Architects, Except Landscape and Naval Salary
The median pay for a architects, except landscape and naval in California is $108,540/year ($52.19/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $76K at the entry level to $171K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 106.14), so that salary is closer to $102,261 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,471/month, about 37% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across California. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $109K get you in California?
About architects, except landscape and navals
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What this looks like in California
Architects, except landscape and naval pay in California tracks closely to the national median, $109K locally vs. $99K nationwide, a 9% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,471/month, which is 37.8% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 6% above the national average (BEA RPP 106.14), so groceries and services cost more too. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, California
Entry-level architects, except landscape and navals (10th percentile) start around $76K. Mid-career wages sit at $109K. Top earners bring in $171K or more, a $96K spread from bottom to top.
Architects, Except Landscape and Naval salary by metro in California
18 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $130K | +19% | 660 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $127K | +17% | 3,780 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $126K | +16% | 640 |
| Modesto | $125K | +15% | 30 |
| Redding | $120K | +11% | 60 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $120K | +11% | 1,280 |
| Bakersfield-Delano | $111K | +2% | 100 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $107K | -1% | 150 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $106K | -3% | 40 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $104K | -4% | 4,870 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $104K | -4% | 220 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $103K | -6% | 140 |
| Stockton-Lodi | $102K | -6% | 70 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $100K | -7% | 410 |
| Fresno | $100K | -8% | 180 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $100K | -8% | 90 |
| Salinas | $100K | -8% | 60 |
| Visalia | $99K | -9% | 40 |
Showing 1–10 of 18 metros
Compare to other states
Track architects, except landscape and naval salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when California numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a architects, except landscape and naval afford a 2BR apartment alone in California?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $109K, rent takes 37.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,471/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $2,000/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for architects, except landscape and navals in California?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new architects, except landscape and navals typically earn — is $76K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,538/month. At HUD’s $2,471/month FMR, rent would take 54% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is architects, except landscape and naval a high-paying job in California?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $109K locally vs. $99K nationally, a 9% difference.
How does California compare to the national average for architects, except landscape and navals?
California pays $109K median vs. the U.S. average of $99K — that’s +9%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 106.14), the purchasing-power equivalent is $102K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do architects, except landscape and navals make in California?
The median is $108,540 a year, that works out to about $52 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $75,640, and experienced architects, except landscape and navals can clear $171,160. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $109K enough to live in California?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,543/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,471/month, which eats 37.8% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a architects, except landscape and naval salary go in California?
California has a Regional Price Parity of 106.14 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median architects, except landscape and naval salary is worth about $102,261 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do architects, except landscape and navals get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.