Architecture30% remote-eligible+4.5% YoY growth

Project Architect Salary
by City (2026)

Lead architectural design on specific projects from concept through construction. National median: $105K/year. See how your city compares.

National median

$105K

Top 10% earn

$178K

Entry level

$78K

Salary growth

+4.5%/yr

Project Architect salary by city

Sorted by median salary

City	Entry	Median	Senior	COL	Tax
San Francisco, CA	$113K	$152K	$200K	224	9.3%
San Jose, CA	$111K	$149K	$196K	210	9.3%
New York City, NY	$104K	$140K	$185K	187	6.85%
Cambridge, MA	$104K	$140K	$183K	185	5%
Pearl City, HI	$104K	$140K	$183K	185	11%
Oakland, CA	$103K	$139K	$182K	185	9.3%
Washington, DC	$103K	$139K	$182K	152	8.5%
Bellevue, WA	$101K	$136K	$178K	175	None ✓
Irvine, CA	$100K	$134K	$177K	172	9.3%
Boston, MA	$100K	$134K	$177K	162	5%
Yonkers, NY	$98K	$132K	$173K	165	6.85%
Bethesda, MD	$98K	$132K	$173K	165	5.75%
Los Angeles, CA	$98K	$131K	$173K	163	9.3%
Seattle, WA	$98K	$131K	$173K	150	None ✓
Arlington, VA	$98K	$131K	$173K	148	5.75%
Jersey City, NJ	$98K	$131K	$173K	162	10.75%
Kirkland, WA	$97K	$130K	$171K	162	None ✓
Stamford, CT	$96K	$129K	$169K	158	6.99%
San Diego, CA	$95K	$128K	$168K	148	9.3%
Newark, NJ	$95K	$128K	$168K	155	10.75%
Hilo, HI	$95K	$128K	$168K	155	11%
Santa Ana, CA	$93K	$126K	$165K	150	9.3%
Anaheim, CA	$93K	$125K	$164K	148	9.3%
Rockville, MD	$93K	$125K	$164K	148	5.75%
Houston, TX	$92K	$124K	$163K	91	None ✓
Long Beach, CA	$92K	$124K	$163K	155	9.3%
Alexandria, VA	$92K	$123K	$162K	145	5.75%
Elizabeth, NJ	$92K	$123K	$162K	145	10.75%
Sacramento, CA	$90K	$121K	$159K	128	9.3%
Chula Vista, CA	$90K	$121K	$159K	138	9.3%
Paterson, NJ	$90K	$121K	$160K	140	10.75%
Edison, NJ	$90K	$121K	$159K	138	10.75%
Fairbanks, AK	$90K	$121K	$159K	138	None ✓
Austin, TX	$87K	$118K	$155K	110	None ✓
Denver, CO	$87K	$118K	$155K	118	4.55%
Worcester, MA	$87K	$118K	$155K	120	5%
Portland, OR	$87K	$118K	$155K	130	9.9%
Honolulu, HI	$87K	$118K	$155K	192	11%
Anchorage, AK	$87K	$118K	$155K	128	None ✓
Dallas, TX	$86K	$116K	$152K	96	None ✓
Plano, TX	$86K	$116K	$152K	105	None ✓
Chicago, IL	$86K	$116K	$152K	107	4.95%
Tacoma, WA	$86K	$116K	$152K	128	None ✓
Baltimore, MD	$86K	$116K	$152K	115	5.75%
New Haven, CT	$85K	$114K	$150K	122	6.99%
Nashua, NH	$84K	$114K	$149K	120	None ✓
Fort Worth, TX	$84K	$113K	$149K	93	None ✓
Frisco, TX	$84K	$113K	$148K	118	None ✓
Riverside, CA	$84K	$113K	$148K	118	9.3%
Naperville, IL	$84K	$113K	$148K	118	4.95%
Vancouver, WA	$84K	$113K	$148K	118	None ✓
Scottsdale, AZ	$84K	$113K	$149K	118	2.5%
Lowell, MA	$84K	$113K	$148K	118	5%
Philadelphia, PA	$84K	$113K	$149K	110	3.07%
Minneapolis, MN	$84K	$113K	$149K	106	6.8%
Gresham, OR	$84K	$113K	$148K	118	9.9%
Salt Lake City, UT	$84K	$113K	$149K	105	4.85%
Bridgeport, CT	$84K	$113K	$148K	118	6.99%
Hartford, CT	$84K	$113K	$149K	118	6.99%
Manchester, NH	$84K	$113K	$148K	118	None ✓
Burlington, VT	$84K	$113K	$148K	118	6.6%
Providence, RI	$84K	$113K	$148K	118	5.99%
Hialeah, FL	$83K	$112K	$147K	115	None ✓
Hollywood, FL	$83K	$112K	$147K	115	None ✓
Lakewood, CO	$83K	$112K	$147K	115	4.55%
Ann Arbor, MI	$83K	$112K	$147K	115	4.25%
Frederick, MD	$83K	$112K	$147K	115	5.75%
Portland, ME	$83K	$112K	$147K	115	7.15%
Concord, NH	$83K	$112K	$147K	115	None ✓
Warwick, RI	$83K	$112K	$147K	115	5.99%
Arlington, TX	$82K	$110K	$145K	94	None ✓
Irving, TX	$82K	$110K	$145K	97	None ✓
McKinney, TX	$82K	$110K	$145K	108	None ✓
Miami, FL	$82K	$110K	$145K	123	None ✓
