Best states for an Architect

Q: What is the best state for architects?

The best state to be an architect is Virginia based on architect salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for architects?

The highest paying state for architects is Kentucky based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for architects?

The worst state for architects is Iowa, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

Quoted Expert

Ross Weinreb

Rank 1 - 10
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We decided to bring you a list of the best states for jobs for architects in the United States. Architect positions are available in every state, but not all states are the same. Some states do not offer the same wages, benefits, time off, etc for architects.Our research found that Virginia is the best state for architects, while Alaska and Virginia are ranked highest in terms of median salary. Virginia has a median salary of $101,062 and Alaska has the highest median salary among all 50 states for architects.

The median salary for architects in Virginia is $101,062. Compare that to the median salary in Iowa of $68,775, which ranked worst for architects, and you can see how your location is important for your career.We found that Virginia is the best state for architect jobs, whereas Iowa is the worst.

10 best states for architects in 2025

1. Virginia
Total Architect Jobs: 2,117
Average Annual Salary: $101,062
Lowest 10 Percent Earn: $66,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn: $154,000
Location Quotient:
1.65
Architect Jobs in Virginia
2. Massachusetts
Total Architect Jobs: 1,510
Average Annual Salary: $99,764
Lowest 10 Percent Earn: $66,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn: $150,000
Location Quotient:
1.21
Architect Jobs in Massachusetts
3. Nevada
Total Architect Jobs: 269
Average Annual Salary: $97,524
Lowest 10 Percent Earn: $60,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn: $156,000
Location Quotient:
0.95
Architect Jobs in Nevada
4. Alaska
Total Architect Jobs: 78
Average Annual Salary: $125,375
Lowest 10 Percent Earn: $86,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn: $182,000
Location Quotient:
0.69
Architect Jobs in Alaska
5. California
Total Architect Jobs: 5,279
Average Annual Salary: $100,716
Lowest 10 Percent Earn: $62,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn: $161,000
Location Quotient:
1.33
Architect Jobs in California
6. New Hampshire
Total Architect Jobs: 203
Average Annual Salary: $97,828
Lowest 10 Percent Earn: $64,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn: $147,000
Location Quotient:
0.85
Architect Jobs in New Hampshire
7. Oregon
Total Architect Jobs: 845
Average Annual Salary: $92,241
Lowest 10 Percent Earn: $57,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn: $147,000
Location Quotient:
1.5
Architect Jobs in Oregon
8. Nebraska
Total Architect Jobs: 213
Average Annual Salary: $95,462
Lowest 10 Percent Earn: $62,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn: $146,000
Location Quotient:
0.7
Architect Jobs in Nebraska
9. South Dakota
Total Architect Jobs: 82
Average Annual Salary: $97,658
Lowest 10 Percent Earn: $63,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn: $149,000
Location Quotient:
0.56
Architect Jobs in South Dakota
10. Utah
Total Architect Jobs: 609
Average Annual Salary: $88,899
Lowest 10 Percent Earn: $56,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn: $140,000
Location Quotient:
1.4
Architect Jobs in Utah

Architect JobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be an architect

You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.

