Architectural and Engineering Managers Salary
The median pay for a architectural and engineering managers in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV is $185,220/year ($89.05/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $138K at the entry level to $260K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 108.88), so that salary is closer to $170,114 in real purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $2,246/month, or 21.4% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $185K get you in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Washington-Arlington-Alexandria’s Regional Price Parity (108.88). 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria
Architectural and engineering managers pay in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria tracks closely to the national median, $185K locally vs. $171K nationwide, a 8% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $2,246/month, 21.6% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost-of-living overall is 9% above the national average (BEA RPP 108.88), so groceries and services cost more too. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for architectural and engineering managers in metros near Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson | $167K | $160K |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk | $161K | $165K |
| Richmond | $167K | $171K |
| Lexington Park | $185K | $183K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
Entry-level architectural and engineering managers (10th percentile) start around $138K. Mid-career wages sit at $185K. Top earners bring in $260K or more, a $122K 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)
Track architectural and engineering managers salary changes
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Related careers in Management
Frequently asked questions
Can a architectural and engineering manager afford a 2BR apartment alone in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
Yes — at the median salary of $185K, rent takes 21.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,246/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for architectural and engineering managers in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new architectural and engineering managers typically earn — is $138K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $8,291/month. At HUD’s $2,246/month FMR, rent would take 27% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is architectural and engineering manager a high-paying job in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $185K locally vs. $171K nationally, a 8% difference.
How does Washington-Arlington-Alexandria compare to the national average for architectural and engineering managers?
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria pays $185K median vs. the U.S. average of $171K — that’s +8%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 108.88), the purchasing-power equivalent is $170K — below the national median.
How much do architectural and engineering managers make in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The median is $185,220 a year, that works out to about $89 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $138,180, and experienced architectural and engineering managers can clear $259,680. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $185K enough to live in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $10,418/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,246/month, which eats 21.6% 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria has a Regional Price Parity of 108.88 (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 $170,114 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.