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 $78,280 and $113,380, with a median of $97,800.
Architects in Washington: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 71 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 | 30 | $71,563 |
| Level II — qualified | 17 | $85,000 |
| 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 |
| Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Architects LLP | Architectural Designer (Architectural Intern) | 5 | $84,739 |
| Perkins & Will, Inc. | Designer II | 5 | $66,851 |
| HDR Architecture, Inc. | Project Architect | 3 | $101,941 |
| Design Collective Inc. | Junior Architectural Designer | 3 | $59,000 |
| Freiheit Architecture, Inc. P.S. | Architectural Designer 2 | 2 | $71,365 |
| Hellmuth, Obata & Kassabaum, Inc. | Architect | 2 | $96,500 |
| Miller Hayashi Architects PLLC | Architectual Staff | 2 | $84,240 |
| Arcadis Inc. | Architectural Designer II | 2 | $80,413 |
| Parsons Transportation Group Inc. | Architectural Specialist | 2 | $93,505 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Architectural Designer 2 at Freiheit Architecture, Inc. P.S.$71,365BellevueDecided Dec 30, 2025I-200-25356-502495
- Project Architect at HDR Architecture, Inc.$130,000SeattleDecided Dec 29, 2025I-200-25353-497042
- Architect at Hellmuth, Obata & Kassabaum, Inc.$105,000SeattleDecided Dec 22, 2025I-200-25350-484778
- Architectural Designer (Architectural Intern) at Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Architects LLP$84,739SeattleDecided Dec 16, 2025I-200-25343-468276
- Architectural Designer 2 at Freiheit Architecture, Inc. P.S.$71,365BellevueDecided Nov 14, 2025I-200-25310-382075
- Designer at NBBJ LP$72,072SeattleDecided Nov 14, 2025I-200-25308-373308
- Architectual Staff at Miller Hayashi Architects PLLC$85,280SeattleDecided Nov 14, 2025I-200-25307-363171
- Architect I at SHED Seattle, LLC$75,000SeattleDecided Nov 14, 2025I-200-25307-364420
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 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 45 certified offers. The most common variant is Architectural Designer (Architectural Intern) at a median of $72,509.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Architectural Designer (Architectural Intern) | Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Architects LLP | 18 | $72,509 |
| Designer | NBBJ LP | 10 | $68,871 |
| Architect | Hellmuth, Obata & Kassabaum, Inc. | 6 | $82,670 |
| Project Architect | HDR Architecture, Inc. | 4 | $118,270 |
| Architectural Associate | Julian Weber Architecture and Design, LLC | 4 | $74,500 |
| Design Professional | NAC, Inc. | 3 | $70,720 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Architects in Washington, by industry
Median offered wage across 70 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Professional services leads with a median of $75,400.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional services | NBBJ LP | 66 | $75,400 |
| Technology and software | RadiusAI, Inc. | 2 | $153,141 |
| 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 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 Washington
Metro-level salary data for architects in major Washington metropolitan areas.
- Seattle$98,120
Compare Architects pay across nearby states
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 $97,800.
- How does Washington compare to the national median for Architects?
- The Washington median is +4.5% versus the BLS national figure of $93,633.
- What is the salary range for Architects in Washington?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $65,790 and the 90th-percentile at $128,290, 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.