CA	$168K	$220K	$284K	210	9.3%
New York City, NY	$158K	$207K	$267K	187	6.85%
Cambridge, MA	$157K	$206K	$266K	185	5%
Pearl City, HI	$157K	$206K	$266K	185	11%
Oakland, CA	$156K	$205K	$264K	185	9.3%
Washington, DC	$156K	$205K	$264K	152	8.5%
Bellevue, WA	$152K	$200K	$258K	175	None ✓
Irvine, CA	$151K	$198K	$256K	172	9.3%
Boston, MA	$151K	$198K	$256K	162	5%
Los Angeles, CA	$148K	$194K	$250K	163	9.3%
Yonkers, NY	$148K	$194K	$251K	165	6.85%
Seattle, WA	$148K	$194K	$250K	150	None ✓
Arlington, VA	$148K	$194K	$250K	148	5.75%
Jersey City, NJ	$148K	$194K	$250K	162	10.75%
Bethesda, MD	$148K	$194K	$251K	165	5.75%
Kirkland, WA	$146K	$192K	$248K	162	None ✓
Stamford, CT	$145K	$190K	$245K	158	6.99%
San Diego, CA	$144K	$189K	$244K	148	9.3%
Newark, NJ	$144K	$189K	$244K	155	10.75%
Hilo, HI	$143K	$188K	$243K	155	11%
Santa Ana, CA	$141K	$185K	$239K	150	9.3%
Anaheim, CA	$140K	$184K	$238K	148	9.3%
Rockville, MD	$140K	$184K	$238K	148	5.75%
Houston, TX	$139K	$183K	$236K	91	None ✓
Long Beach, CA	$139K	$183K	$236K	155	9.3%
Alexandria, VA	$139K	$182K	$235K	145	5.75%
Elizabeth, NJ	$139K	$182K	$235K	145	10.75%
Paterson, NJ	$137K	$179K	$231K	140	10.75%
Sacramento, CA	$136K	$178K	$230K	128	9.3%
Chula Vista, CA	$136K	$178K	$230K	138	9.3%
Edison, NJ	$136K	$178K	$230K	138	10.75%
Fairbanks, AK	$136K	$178K	$230K	138	None ✓
Austin, TX	$132K	$174K	$224K	110	None ✓
Denver, CO	$132K	$174K	$224K	118	4.55%
Worcester, MA	$132K	$174K	$224K	120	5%
Portland, OR	$132K	$174K	$224K	130	9.9%
Honolulu, HI	$132K	$174K	$224K	192	11%
Anchorage, AK	$132K	$174K	$224K	128	None ✓
Dallas, TX	$130K	$171K	$220K	96	None ✓
Plano, TX	$130K	$171K	$220K	105	None ✓
Chicago, IL	$130K	$171K	$220K	107	4.95%
Tacoma, WA	$130K	$171K	$220K	128	None ✓
Baltimore, MD	$130K	$171K	$220K	115	5.75%
New Haven, CT	$129K	$169K	$218K	122	6.99%
Nashua, NH	$128K	$168K	$216K	120	None ✓
Fort Worth, TX	$127K	$167K	$216K	93	None ✓
Scottsdale, AZ	$127K	$167K	$216K	118	2.5%
Philadelphia, PA	$127K	$167K	$216K	110	3.07%
Minneapolis, MN	$127K	$167K	$216K	106	6.8%
Salt Lake City, UT	$127K	$167K	$216K	105	4.85%
Hartford, CT	$127K	$167K	$216K	118	6.99%
Frisco, TX	$127K	$166K	$215K	118	None ✓
Riverside, CA	$127K	$166K	$215K	118	9.3%
Naperville, IL	$127K	$166K	$215K	118	4.95%
Vancouver, WA	$127K	$166K	$215K	118	None ✓
Lowell, MA	$127K	$166K	$215K	118	5%
Gresham, OR	$127K	$166K	$215K	118	9.9%
Bridgeport, CT	$127K	$166K	$215K	118	6.99%
Manchester, NH	$127K	$166K	$215K	118	None ✓
Burlington, VT	$127K	$166K	$215K	118	6.6%
Providence, RI	$127K	$166K	$215K	118	5.99%
Hialeah, FL	$125K	$165K	$212K	115	None ✓
Hollywood, FL	$125K	$165K	$212K	115	None ✓
Lakewood, CO	$125K	$165K	$212K	115	4.55%
Ann Arbor, MI	$125K	$165K	$212K	115	4.25%
Frederick, MD	$125K	$165K	$212K	115	5.75%
Portland, ME	$125K	$165K	$212K	115	7.15%
Concord, NH	$125K	$165K	$212K	115	None ✓
Warwick, RI	$125K	$165K	$212K	115	5.99%
Arlington, TX	$124K	$163K	$210K	94	None ✓
Irving, TX	$124K	$163K	$210K	97	None ✓
McKinney, TX	$124K	$163K	$210K	108	None ✓
Miami, FL	$124K	$163K	$210K	123	None ✓
Pembroke Pines, FL	$124K	$163K	$210K	112	None ✓
Chandler, AZ	$124K	$163K	$210K	105	2.5%
Aurora, CO	$124K	$163K	$210K	112	4.55%
Fort Collins, CO	$124K	$163K	$210K	112	4.55%
Atlanta, GA	$124K	$163K	$210K	99	5.75%
Raleigh, NC	$124K	$163K	$210K	102	4.75%
Durham, NC	$124K	$163K	$210K	100	4.75%
Cary, NC	$124K	$163K	$210K	112	4.75%