Pembroke Pines, FL	$82K	$110K	$145K	112	None ✓
Chandler, AZ	$82K	$110K	$145K	105	2.5%
Aurora, CO	$82K	$110K	$145K	112	4.55%
Fort Collins, CO	$82K	$110K	$145K	112	4.55%
Atlanta, GA	$82K	$110K	$145K	99	5.75%
Raleigh, NC	$82K	$110K	$145K	102	4.75%
Durham, NC	$82K	$110K	$145K	100	4.75%
Cary, NC	$82K	$110K	$145K	112	4.75%
St. Paul, MN	$82K	$110K	$145K	104	6.8%
Eugene, OR	$81K	$110K	$144K	110	9.9%
Provo, UT	$82K	$110K	$145K	100	4.85%
Huntsville, AL	$82K	$110K	$145K	88	5%
Round Rock, TX	$81K	$109K	$143K	108	None ✓
Gilbert, AZ	$81K	$109K	$143K	108	2.5%
Tempe, AZ	$81K	$109K	$143K	108	2.5%
Thornton, CO	$81K	$109K	$143K	108	4.55%
Boise, ID	$81K	$109K	$143K	108	5.8%
Wilmington, DE	$81K	$109K	$143K	108	6.6%
Stockton, CA	$80K	$108K	$141K	105	9.3%
Springfield, MA	$80K	$108K	$141K	105	5%
Salem, OR	$80K	$108K	$141K	105	9.9%
Henderson, NV	$80K	$108K	$141K	105	None ✓
Meridian, ID	$80K	$108K	$141K	105	5.8%
Garland, TX	$80K	$107K	$141K	91	None ✓
Fort Lauderdale, FL	$80K	$107K	$141K	118	None ✓
Denton, TX	$78K	$106K	$139K	100	None ✓
Carrollton, TX	$79K	$106K	$140K	102	None ✓
San Bernardino, CA	$78K	$106K	$139K	100	9.3%
Cape Coral, FL	$78K	$106K	$139K	100	None ✓
Peoria, AZ	$78K	$106K	$139K	100	2.5%
Rochester, MN	$78K	$106K	$139K	100	6.8%
West Jordan, UT	$78K	$106K	$139K	100	4.85%
Overland Park, KS	$78K	$106K	$139K	100	5.7%
Missoula, MT	$79K	$106K	$140K	102	6.75%
Dover, DE	$78K	$106K	$139K	100	6.6%
San Antonio, TX	$78K	$105K	$138K	87	None ✓
Albany, NY	$78K	$105K	$138K	98	6.85%
Tampa, FL	$78K	$105K	$138K	102	None ✓
Port St. Lucie, FL	$78K	$105K	$138K	98	None ✓
Phoenix, AZ	$78K	$105K	$138K	100	2.5%
Colorado Springs, CO	$78K	$105K	$138K	102	4.55%
Charlotte, NC	$78K	$105K	$138K	100	4.75%
Virginia Beach, VA	$78K	$105K	$138K	98	5.75%
Chesapeake, VA	$78K	$105K	$138K	98	5.75%
Nashville, TN	$78K	$105K	$138K	102	None ✓
Detroit, MI	$78K	$105K	$138K	82	4.25%
Pittsburgh, PA	$78K	$105K	$138K	90	3.07%
Reno, NV	$78K	$105K	$138K	108	None ✓
North Las Vegas, NV	$78K	$105K	$138K	98	None ✓
West Valley City, UT	$78K	$105K	$138K	98	4.85%
Orem, UT	$78K	$105K	$138K	98	4.85%
Nampa, ID	$78K	$105K	$138K	98	5.8%
Billings, MT	$78K	$105K	$138K	98	6.75%
Lewiston, ME	$78K	$105K	$138K	98	7.15%
Bakersfield, CA	$77K	$104K	$136K	95	9.3%
Aurora, IL	$77K	$104K	$136K	95	4.95%
Glendale, AZ	$77K	$104K	$136K	95	2.5%
Norfolk, VA	$77K	$104K	$136K	95	5.75%
Newport News, VA	$77K	$104K	$136K	95	5.75%
Allentown, PA	$77K	$104K	$136K	95	3.07%
North Charleston, SC	$77K	$104K	$136K	95	6.5%
Orlando, FL	$76K	$103K	$135K	100	None ✓
Richmond, VA	$76K	$103K	$135K	98	5.75%
Madison, WI	$76K	$103K	$135K	102	5.3%
Charleston, SC	$76K	$103K	$135K	105	6.5%
Midland, TX	$76K	$102K	$134K	92	None ✓
Athens, GA	$76K	$102K	$134K	92	5.75%
Duluth, MN	$76K	$102K	$134K	92	6.8%
Greenville, SC	$76K	$102K	$134K	92	6.5%
Cheyenne, WY	$76K	$102K	$134K	92	None ✓
Grand Prairie, TX	$75K	$101K	$133K	90	None ✓
Pasadena, TX	$75K	$101K	$132K	88	None ✓
Mesquite, TX	$75K	$101K	$132K	88	None ✓
Syracuse, NY	$75K	$101K	$132K	88	6.85%
St. Petersburg, FL	$75K	$101K	$132K	105	None ✓
Tallahassee, FL	$75K	$101K	$133K	90	None ✓
Gainesville, FL	$75K	$101K	$132K	88	None ✓
Joliet, IL	$75K	$101K	$133K	90	4.95%
Mesa, AZ	$75K	$101K	$132K	98	2.5%
Greensboro, NC	$75K	$101K	$132K	88	4.75%
Chattanooga, TN	$75K	$101K	$132K	88	None ✓
Columbus, OH	$75K	$101K	$132K	90	3.99%
Sterling Heights, MI	$75K	$101K	$133K	90	4.25%
