Salary distribution
Where California architects fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $81,690 and $139,930, with a median of $105,840.
Architects in California: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 425 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $85,696. Every figure below is an actual offered salary an employer attested to under federal law.
By DOL wage level
DOL classifies every offer into one of four wage levels based on the role's experience and skill requirements.
| Level | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|
| Level I — entry | 222 | $79,768 |
| Level II — qualified | 64 | $100,000 |
| Level III — experienced | 12 | $132,684 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 8 | $152,500 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Architects in California. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| SmithGroup, Inc., subsidiary of SmithGroup Co., Inc. | Architect (non-licensed) | 16 | $90,000 |
| HDR Architecture, Inc. | Senior Design Coordinator | 15 | $111,114 |
| Perkins & Will, Inc. | Designer | 13 | $79,768 |
| Hellmuth, Obata & Kassabaum, Inc. | Senior Design Professional | 11 | $95,000 |
| CO Architects | Architect I | 10 | $77,900 |
| Corgan Associates, Inc. | Project Specialist | 10 | $87,856 |
| Perkins Eastman Architects DPC | Designer I | 7 | $73,430 |
| MBH Architects Inc. | Design Professional | 7 | $69,350 |
| Cannon Design, Inc. | Architect III | 6 | $104,375 |
| Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP | Intermediate Designer | 6 | $82,720 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- ARCHITECT at ERIC CONSTRUCTION INC.$97,000TEMPLE CITYDecided Dec 29, 2025I-200-25355-500465
- Job Captain (Architect) at AE3 Partners$87,500Los AngelesDecided Dec 29, 2025I-200-25353-499102
- Designer at Perkins & Will, Inc.$79,768San FranciscoDecided Dec 26, 2025I-200-25352-493163
- Retail Design Manager at Pop Mart Americas Inc.$100,000Culver CityDecided Dec 23, 2025I-200-25350-487944
- Senior Architectural Designer at Wimberly Allison Tong & Goo NA, Inc.$69,763TUSTINDecided Dec 23, 2025I-200-25350-488993
- Architectural Designer at TEAM METRIC INC$121,222SAN JOSEDecided Dec 22, 2025I-200-25349-483916
- Facility Designer at Cotton Fontana Architects, Inc.$85,000GlendaleDecided Dec 22, 2025I-200-25349-481562
- BIM Coordinator & Computational Designer at BURO HAPPOLD CONSULTING ENGINEERS, INC.$87,000Los AngelesDecided Dec 19, 2025I-200-25346-478097
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Disclosed wages reflect what employers attested to pay; actual paid wages may differ. Only certified filings are shown — denied and withdrawn cases are excluded.
Architects pay by experience level in California
Each band reflects DOL Wage Levels I-IV mapped onto a four-step ladder. Click a level to see the disclosed-wage range for that segment.
Architects specialties in California
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 310 certified offers. The most common variant is Designer at a median of $79,768.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Designer | Perkins & Will, Inc. | 89 | $79,768 |
| Architectural Designer | Aaron Brumer and Associates, Architects, Inc. | 79 | $72,900 |
| Architect | SmithGroup, Inc., subsidiary of SmithGroup Co., Inc. | 60 | $92,500 |
| Job Captain | BAR Architects & Interiors | 19 | $87,550 |
| Design Professional | Hellmuth, Obata & Kassabaum, Inc. | 16 | $76,999 |
| Project Manager | Live Nation Worldwide, Inc. | 9 | $127,900 |
| DESIGNER - ARCHITECTURAL (PATH TO LICENSURE) | CANNON DESIGN, INC. | 8 | $82,900 |
| Senior Design Coordinator | HDR Architecture, Inc. | 7 | $90,168 |
| Project Designer | Hellmuth, Obata & Kassabaum, Inc. | 6 | $111,332 |
| Intermediate Designer | Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP | 6 | $75,765 |
| Project Coordinator | CO Architects | 6 | $87,606 |
| Design Staff | Boulder Associates Architects PC | 5 | $125,000 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Architects in California, by industry
Median offered wage across 409 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Professional services leads with a median of $85,000.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional services | SmithGroup, Inc., subsidiary of SmithGroup Co., Inc. | 386 | $85,000 |
| Manufacturing | Trimble Inc. | 10 | $129,429 |
| Real estate | Build Block, Inc. | 9 | $79,920 |
| Media and entertainment | Live Nation Worldwide, Inc. | 2 | $174,075 |
| Retail and wholesale | Pop Mart Americas Inc. | 1 | $100,000 |
| Technology and software | Refik Anadol Studio, LLC | 1 | $96,000 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in California over the past 2 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2024 dollars.
Typical entry
Education
Bachelor's degree
Experience
Internship/residency
On-the-job training
None
Top skills (O*NET)
- 4.9 / 5
Design
Knowledge
- 4.8 / 5
Building and Construction
Knowledge
- 4.1 / 5
Visualization
Ability
- 4.1 / 5
Public Safety and Security
Knowledge
- 4.0 / 5
Engineering and Technology
Knowledge
- 4.0 / 5
Operations Analysis
Technical
- 4.0 / 5
Computers and Electronics
Knowledge
- 4.0 / 5
Speaking
Basic skill
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Develop final construction plans that include aesthetic representations of the structure or details for its construction.
- 02
Prepare scale drawings or architectural designs, using computer-aided design or other tools.
- 03
Prepare information regarding design, structure specifications, materials, color, equipment, estimated costs, or construction time.
- 04
Consult with clients to determine functional or spatial requirements of structures.
- 05
Meet with clients to review or discuss architectural drawings.
- 06
Integrate engineering elements into unified architectural designs.
- 07
Monitor the work of specialists, such as electrical engineers, mechanical engineers, interior designers, or sound specialists to ensure optimal form or function of designs or final structures.
- 08
Plan layouts of structural architectural projects.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
+3.9%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Average growth
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
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Explore coursesTop metros in California
Metro-level salary data for architects in major California metropolitan areas.
- San Jose$134,200
- San Francisco$125,950
- Sacramento$118,560
- San Diego$118,410
- Riverside$103,510
- Los Angeles$102,190
Compare Architects pay across nearby states
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Architects in California?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Architects in California is $105,840.
- How does California compare to the national median for Architects?
- The California median is +13.0% versus the BLS national figure of $93,633.
- What is the salary range for Architects in California?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $65,660 and the 90th-percentile at $181,110, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Architects a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 3.9% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Architects?
- BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Bachelor's degree. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.
Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. Wage data reflects BLS estimates for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.