St. Paul, MN	$124K	$163K	$210K	104	6.8%
Provo, UT	$124K	$163K	$210K	100	4.85%
Huntsville, AL	$124K	$163K	$210K	88	5%
Eugene, OR	$123K	$162K	$209K	110	9.9%
Round Rock, TX	$122K	$160K	$207K	108	None ✓
Gilbert, AZ	$122K	$160K	$207K	108	2.5%
Tempe, AZ	$122K	$160K	$207K	108	2.5%
Thornton, CO	$122K	$160K	$207K	108	4.55%
Boise, ID	$122K	$160K	$207K	108	5.8%
Wilmington, DE	$122K	$160K	$207K	108	6.6%
Stockton, CA	$121K	$159K	$205K	105	9.3%
Springfield, MA	$121K	$159K	$205K	105	5%
Salem, OR	$121K	$159K	$205K	105	9.9%
Henderson, NV	$121K	$159K	$205K	105	None ✓
Meridian, ID	$121K	$159K	$205K	105	5.8%
Garland, TX	$120K	$158K	$204K	91	None ✓
Fort Lauderdale, FL	$120K	$158K	$204K	118	None ✓
Carrollton, TX	$119K	$157K	$202K	102	None ✓
Missoula, MT	$119K	$157K	$202K	102	6.75%
Denton, TX	$119K	$156K	$201K	100	None ✓
San Bernardino, CA	$119K	$156K	$201K	100	9.3%
Cape Coral, FL	$119K	$156K	$201K	100	None ✓
Peoria, AZ	$119K	$156K	$201K	100	2.5%
Rochester, MN	$119K	$156K	$201K	100	6.8%
West Jordan, UT	$119K	$156K	$201K	100	4.85%
Overland Park, KS	$119K	$156K	$201K	100	5.7%
Dover, DE	$119K	$156K	$201K	100	6.6%
San Antonio, TX	$118K	$155K	$200K	87	None ✓
Albany, NY	$118K	$155K	$199K	98	6.85%
Tampa, FL	$118K	$155K	$200K	102	None ✓
Port St. Lucie, FL	$118K	$155K	$199K	98	None ✓
Phoenix, AZ	$118K	$155K	$200K	100	2.5%
Colorado Springs, CO	$118K	$155K	$200K	102	4.55%
Charlotte, NC	$118K	$155K	$200K	100	4.75%
Virginia Beach, VA	$118K	$155K	$200K	98	5.75%
Chesapeake, VA	$118K	$155K	$199K	98	5.75%
Nashville, TN	$118K	$155K	$200K	102	None ✓
Detroit, MI	$118K	$155K	$200K	82	4.25%
Pittsburgh, PA	$118K	$155K	$200K	90	3.07%
Reno, NV	$118K	$155K	$200K	108	None ✓
North Las Vegas, NV	$118K	$155K	$199K	98	None ✓
West Valley City, UT	$118K	$155K	$199K	98	4.85%
Orem, UT	$118K	$155K	$199K	98	4.85%
Nampa, ID	$118K	$155K	$199K	98	5.8%
Billings, MT	$118K	$155K	$199K	98	6.75%
Lewiston, ME	$118K	$155K	$199K	98	7.15%
Bakersfield, CA	$116K	$153K	$197K	95	9.3%
Aurora, IL	$116K	$153K	$197K	95	4.95%
Glendale, AZ	$116K	$153K	$197K	95	2.5%
Norfolk, VA	$116K	$153K	$197K	95	5.75%
Newport News, VA	$116K	$153K	$197K	95	5.75%
Allentown, PA	$116K	$153K	$197K	95	3.07%
North Charleston, SC	$116K	$153K	$197K	95	6.5%
Orlando, FL	$116K	$152K	$196K	100	None ✓
Richmond, VA	$116K	$152K	$196K	98	5.75%
Madison, WI	$116K	$152K	$196K	102	5.3%
Charleston, SC	$116K	$152K	$196K	105	6.5%
Midland, TX	$115K	$151K	$195K	92	None ✓
Athens, GA	$115K	$151K	$195K	92	5.75%
Duluth, MN	$115K	$151K	$195K	92	6.8%
Greenville, SC	$115K	$151K	$195K	92	6.5%
Cheyenne, WY	$115K	$151K	$195K	92	None ✓
Grand Prairie, TX	$114K	$150K	$193K	90	None ✓
Tallahassee, FL	$114K	$150K	$193K	90	None ✓
Joliet, IL	$114K	$150K	$193K	90	4.95%
Sterling Heights, MI	$114K	$150K	$193K	90	4.25%
Kenosha, WI	$114K	$150K	$193K	90	5.3%
Fargo, ND	$114K	$150K	$193K	90	2.5%
Pasadena, TX	$113K	$149K	$192K	88	None ✓
Mesquite, TX	$113K	$149K	$192K	88	None ✓
Syracuse, NY	$113K	$149K	$192K	88	6.85%
St. Petersburg, FL	$113K	$149K	$192K	105	None ✓
Gainesville, FL	$113K	$149K	$192K	88	None ✓
Mesa, AZ	$113K	$149K	$192K	98	2.5%
Greensboro, NC	$113K	$149K	$192K	88	4.75%
Chattanooga, TN	$113K	$149K	$192K	88	None ✓
Columbus, OH	$113K	$149K	$192K	90	3.99%
St. Louis, MO	$113K	$149K	$192K	86	5.3%
Milwaukee, WI	$113K	$149K	$192K	90	5.3%
Green Bay, WI	$113K	$149K	$192K	88	5.3%
Las Vegas, NV	$113K	$149K	$192K	102	None ✓