St. Louis, MO	$75K	$101K	$132K	86	5.3%
Milwaukee, WI	$75K	$101K	$132K	90	5.3%
Green Bay, WI	$75K	$101K	$132K	88	5.3%
Kenosha, WI	$75K	$101K	$133K	90	5.3%
Las Vegas, NV	$75K	$101K	$132K	102	None ✓
Lexington, KY	$75K	$101K	$132K	88	5%
Great Falls, MT	$75K	$101K	$132K	88	6.75%
Casper, WY	$75K	$101K	$132K	88	None ✓
Fargo, ND	$75K	$101K	$133K	90	2.5%
Bismarck, ND	$75K	$101K	$132K	88	2.5%
Sioux Falls, SD	$75K	$101K	$132K	88	None ✓
Rapid City, SD	$75K	$101K	$132K	88	None ✓
Corpus Christi, TX	$74K	$100K	$131K	84	None ✓
Fresno, CA	$74K	$100K	$131K	102	9.3%
Rochester, NY	$74K	$100K	$131K	90	6.85%
Jacksonville, FL	$74K	$100K	$131K	93	None ✓
Cincinnati, OH	$74K	$100K	$131K	88	3.99%
Kansas City, MO	$74K	$100K	$131K	90	5.3%
Indianapolis, IN	$74K	$100K	$131K	88	3.23%
Oklahoma City, OK	$74K	$100K	$131K	82	4.75%
New Orleans, LA	$74K	$100K	$131K	92	6%
Baton Rouge, LA	$74K	$100K	$131K	88	6%
Beaumont, TX	$74K	$99K	$131K	85	None ✓
Odessa, TX	$74K	$99K	$131K	85	None ✓
Tyler, TX	$74K	$99K	$131K	85	None ✓
Winston-Salem, NC	$74K	$99K	$131K	85	4.75%
Warren, MI	$74K	$99K	$131K	85	4.25%
Lansing, MI	$74K	$99K	$131K	85	4.25%
Independence, MO	$74K	$99K	$131K	85	5.3%
Lafayette, LA	$74K	$99K	$131K	85	6%
Cedar Rapids, IA	$74K	$99K	$131K	85	4.82%
Kansas City, KS	$74K	$99K	$131K	85	5.7%
Lincoln, NE	$74K	$99K	$131K	85	5.84%
Rio Rancho, NM	$74K	$99K	$131K	85	5.9%
Fayetteville, AR	$74K	$99K	$131K	85	4.9%
Amarillo, TX	$73K	$98K	$129K	82	None ✓
Waco, TX	$73K	$98K	$129K	82	None ✓
Pueblo, CO	$73K	$98K	$129K	82	4.55%
Columbus, GA	$73K	$98K	$129K	82	5.75%
Augusta, GA	$73K	$98K	$129K	82	5.75%
Fayetteville, NC	$73K	$98K	$129K	82	4.75%
Clarksville, TN	$73K	$98K	$129K	82	None ✓
South Bend, IN	$73K	$98K	$129K	82	3.23%
Mobile, AL	$73K	$98K	$129K	82	5%
Broken Arrow, OK	$73K	$98K	$129K	82	4.75%
Davenport, IA	$73K	$98K	$129K	82	4.82%
Killeen, TX	$72K	$97K	$128K	80	None ✓
Abilene, TX	$72K	$97K	$127K	78	None ✓
Buffalo, NY	$72K	$97K	$127K	88	6.85%
Rockford, IL	$72K	$97K	$128K	80	4.95%
Spokane, WA	$72K	$97K	$127K	95	None ✓
Macon, GA	$72K	$97K	$128K	80	5.75%
Toledo, OH	$72K	$97K	$127K	78	3.99%
Akron, OH	$72K	$97K	$128K	80	3.99%
Dayton, OH	$72K	$97K	$128K	80	3.99%
Grand Rapids, MI	$72K	$97K	$127K	90	4.25%
Erie, PA	$72K	$97K	$128K	80	3.07%
Springfield, MO	$72K	$97K	$128K	80	5.3%
Fort Wayne, IN	$72K	$97K	$128K	80	3.23%
Evansville, IN	$72K	$97K	$127K	78	3.23%
Louisville, KY	$72K	$97K	$127K	85	5%
Bowling Green, KY	$72K	$97K	$128K	80	5%
Montgomery, AL	$72K	$97K	$128K	80	5%
Tulsa, OK	$72K	$97K	$127K	80	4.75%
Norman, OK	$72K	$97K	$128K	80	4.75%
Shreveport, LA	$72K	$97K	$127K	78	6%
Wichita, KS	$72K	$97K	$127K	82	5.7%
Albuquerque, NM	$72K	$97K	$127K	88	5.9%
Las Cruces, NM	$72K	$97K	$128K	80	5.9%
Jackson, MS	$72K	$97K	$127K	78	5%
Gulfport, MS	$72K	$97K	$128K	80	5%
Charleston, WV	$72K	$97K	$127K	78	6.5%
El Paso, TX	$70K	$95K	$124K	82	None ✓
Brownsville, TX	$71K	$95K	$125K	75	None ✓
Savannah, GA	$70K	$95K	$124K	92	5.75%
Knoxville, TN	$70K	$95K	$124K	85	None ✓
Cleveland, OH	$70K	$95K	$124K	82	3.99%
Birmingham, AL	$70K	$95K	$124K	82	5%
Des Moines, IA	$70K	$95K	$124K	88	4.82%
Omaha, NE	$70K	$95K	$124K	88	5.84%
Fort Smith, AR	$71K	$95K	$125K	75	4.9%
Huntington, WV	$71K	$95K	$125K	75	6.5%
Lubbock, TX	$69K	$92K	$121K	78	None ✓
Tucson, AZ	$69K	$92K	$121K	90	2.5%
Memphis, TN	$69K	$92K	$121K	82	None ✓
Columbia, SC	$69K	$92K	$121K	88	6.5%
Little Rock, AR	$66K	$89K	$117K	82	4.9%
Laredo, TX	$64K	$86K	$113K	76	None ✓

