Architectural and Engineering Managers Salary
The median pay for a architectural and engineering managers in California is $210,280/year ($101.1/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $138K at the entry level to $296K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 106.14), so that salary is closer to $198,116 in real purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $2,471/month, or 20.5% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across California. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $210K get you in California?
About architectural and engineering managers
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What this looks like in California
California sits well above the national pay line for architectural and engineering managers, local pay runs about 23% higher than the U.S. median of $171K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $2,471/month, 21.1% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost-of-living overall is 6% above the national average (BEA RPP 106.14), so groceries and services cost more too. Combined with manageable housing costs, California offers a genuinely strong financial position for architectural and engineering managerss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, California
Entry-level architectural and engineering managers (10th percentile) start around $138K. Mid-career wages sit at $210K. Top earners bring in $296K or more, a $158K spread from bottom to top.
Architectural and Engineering Managers salary by metro in California
21 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $235K | +12% | 5,130 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $222K | +5% | 5,000 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $213K | +1% | 180 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $208K | -1% | 340 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $207K | -1% | 190 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $207K | -2% | 80 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $203K | -4% | 3,270 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $194K | -8% | 1,570 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $191K | -9% | 9,570 |
| Vallejo | $189K | -10% | 110 |
| Salinas | $188K | -11% | 70 |
| Yuba City | $185K | -12% | 30 |
| Redding | $185K | -12% | 50 |
| Bakersfield-Delano | $180K | -14% | 220 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $180K | -15% | 540 |
| Fresno | $176K | -17% | 190 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $173K | -18% | 1,160 |
| El Centro | $172K | -18% | 40 |
| Stockton-Lodi | $169K | -20% | 190 |
| Modesto | $164K | -22% | 90 |
| Visalia | $155K | -26% | 60 |
Showing 1–10 of 21 metros
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when California numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a architectural and engineering manager afford a 2BR apartment alone in California?
Yes — at the median salary of $210K, rent takes 21.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,471/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for architectural and engineering managers in California?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new architectural and engineering managers typically earn — is $138K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $8,274/month. At HUD’s $2,471/month FMR, rent would take 30% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is architectural and engineering manager a high-paying job in California?
Local pay is 23% above the national median — $210K here vs. $171K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 6% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does California compare to the national average for architectural and engineering managers?
California pays $210K median vs. the U.S. average of $171K — that’s +23%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 106.14), the purchasing-power equivalent is $198K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do architectural and engineering managers make in California?
The median is $210,280 a year, that works out to about $101 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $137,900, and experienced architectural and engineering managers can clear $296,130. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $210K enough to live in California?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $11,734/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,471/month, which eats 21.1% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a architectural and engineering managers 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 architectural and engineering managers salary is worth about $198,116 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do architectural and engineering managers 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.