Lexington, KY	$113K	$149K	$192K	88	5%
Great Falls, MT	$113K	$149K	$192K	88	6.75%
Casper, WY	$113K	$149K	$192K	88	None ✓
Bismarck, ND	$113K	$149K	$192K	88	2.5%
Sioux Falls, SD	$113K	$149K	$192K	88	None ✓
Rapid City, SD	$113K	$149K	$192K	88	None ✓
Corpus Christi, TX	$112K	$147K	$190K	84	None ✓
Beaumont, TX	$112K	$147K	$189K	85	None ✓
Odessa, TX	$112K	$147K	$189K	85	None ✓
Tyler, TX	$112K	$147K	$189K	85	None ✓
Fresno, CA	$112K	$147K	$190K	102	9.3%
Rochester, NY	$112K	$147K	$190K	90	6.85%
Jacksonville, FL	$112K	$147K	$190K	93	None ✓
Winston-Salem, NC	$112K	$147K	$189K	85	4.75%
Cincinnati, OH	$112K	$147K	$190K	88	3.99%
Warren, MI	$112K	$147K	$189K	85	4.25%
Lansing, MI	$112K	$147K	$189K	85	4.25%
Kansas City, MO	$112K	$147K	$190K	90	5.3%
Independence, MO	$112K	$147K	$189K	85	5.3%
Indianapolis, IN	$112K	$147K	$190K	88	3.23%
Oklahoma City, OK	$112K	$147K	$190K	82	4.75%
New Orleans, LA	$112K	$147K	$190K	92	6%
Baton Rouge, LA	$112K	$147K	$190K	88	6%
Lafayette, LA	$112K	$147K	$189K	85	6%
Cedar Rapids, IA	$112K	$147K	$189K	85	4.82%
Kansas City, KS	$112K	$147K	$189K	85	5.7%
Lincoln, NE	$112K	$147K	$189K	85	5.84%
Rio Rancho, NM	$112K	$147K	$189K	85	5.9%
Fayetteville, AR	$112K	$147K	$189K	85	4.9%
Amarillo, TX	$110K	$145K	$187K	82	None ✓
Waco, TX	$110K	$145K	$187K	82	None ✓
Pueblo, CO	$110K	$145K	$187K	82	4.55%
Columbus, GA	$110K	$145K	$187K	82	5.75%
Augusta, GA	$110K	$145K	$187K	82	5.75%
Fayetteville, NC	$110K	$145K	$187K	82	4.75%
Clarksville, TN	$110K	$145K	$187K	82	None ✓
South Bend, IN	$110K	$145K	$187K	82	3.23%
Mobile, AL	$110K	$145K	$187K	82	5%
Broken Arrow, OK	$110K	$145K	$187K	82	4.75%
Davenport, IA	$110K	$145K	$187K	82	4.82%
Killeen, TX	$110K	$144K	$186K	80	None ✓
Rockford, IL	$110K	$144K	$186K	80	4.95%
Macon, GA	$110K	$144K	$186K	80	5.75%
Akron, OH	$110K	$144K	$186K	80	3.99%
Dayton, OH	$110K	$144K	$186K	80	3.99%
Erie, PA	$110K	$144K	$186K	80	3.07%
Springfield, MO	$110K	$144K	$186K	80	5.3%
Fort Wayne, IN	$110K	$144K	$186K	80	3.23%
Bowling Green, KY	$110K	$144K	$186K	80	5%
Montgomery, AL	$110K	$144K	$186K	80	5%
Norman, OK	$110K	$144K	$186K	80	4.75%
Las Cruces, NM	$110K	$144K	$186K	80	5.9%
Gulfport, MS	$110K	$144K	$186K	80	5%
Abilene, TX	$109K	$143K	$184K	78	None ✓
Buffalo, NY	$109K	$143K	$184K	88	6.85%
Spokane, WA	$109K	$143K	$184K	95	None ✓
Toledo, OH	$109K	$143K	$184K	78	3.99%
Grand Rapids, MI	$109K	$143K	$184K	90	4.25%
Evansville, IN	$109K	$143K	$184K	78	3.23%
Louisville, KY	$109K	$143K	$184K	85	5%
Tulsa, OK	$109K	$143K	$184K	80	4.75%
Shreveport, LA	$109K	$143K	$184K	78	6%
Wichita, KS	$109K	$143K	$184K	82	5.7%
Albuquerque, NM	$109K	$143K	$184K	88	5.9%
Jackson, MS	$109K	$143K	$184K	78	5%
Charleston, WV	$109K	$143K	$184K	78	6.5%
Brownsville, TX	$107K	$141K	$182K	75	None ✓
Fort Smith, AR	$107K	$141K	$182K	75	4.9%
Huntington, WV	$107K	$141K	$182K	75	6.5%
El Paso, TX	$106K	$140K	$180K	82	None ✓
Savannah, GA	$106K	$140K	$180K	92	5.75%
Knoxville, TN	$106K	$140K	$180K	85	None ✓
Cleveland, OH	$106K	$140K	$180K	82	3.99%
Birmingham, AL	$106K	$140K	$180K	82	5%
Des Moines, IA	$106K	$140K	$180K	88	4.82%
Omaha, NE	$106K	$140K	$180K	88	5.84%
Lubbock, TX	$104K	$136K	$176K	78	None ✓
Tucson, AZ	$104K	$136K	$176K	90	2.5%
Memphis, TN	$104K	$136K	$176K	82	None ✓
Columbia, SC	$104K	$136K	$176K	88	6.5%
Little Rock, AR	$100K	$132K	$170K	82	4.9%
Laredo, TX	$97K	$127K	$164K	76	None ✓

