Calcgator — Header
AIA Salary Calculator — Architecture Compensation by Position & Region | Calcgator
🏛️ Architecture Careers

AIA Salary Calculator

See exactly what architects earn at every level — by position, US region and firm size. Compare your salary, see your total compensation and estimate your take-home pay. Based on AIA Compensation Report data.

📊 9 positions 🗺️ 9 US regions 💡 P25 · Median · P75 ✓ Free forever
Step 1 — Your Role
Step 2 — Your Location
Step 3 — Firm Size
Architect II
Licensed · 5–10 years experience
National Average
25th Percentile
$76,000
Entry of range
⭐ Median
$91,000
Market midpoint
75th Percentile
$110,000
Top of range
$76k Salary range $110k
Additional Cash Compensation (median) +$7,000
Benefits value (≈ 15% of base) +$13,650
Total Compensation (median) $111,650
🔍 Compare my current salary
$
Below market At market Above market
Enter your salary above
We'll show you where you stand compared to market data.
💵 Estimate take-home pay
Gross Annual Salary (median)$91,000
Federal Income Tax (est.)–$14,280
FICA (SS + Medicare)–$6,962
State Income Tax (avg. 4.6%)–$4,186
Estimated Annual Take-Home$65,572
Federal estimate uses 2024 single-filer standard deduction ($14,600). State tax uses a national average. Actual amounts vary by filing status, state, and deductions.
📈 Career Progression — salary at each level (your region)

Median salaries adjusted for your selected region and firm size. Click any level to switch the calculator to that position.

Understanding AIA Salary Data

The AIA Compensation & Benefits Report is the architecture profession's most trusted salary resource, compiled from data submitted by hundreds of US architecture firms. The calculator above uses percentile data — here's how to read it:

  • 25th percentile — 25% of architects in that role earn below this. If your salary is here, you're in the lower portion of the market.
  • Median (50th percentile) — the true middle of the market. Half earn more, half earn less. This is the most useful negotiation anchor.
  • 75th percentile — 75% earn below this. If your salary is here, you're among the better-compensated architects in your role.

What Additional Cash Compensation Includes

Beyond base salary, most architecture firms offer additional cash: performance bonuses, profit sharing, and overtime pay. These average $3,000–$28,000 depending on level and firm type. Principal-level staff see the most variability since profit sharing can be substantial at growing firms.

Why Region Matters So Much

The Pacific region (California, Washington, Oregon) and the Middle Atlantic (New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania) consistently pay 18–20% above the national median. This reflects both a higher cost of living and deeper talent competition in these markets. However, after adjusting for cost of living, mid-tier markets like the Mountain region (Colorado, Arizona) and even parts of Texas often deliver comparable real purchasing power at lower nominal salaries.

Small vs. Large Firm Pay

Large firms (50+ staff) pay a premium of roughly 8% over the national median. They also offer more formal benefits packages, structured career ladders and defined bonus programs. Small firms typically pay 7% below median but often offer more diverse project experience, faster advancement, and greater autonomy — valuable for career development in the early years.

Salary FAQs

It depends heavily on career level. Entry-level licensed architects (Architect I) earn around $76,000 at the median, mid-career architects (Architect II–III) earn $91,000–$107,000, and principals average $155,000. These are national medians — add 18–20% for New York or California, and subtract 10–13% for the deep South or Midwest.
Instead of saying "I need $X," say: "Based on the AIA Compensation Report, the median for this role in our region is $X. Given my [years of experience / licensure / specific skills], I'm looking for a salary in the 60th–75th percentile." This frames your ask as data-driven, not personal. If your current salary is below the 25th percentile, that's an especially strong negotiation point — use the comparison tool above to check.
Yes. The jump from Intern Architect II (median ~$69K) to Architect I (median ~$76K) represents roughly a 10% salary increase just for licensure, all else being equal. More importantly, licensure unlocks project architect and project manager roles, where median pay jumps to $99K–$109K. Getting licensed is one of the highest-ROI career moves in the profession.
Total compensation = base salary + additional cash (bonuses, profit sharing) + benefits value. Benefits at architecture firms are worth approximately 15% of your base pay — for a $91K base, that's ~$13,650 in health, dental, vision, 401k matching and other fringe benefits. Always compare total compensation packages, not just base salary, especially when evaluating offers from firms of different sizes.
The estimate uses 2024 federal tax brackets for a single filer with the standard deduction ($14,600), plus FICA at 7.65% and a blended state income tax of approximately 4.6% (national average). Your actual take-home will differ based on your filing status (married/head of household), state of residence (0% state tax in TX/FL vs. 13.3% in CA), pre-tax deductions (401k, health insurance premiums), and other factors. Use it as a rough guide, not a paycheck calculator.
The median principal/partner base salary nationally is approximately $155,000, with the 75th percentile reaching $200,000+. In the Pacific and Middle Atlantic regions, these figures increase by 18–20%. Importantly, principals often have equity in the firm, meaning their total earnings — including profit distributions — can far exceed their reported base salary. The AIA data captures base pay; equity income is not included.