Architects, Except Landscape and Naval pay range in San Francisco
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $78,990 a year or less, while the top 10% make $200,380 or more. The middle half of architects (except landscape and naval) in San Francisco earn between $93,450 and $164,750.
- $79K10th
- $93K25th
- $127KMedian
- $165K75th
- $200K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $131,300 | $10,942 | $63.12 |
| Median | $126,550 | $10,546 | $60.84 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $93,450 | $7,788 | $44.93 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $164,750 | $13,729 | $79.21 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Architects, Except Landscape and Naval pay in San Francisco vs. California and the U.S.
Architects (except landscape and naval) in San Francisco earn 8% more than the California average ($121,910) and 24% more than the U.S. average ($106,260). At the median the gap is +27% against the U.S. median of $99,280.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | $131,300 | $126,550 | $78,990 | $200,380 | 3,780 |
| California | $121,910 | $108,540 | $75,640 | $171,160 | 13,270 |
| United States | $106,260 | $99,280 | $62,300 | $161,420 | 106,770 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Architects, Except Landscape and Naval salary after taxes in San Francisco
On the average salary of $131,300, a single filer in San Francisco takes home about $92,891 a year, or $7,741 a month and $3,573 every two weeks. Taxes take 29% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is San Francisco a good place for architects (except landscape and naval)? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Francisco area are 16% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 115.6), so the average $131,300 buys what about $113,569 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.7 times the median wage of all jobs in San Francisco ($74,260). A typical home costs $1,149,215, or 8.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Architects, Except Landscape and Naval salary in other California cities
San Francisco ranks 2nd of 18 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($142,170).
- San Jose$142,170
- San Francisco$131,300
- Sacramento$124,740
- San Diego$123,640
- Redding$118,650
- Modesto$116,700
- Bakersfield$116,030
- Los Angeles$115,940
- Santa Rosa$115,070
- Stockton$113,900
All Architects, Except Landscape and Naval salaries in California
Highest-paying cities for architects (except landscape and naval)
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($142,170).
- San Jose, CA$142,170
- San Francisco, CA$131,300
- Trenton, NJ$127,000
- Kiryas Joel, NY$125,980
- Sacramento, CA$124,740
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Architects, Except Landscape and Naval salary in San Francisco: questions
How much do architects (except landscape and naval) make an hour in San Francisco?
$63.13 an hour on average, and $60.84 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level architects (except landscape and naval) salary in San Francisco?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $78,990 a year and the 25th percentile is $93,450, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the architects (except landscape and naval) take-home pay in San Francisco?
About $92,891 a year ($7,741 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $131,300. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do architects (except landscape and naval) earn more in San Francisco than elsewhere?
The average here is 24% more than the U.S. average for this job ($106,260).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 17-1011; area San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA (41860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.0%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 2.32, this job is 2.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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