Architectural and Engineering Managers Salary
The median pay for a architectural and engineering managers in Salinas, CA is $187,730/year ($90.25/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $127K at the entry level to $245K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 109.04), so that salary is closer to $172,166 in real purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $2,684/month, or 25.1% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $188K get you in Salinas?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Salinas’s Regional Price Parity (109.04). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About architectural and engineering managers
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What this looks like in Salinas
Architectural and engineering managers pay in Salinas tracks closely to the national median, $188K locally vs. $171K nationwide, a 10% difference. Rent runs $2,684/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 25.5% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost-of-living overall is 9% above the national average (BEA RPP 109.04), so groceries and services cost more too. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for architectural and engineering managers in metros near Salinas, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $191K | $168K |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $235K | $212K |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $222K | $192K |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $203K | $181K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Salinas, CA
Entry-level architectural and engineering managers (10th percentile) start around $127K. Mid-career wages sit at $188K. Top earners bring in $245K or more, a $118K spread from bottom to top.
Architectural and Engineering Managers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Architectural and Engineering Managers salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Mexico | $215K | +26% | 2,270 |
| California | $210K | +23% | 29,630 |
| Massachusetts | $201K | +18% | 7,690 |
| Washington | $190K | +11% | 6,060 |
| District of Columbia | $185K | +8% | 1,290 |
| Colorado | $184K | +7% | 4,900 |
| Delaware | $181K | +6% | 560 |
| New Jersey | $181K | +5% | 4,540 |
| Oregon | $177K | +3% | N/A |
| Virginia | $176K | +3% | 4,390 |
| Rhode Island | $176K | +3% | 370 |
| New York | $176K | +3% | 8,250 |
| Connecticut | $175K | +2% | 4,970 |
| Maryland | $173K | +1% | 5,240 |
| New Hampshire | $172K | +1% | 2,160 |
| Minnesota | $172K | +1% | 4,580 |
| Texas | $171K | +0% | 19,030 |
| Florida | $171K | -0% | 8,710 |
| South Carolina | $169K | -1% | 3,200 |
| North Carolina | $168K | -2% | 6,960 |
| Arizona | $167K | -2% | 4,680 |
| Michigan | $167K | -3% | 14,820 |
| Ohio | $167K | -3% | 9,690 |
| Pennsylvania | $165K | -4% | 9,640 |
| South Dakota | $164K | -4% | 310 |
| Alaska | $164K | -4% | 900 |
| Illinois | $164K | -4% | 8,900 |
| Wyoming | $164K | -5% | N/A |
| Idaho | $163K | -5% | 850 |
| Louisiana | $163K | -5% | 1,840 |
| Alabama | $162K | -5% | 3,790 |
| Nevada | $162K | -6% | 780 |
| Georgia | $161K | -6% | 3,590 |
| Tennessee | $161K | -6% | 3,600 |
| Utah | $161K | -6% | 2,290 |
| Kansas | $160K | -6% | 2,010 |
| Missouri | $158K | -8% | 2,250 |
| Vermont | $158K | -8% | 350 |
| Oklahoma | $157K | -8% | 2,070 |
| Indiana | $156K | -9% | 4,610 |
| Hawaii | $152K | -11% | 1,220 |
| West Virginia | $149K | -13% | 420 |
| Kentucky | $148K | -14% | 1,800 |
| North Dakota | $147K | -14% | 270 |
| Iowa | $147K | -14% | 1,520 |
| Montana | $146K | -15% | 560 |
| Maine | $146K | -15% | 820 |
| Mississippi | $143K | -17% | 860 |
| Wisconsin | $142K | -17% | 4,550 |
| Nebraska | $141K | -18% | 1,510 |
| Arkansas | $141K | -18% | 1,220 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 (all 50 states + DC)
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Frequently asked questions
Can a architectural and engineering manager afford a 2BR apartment alone in Salinas?
Yes — at the median salary of $188K, rent takes 25.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,684/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for architectural and engineering managers in Salinas?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new architectural and engineering managers typically earn — is $127K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $7,616/month. At HUD’s $2,684/month FMR, rent would take 35% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is architectural and engineering manager a high-paying job in Salinas?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $188K locally vs. $171K nationally, a 10% difference.
How does Salinas compare to the national average for architectural and engineering managers?
Salinas pays $188K median vs. the U.S. average of $171K — that’s +10%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 109.04), the purchasing-power equivalent is $172K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do architectural and engineering managers make in Salinas, CA?
The median is $187,730 a year, that works out to about $90 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $126,930, and experienced architectural and engineering managers can clear $244,690. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $188K enough to live in Salinas?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $10,516/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,684/month, which eats 25.5% 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 Salinas?
Salinas has a Regional Price Parity of 109.04 (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 $172,166 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.