Architects, Except Landscape and Naval pay range in Washington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $75,650 a year or less, while the top 10% make $166,190 or more. The middle half of architects (except landscape and naval) in Washington earn between $81,550 and $130,670.
- $76K10th
- $82K25th
- $102KMedian
- $131K75th
- $166K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $115,480 | $9,623 | $55.52 |
| Median | $102,080 | $8,507 | $49.08 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $81,550 | $6,796 | $39.21 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $130,670 | $10,889 | $62.82 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Architects, Except Landscape and Naval salary after taxes in Washington
On the average salary of $115,480, a single filer in Washington takes home about $83,223 a year, or $6,935 a month and $3,201 every two weeks. Taxes take 28% of gross pay.
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in WV | $85,670 | $7,139 |
| Working in MD | $84,766 | $7,064 |
| Working in VA | $84,244 | $7,020 |
| Working in DC | $83,223 | $6,935 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Washington a good place for architects (except landscape and naval)? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Washington area are 9% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.9), so the average $115,480 buys what about $106,058 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Washington ($71,060). A typical home costs $583,013, or 5.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Architects, Except Landscape and Naval salary in nearby metro areas
- Baltimore, MD$120,710
- Charlottesville, VA$97,220
- York, PA$101,350
- Richmond, VA$99,210
- Salisbury, MD$103,370
- Harrisburg, PA$91,620
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 Washington: questions
How much do architects (except landscape and naval) make an hour in Washington?
$55.52 an hour on average, and $49.08 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level architects (except landscape and naval) salary in Washington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $75,650 a year and the 25th percentile is $81,550, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the architects (except landscape and naval) take-home pay in Washington?
About $83,223 a year ($6,935 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $115,480.
Do architects (except landscape and naval) earn more in Washington than elsewhere?
The average here is 8% more than the U.S. metro average for this job ($106,836).
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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV (47900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.3%.
- 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 (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.40, this job is 1.4 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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