California Median
$108,540
per year
Hourly Rate
$52.18
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+9% vs US median
US median $99,280
State Rank
#5 of 51
13,270 employed here
How much do Architects, Except Landscape and Naval make in California?
Architects, Except Landscape and Naval working in California earn a median salary of $108,540 per year, or about $52.18 per hour. That is 9% above the national median of $99,280 for this occupation.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $75,640 while the top 10% make $171,160 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $85,990 and $152,430 a year.
Architects, Except Landscape and Naval salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $75,640 | $36.37 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $85,990 | $41.34 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $108,540 | $52.18 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $152,430 | $73.28 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $171,160 | $82.29 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 5th out of 51 states and territories for Architects, Except Landscape and Naval pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Architects, Except Landscape and Naval salary in other states
Wyoming $120,580Massachusetts $117,330Maryland $114,550Alaska $108,730Rhode Island $105,160Connecticut $103,540South Dakota $102,500Colorado $102,400Hawaii $102,340District of Columbia $102,040Arizona $102,000Nevada $101,570South Carolina $101,550New Hampshire $101,100Georgia $100,420Oklahoma $100,350Washington $100,190Minnesota $99,940New Jersey $99,800New York $99,280Oregon $98,800Wisconsin $98,510Missouri $98,490Kentucky $97,680Virginia $97,680Montana $97,290North Dakota $97,110Delaware $97,030Pennsylvania $97,030Iowa $96,810West Virginia $96,470Florida $96,240Indiana $96,060Alabama $95,990North Carolina $95,700Utah $95,590Ohio $94,960Texas $94,490Tennessee $94,030Idaho $93,710Nebraska $91,530Michigan $88,430Kansas $85,490Vermont $82,400Illinois $81,780Mississippi $80,870Louisiana $79,580Maine $78,600Arkansas $78,190New Mexico $77,720
Working as Architects, Except Landscape and Naval in California
Nationally, about 107,000 people work as Architects, Except Landscape and Naval in the United States. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
Considering a move? Compare California pay ($108,540) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much do Architects, Except Landscape and Naval make in California?
The median Architects, Except Landscape and Naval salary in California is $108,540 per year, or about $52.18 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $75,640 at the entry level to $171,160 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Architects, Except Landscape and Naval about 9% more than the national median of $99,280. California ranks 5th out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Architects, Except Landscape and Naval?
Yes on pay — California pays above the national median for this occupation, at $108,540 a year. About 13,270 Architects, Except Landscape and Naval are employed in California. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in California?
The highest-paying occupations in California include Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($400,150), Neurologist ($357,080), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($353,900), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Architects, Except Landscape and Naval salary report
Related salaries
$59,920
median pay · 12,000 employed
$98,590
median pay · 1,000 employed
$71,550
median pay · 40,000 employed
$76,870
median pay · 18,000 employed
$100,840
median pay · 368,000 employed
$104,110
median pay · 297,000 employed
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.