Architects in Washington. BLS OES + DOL OFLC + reader-reported submissions. How this is built →
Salary distribution
Where Washington architects fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $80,960 and $114,430, with a median of $100,190.
Architects in Washington: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 80 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $79,643. 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 | 39 | $71,760 |
| Level II — qualified | 24 | $85,140 |
| Level III — experienced | 6 | $100,500 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 5 | $115,000 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Architects in Washington. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| NBBJ LP | Designer | 6 | $71,481 |
| Perkins & Will, Inc. | Designer II | 6 | $69,108 |
| Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Architects LLP | Architectural Designer (Architectural Intern) | 5 | $84,739 |
| Cannon Design, Inc. | Computational Designer | 3 | $71,365 |
| Design Collective Inc. | Junior Architectural Designer | 3 | $59,000 |
| HDR Architecture, Inc. | Health Planner 2 | 3 | $101,941 |
| Hellmuth, Obata & Kassabaum, Inc. | Architect | 3 | $94,266 |
| Amazon.com Services LLC | Program Manager II | 2 | $97,168 |
| Arcadis Inc. | Architectural Designer II | 2 | $80,413 |
| DLR Group, Inc. | Architect, Entry-Level | 2 | $90,000 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Architectural Designer 2 at RDH Building Science Inc.$84,739SeattleWage Level IIDecided Mar 30, 2026I-200-26083-723922
- Datacenter Design Architect at Microsoft Corporation$135,648RedmondWage Level IDecided Mar 27, 2026I-200-26079-717513
- Designer at Perkins & Will, Inc.$71,365SeattleWage Level IDecided Mar 26, 2026I-200-26078-715892
- Designer IB - Architectural (Path to Licensure) at Cannon Design, Inc.$71,365SeattleWage Level IDecided Mar 23, 2026I-200-26076-707402
- Architect, Entry-Level at DLR Group, Inc.$90,000SeattleWage Level IDecided Mar 19, 2026I-200-26071-699282
- Architect I at NAC, Inc.$75,000SeattleWage Level IDecided Mar 18, 2026I-200-26070-697149
- Architect, Entry-Level at DLR Group, Inc.$90,000SeattleWage Level IDecided Mar 10, 2026I-200-26062-677893
- ARCHITECTURAL DESIGNER at Ron Wright & Associates/Architects, P.S.$84,739SEATTLEWage Level IIDecided Feb 10, 2026I-200-26034-617138
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.
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Architects pay by experience level in Washington
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 Washington
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 52 certified offers. The most common variant is Architectural Designer at a median of $75,504.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Architectural Designer | Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Architects LLP | 20 | $75,504 |
| Designer | NBBJ LP | 11 | $70,890 |
| Architect | DLR Group, Inc. | 9 | $85,000 |
| Architectural Associate | Julian Weber Architecture and Design, LLC | 4 | $74,500 |
| Design Professional | Hellmuth, Obata & Kassabaum, Inc. | 4 | $72,860 |
| Project Architect | HDR Architecture, Inc. | 4 | $118,270 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Architects in Washington, by industry
Median offered wage across 79 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Professional services leads with a median of $76,900.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional services | NBBJ LP | 74 | $76,900 |
| Technology and software | Microsoft Corporation | 3 | $135,648 |
| Retail and wholesale | Amazon.com Services LLC | 2 | $97,168 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Washington over the past 3 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2025 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 Washington
Metro-level salary data for architects in major Washington metropolitan areas.
- Seattle$100,610
Compare Architects pay across nearby states
Considering a move? Compare Washington with another state
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Architects in Washington?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Architects in Washington is $100,190.
- How does Washington compare to the national median for Architects?
- The Washington median is +1.5% versus the BLS national figure of $98,731.
- What is the salary range for Architects in Washington?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $70,020 and the 90th-percentile at $130,380, 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.