Salary distribution
Where District of Columbia architects fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $84,840 and $134,920, with a median of $114,480.
Architects in District of Columbia: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 44 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $80,000. 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 | 25 | $79,181 |
| Level II — qualified | 8 | $99,430 |
| Level III — experienced | 1 | $120,000 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 1 | $133,000 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Architects in District of Columbia. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| HKS, Inc. | Designer | 4 | $84,750 |
| Lehman Smith McLeish, PLLC | Architectural Designer | 4 | $92,500 |
| Perkins & Will, Inc. | Designer I | 3 | $64,220 |
| Page Southerland Page, Inc. | Healthcare Planner | 2 | $77,682 |
| WSP USA Inc. | Transportation Systems Designer | 2 | $99,757 |
| BELL ARCHITECTS, PC | ARCHITECTURAL DESIGNER | 2 | $77,175 |
| Torti Gallas Partners, Inc. | Architectural Designer | 1 | $75,500 |
| STUDIOS Architecture | Architect | 1 | $75,442 |
| Quinn Evans Architects, Inc. | Architect | 1 | $98,986 |
| Beyer Blinder Belle, Architects and Planners, LLP | Architectural Associate (Non-licensed) | 1 | $71,500 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Architectural Designer at Torti Gallas Partners, Inc.$75,500WashingtonDecided Dec 17, 2025I-201-25344-472863
- Architect at STUDIOS Architecture$75,442Washington DCDecided Dec 1, 2025I-200-25325-429038
- Architect at Quinn Evans Architects, Inc.$98,986WashingtonDecided Nov 26, 2025I-200-25323-422778
- Architectural Associate (Non-licensed) at Beyer Blinder Belle, Architects and Planners, LLP$71,500WashingtonDecided Nov 14, 2025I-200-25309-379111
- Architectural Designer (Architectural Intern) at Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Architects LLP$79,181WashingtonWage Level IDecided Sep 15, 2025I-200-25251-293542
- Staff Architect I at Bonstra Hersign Architects LLP$80,000WashingtonWage Level IDecided Jul 28, 2025I-200-25202-188106
- Staff Designer at StudioMB, PLLC$75,500WashingtonWage Level IDecided Jul 18, 2025I-200-25192-168330
- Architect Intern at BLACKBURN ARCHITECTS, PC$90,000WashingtonWage Level IDecided Jul 7, 2025I-200-25178-134375
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 District of Columbia
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 District of Columbia
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 32 certified offers. The most common variant is Architectural Designer at a median of $79,181.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Architectural Designer | BELL ARCHITECTS, PC | 11 | $79,181 |
| Architect | Lehman Smith McLeish, PLLC | 11 | $92,269 |
| Designer | Perkins & Will, Inc. | 10 | $72,363 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in District of Columbia 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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Metro-level salary data for architects in major District of Columbia metropolitan areas.
- Washington, D.C.$106,120
Compare Architects pay across nearby states
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Architects in District of Columbia?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Architects in District of Columbia is $114,480.
- How does District of Columbia compare to the national median for Architects?
- The District of Columbia median is +22.3% versus the BLS national figure of $93,633.
- What is the salary range for Architects in District of Columbia?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $79,510 and the 90th-percentile at $164,580, 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.