Quick answer:Architects in California earn a median $108,540 per year, above the national median of $99,280 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The state employs about 13,270 of them. Licensing runs through your state architecture registration board.
Architecture Pay and Employment in California at a Glance
Metric
California
National
Source
Median annual wage
$108,540
$99,280
BLS OEWS, May 2025
10th percentile
$75,640
$62,300
BLS OEWS, May 2025
25th percentile
$85,990
$77,960
BLS OEWS, May 2025
75th percentile
$152,430
$126,550
BLS OEWS, May 2025
90th percentile
$171,160
$161,420
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Employment
13,270
106,770
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Location quotient
1.06
1.00
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Projected change (2024-34)
not published by state
3.9%
BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34
How California Pay Compares to the Rest of the Country
The California median of $108,540 sits above the national median of $99,280 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Percentiles matter more than the midpoint when you are deciding whether a degree pays for itself: the 10th percentile is roughly where people start, and the 90th is what the top of the local market looks like after years of experience.
A location quotient of 1.06 puts California slightly above the national average, so the occupation is a little more common here than in the typical state (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The measure compares how concentrated the occupation is here against the national average of 1.00.
Where the Jobs Are in California
Metro area
Median annual wage
Employment
San Jose
$129,640
660
San Francisco
$126,550
3,780
Sacramento
$125,980
640
Modesto
$124,810
30
Redding
$120,060
60
San Diego
$120,040
1,280
Bakersfield
$111,070
100
Santa Rosa
$107,300
150
Santa Cruz
$105,750
40
Los Angeles
$104,170
4,870
Figures: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Metro estimates cover the wider metropolitan statistical area, not the city limits.
Architects, Except Landscape and Naval Wages by Metro Area in California
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), architects, except landscape and naval wages in California vary by metro area.
Metro Area
Employment
Median Annual Wage
Avg. Annual Wage
Entry Level (10th pctile)
Experienced (90th pctile)
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim
4,870
$104,170
$115,940
$75,640
$164,530
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont
3,780
$126,550
$131,300
$78,990
$200,380
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad
1,280
$120,040
$123,640
$76,130
$164,830
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara
660
$129,640
$142,170
$80,040
$229,250
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom
640
$125,980
$124,740
$77,670
$171,050
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario
410
$100,460
$107,870
$66,540
$169,660
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara
220
$103,820
$112,050
$75,730
$158,320
Fresno
180
$100,360
$107,700
$71,330
$156,680
Santa Rosa-Petaluma
150
$107,300
$115,070
$78,350
$164,190
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura
140
$102,530
$105,180
$56,580
$156,770
Bakersfield-Delano
100
$111,070
$116,030
$73,100
$165,020
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles
90
$99,800
$102,390
$60,950
$156,710
Stockton-Lodi
70
$101,540
$113,900
$76,380
$161,010
Redding
60
$120,060
$118,650
$71,630
$212,680
Salinas
60
$99,600
$108,590
$78,820
$150,620
Santa Cruz-Watsonville
40
$105,750
$105,160
$62,650
$140,220
Visalia
40
$98,890
$102,850
$63,550
$153,810
Modesto
30
$124,810
$116,700
$74,760
$157,100
Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .
Licensing and Credentials in California
Architects are registered by state boards. The national path is a NAAB-accredited professional degree, the NCARB Architectural Experience Program, and the Architect Registration Examination (ARE). A degree that is not NAAB-accredited generally does not satisfy the education requirement on its own.
Requirements are set at state level and are amended periodically. Before you enroll in any program, confirm with your state architecture registration board that the specific program you are considering satisfies the education requirement, and ask what it accepts from any training you have already completed. Get the answer in writing.
Earning the Degree While You Work
Most people reading this already have a job in the field, and the practical question is whether the credential can be earned without leaving it. Programs designed for working adults deliver the academic portion online or in the evening, while any labs, clinical hours or supervised field experience happen in person and locally. Prior college credit, military training, apprenticeship coursework and industry certifications can all shorten the path, so request a written transfer credit evaluation before you commit to any school.
Schools in our database near this area, ranked by BOC Score. The list favors schools with a related program on record, but program availability and delivery format change, so confirm directly with any school that it currently offers the program you want.
How We Rank Schools
We first gather the schools closest to the city or state page you are viewing, then rank that
local group by BOC Score, with the highest at the top. The BOC Score is computed from federal
IPEDS and College Scorecard data; schools without enough data to score appear last.
LOCAL RANK
Location / proximity to this page
Defines the local group
Graduation rate
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry
25%
Average net price (lower is better)
20%
Retention rate
15%
Fully online availability
10%
Schools without enough federal outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score.
Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.
The median annual wage for architects in California is $108,540, above the national median of $99,280 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle of the range runs from $85,990 at the 25th percentile to $152,430 at the 75th.
How many architects work in California?
California holds about 13,270 architect jobs (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Nationally the occupation employs 106,770, and BLS projects about 7,800 openings per year through 2034 (BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34).
Do I need a license to work as a architect in California?
Architects are registered by state boards. The national path is a NAAB-accredited professional degree, the NCARB Architectural Experience Program, and the Architect Registration Examination (ARE). A degree that is not NAAB-accredited generally does not satisfy the education requirement on its own. Requirements are set at the state level and change periodically, so confirm the current rules with your state architecture registration board before you enroll in any program.
Can I earn a NAAB-accredited professional degree online while working in California?
Often yes. Programs built for working adults deliver coursework online or in the evenings, though any required labs, clinical hours or supervised field experience are completed in person. Confirm that the program's accreditation satisfies your state architecture registration board.
What is the highest-paying area of California for architects?
Among California metro areas with published data, San Jose reports the highest median at $129,640 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Is California a good state for architects?
On pay, the state median of $108,540 sits above the national $99,280 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). A location quotient of 1.06 means the occupation is more concentrated here than in the average state. Weigh that against cost of living and how concentrated the work is near where you actually want to live.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Architects (SOC 17-1011), national, state and metropolitan estimates
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook - education and licensing requirements
Wage and employment figures describe the occupation as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, not the graduates of any particular program, and individual outcomes may vary. Licensing rules change; confirm current requirements with the responsible state board before enrolling.
About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.