COL-adjusted: where does your salary go furthest?

A $155K Director of Architecture salary in Houston (COL 91, no tax) has significantly more purchasing power than the same salary in San Francisco (COL 224, 9.3% state tax). Use our calculator to see the real numbers.

Try COL Calculator →

Director of Architecture Salary Guide (2026)

The national median salary for a Director of Architecture is $155,000 per year. Entry-level positions typically start at $118,000, while experienced professionals in the top 25% earn $200,000 or more. The highest-paid 10% of Director of Architectures nationally earn $260,000+.

Education and requirements

Master's in Architecture; licensed architect; 12+ years. This role is 30% remote-eligible nationally, which significantly expands the geographic job market for workers in lower cost-of-living cities.

Salary growth outlook

Director of Architecture compensation is growing at 4% annually, above the national average wage growth rate.

Director of Architecture salary FAQ

How much does a Director of Architecture make?

The median Director of Architecture salary in the US is $155,000 per year — about $75/hour. Most earn between $118,000 (25th percentile) and $200,000 (75th percentile).

What is the starting salary for a Director of Architecture?

Entry-level Director of Architecture positions typically start around $118,000 per year. Pay rises with experience, specialization, and location.

How much do the highest-paid Director of Architectures earn?

The top 10% of Director of Architectures earn $260,000 or more per year — usually senior, lead, or specialized professionals in high-cost or high-demand markets.

Which city pays Director of Architectures the most?

San Francisco has the highest median Director of Architecture salary at $225K among the cities we track. But high-cost metros like San Francisco and New York often have lower real purchasing power once cost of living and taxes are factored in.

Are Director of Architecture salaries going up?

Yes — Director of Architecture pay is growing about 4% year over year, above the US average wage-growth rate.

Director of Architecture Salaryby City (2026)