Detailed list of the best states for an architect

Rank	State	Average Salary	Lowest 10% Earn	Population	Job Count
1	Virginia	$101,062	$66,000	8,470,020	2,117
2	Massachusetts	$99,764	$66,000	6,859,819	1,510
3	Nevada	$97,524	$60,000	2,998,039	269
4	Alaska	$125,375	$86,000	739,795	78
5	California	$100,716	$62,000	39,536,653	5,279
6	New Hampshire	$97,828	$64,000	1,342,795	203
7	Oregon	$92,241	$57,000	4,142,776	845
8	Nebraska	$95,462	$62,000	1,920,076	213
9	South Dakota	$97,658	$63,000	869,666	82
10	Utah	$88,899	$56,000	3,101,833	609
11	Colorado	$93,361	$59,000	5,607,154	792
12	Rhode Island	$86,306	$57,000	1,059,639	288
13	District of Columbia	$94,989	$62,000	693,972	790
14	Maryland	$94,435	$61,000	6,052,177	1,023
15	Missouri	$91,354	$59,000	6,113,532	655
16	Pennsylvania	$87,563	$57,000	12,805,537	1,528
17	New Mexico	$91,449	$58,000	2,088,070	184
18	Washington	$90,554	$57,000	7,405,743	1,087
19	Tennessee	$91,600	$59,000	6,715,984	449
20	Georgia	$87,170	$56,000	10,429,379	1,425
21	West Virginia	$90,853	$59,000	1,815,857	100
22	Vermont	$85,381	$56,000	623,657	144
23	Connecticut	$86,838	$57,000	3,588,184	545
24	Illinois	$86,385	$56,000	12,802,023	1,837
25	Texas	$83,234	$53,000	28,304,596	3,262
26	Kansas	$87,282	$56,000	2,913,123	256
27	New York	$89,375	$58,000	19,849,399	1,706
28	North Dakota	$81,067	$53,000	755,393	161
29	Ohio	$84,111	$55,000	11,658,609	1,090
30	Hawaii	$88,708	$63,000	1,427,538	103
31	Minnesota	$84,334	$55,000	5,576,606	790
32	Alabama	$83,964	$54,000	4,874,747	306
33	South Carolina	$83,997	$54,000	5,024,369	332
34	North Carolina	$78,217	$50,000	10,273,419	1,364
35	Wisconsin	$78,468	$51,000	5,795,483	483
36	Oklahoma	$79,386	$51,000	3,930,864	190
37	Arizona	$77,091	$48,000	7,016,270	744
38	Michigan	$76,415	$50,000	9,962,311	783
39	Florida	$78,266	$50,000	20,984,400	1,685
40	New Jersey	$75,453	$49,000	9,005,644	1,283
41	Montana	$76,551	$49,000	1,050,493	141
42	Louisiana	$79,170	$50,000	4,684,333	203
43	Wyoming	$75,693	$48,000	579,315	62
44	Idaho	$73,360	$46,000	1,716,943	201
45	Arkansas	$73,719	$47,000	3,004,279	246
46	Maine	$75,319	$50,000	1,335,907	111
47	Delaware	$73,436	$48,000	961,939	139
48	Indiana	$73,920	$48,000	6,666,818	515
49	Mississippi	$74,435	$48,000	2,984,100	97
50	Kentucky	$66,340	$43,000	4,454,189	293
51	Iowa	$68,775	$44,000	3,145,711	243

Highest paying states for architects

Rank	State	Avg. Architect Salary
1	Virginia	$101,062
2	Massachusetts	$99,764
3	Nevada	$97,524
4	Alaska	$125,375
5	California	$100,716
6	New Hampshire	$97,828
7	Oregon	$92,241
8	Nebraska	$95,462
9	South Dakota	$97,658
10	Utah	$88,899
11	Colorado	$93,361
12	Rhode Island	$86,306
13	District of Columbia	$94,989
14	Maryland	$94,435
15	Missouri	$91,354
16	Pennsylvania	$87,563
17	New Mexico	$91,449
18	Washington	$90,554
19	Tennessee	$91,600
20	Georgia	$87,170
21	West Virginia	$90,853
22	Vermont	$85,381
23	Connecticut	$86,838
24	Illinois	$86,385
25	Texas	$83,234
26	Kansas	$87,282
27	New York	$89,375
28	North Dakota	$81,067
29	Ohio	$84,111
30	Hawaii	$88,708
31	Minnesota	$84,334
32	Alabama	$83,964
33	South Carolina	$83,997
34	North Carolina	$78,217
35	Wisconsin	$78,468
36	Oklahoma	$79,386
37	Arizona	$77,091
38	Michigan	$76,415
39	Florida	$78,266
40	New Jersey	$75,453
41	Montana	$76,551
42	Louisiana	$79,170
43	Wyoming	$75,693
44	Idaho	$73,360
45	Arkansas	$73,719
46	Maine	$75,319
47	Delaware	$73,436
48	Indiana	$73,920
49	Mississippi	$74,435
50	Kentucky	$66,340
51	Iowa	$68,775

Expert opinions on the best states for architects

Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Architects to find work opportunities?
R
Ross Weinreb
Instructor | Career Adviser, The Pennsylvania State University
Not that I am aware of. Our Penn State graduates generally find work in the Northeast (Philadelphia, New York, etc.).

Architect best states FAQs

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What is the worst state for architects?

Have more questions? See all answers to common architecture and engineering questions.

Search for architect jobs

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse architecture and engineering jobs

Total Architect Jobs:	2,117
Average Annual Salary:	$101,062
Lowest 10 Percent Earn:	$66,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn:	$154,000
Location Quotient:	1.65

Best states for an Architect

10 best states for architects in 2025

1. Virginia

2. Massachusetts

3. Nevada

4. Alaska

5. California

6. New Hampshire

7. Oregon

8. Nebraska

9. South Dakota

10. Utah