COL-adjusted: where does your salary go furthest?

A $105K Project Architect 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 →

Project Architect Salary Guide (2026)

The national median salary for a Project Architect is $105,000 per year. Entry-level positions typically start at $78,000, while experienced professionals in the top 25% earn $138,000 or more. The highest-paid 10% of Project Architects nationally earn $178,000+.

Education and requirements

Bachelor's in Architecture; licensed architect; 5+ 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

Project Architect compensation is growing at 4.5% annually, well above the national average wage growth rate.

Project Architect salary FAQ

How much does a Project Architect make?

The median Project Architect salary in the US is $105,000 per year — about $50/hour. Most earn between $78,000 (25th percentile) and $138,000 (75th percentile).

What is the starting salary for a Project Architect?

Entry-level Project Architect positions typically start around $78,000 per year. Pay rises with experience, specialization, and location.

How much do the highest-paid Project Architects earn?

The top 10% of Project Architects earn $178,000 or more per year — usually senior, lead, or specialized professionals in high-cost or high-demand markets.

Which city pays Project Architects the most?

San Francisco has the highest median Project Architect salary at $152K 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 Project Architect salaries going up?

Yes — Project Architect pay is growing about 4.5% year over year, above the US average wage-growth rate.

Project Architect Salaryby City (2026)