Quick answer:Architects in District of Columbia earn a median $102,040 per year, above the national median of $99,280 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The state employs about 1,700 of them. Licensing runs through your state architecture registration board.
Architecture Pay and Employment in District of Columbia at a Glance
Metric
District of Columbia
National
Source
Median annual wage
$102,040
$99,280
BLS OEWS, May 2025
10th percentile
$75,900
$62,300
BLS OEWS, May 2025
25th percentile
$78,110
$77,960
BLS OEWS, May 2025
75th percentile
$130,200
$126,550
BLS OEWS, May 2025
90th percentile
$163,440
$161,420
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Employment
1,700
106,770
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Location quotient
3.52
1.00
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Projected change (2024-34)
not published by state
3.9%
BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34
How District of Columbia Pay Compares to the Rest of the Country
The District of Columbia median of $102,040 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 3.52 puts District of Columbia well above the national average, so the work is noticeably more common here than in the typical state. That usually means a deeper job market and more room to change employers without relocating (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 District of Columbia
Metro area
Median annual wage
Employment
Washington
$102,080
3,020
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 District of Columbia
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), architects, except landscape and naval wages in District of Columbia vary by metro area.
Metro Area
Employment
Median Annual Wage
Avg. Annual Wage
Entry Level (10th pctile)
Experienced (90th pctile)
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria
3,020
$102,080
$115,480
$75,650
$166,190
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 District of Columbia
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.
How much do architects make in District of Columbia?
The median annual wage for architects in District of Columbia is $102,040, above the national median of $99,280 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle of the range runs from $78,110 at the 25th percentile to $130,200 at the 75th.
How many architects work in District of Columbia?
District of Columbia holds about 1,700 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 District of Columbia?
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 District of Columbia?
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 District of Columbia for architects?
Among District of Columbia metro areas with published data, Washington reports the highest median at $102,080 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Is District of Columbia a good state for architects?
On pay, the state median of $102,040 sits above the national $99,280 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). A location quotient of 3.52 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/.
