Quick answer: Washington employs about 3,720 architects (BLS OEWS, May 2025), and licensing runs through your state architecture registration board. Programs, the careers this degree opens, and what they pay are below.
Licensing and Credentials in Washington
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 Near You
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 – graduation rate, graduate earnings, cost and retention.
Advertising plays no part.
This page lists 2 schools
within 203 miles, closest group first, then ordered by
BOC Score with the highest at the top.
2 of them carry a score.
LOCAL RANK
Location / proximity to this page
Defines the local group
Graduation rate how often students finish
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry whether it paid off
25%
Average net price what students actually pay after aid; lower ranks higher
20%
Retention rate how many come back for year two
15%
Fully online availability whether you can study while working
10%
Scores come from IPEDS (2024) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Earnings are for all graduates of a school, not one program, so treat them as a signal
about the institution rather than about this subject.
Sponsored listings are paid placements and are labelled as such; they are separate from
this ranking and never change it. Read the full methodology.
Architects in Washington earn a median $100,190 per year, above the national median of $99,280 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Architecture Pay and Employment in Washington at a Glance
Metric
Washington
National
Source
Median annual wage
$100,190
$99,280
BLS OEWS, May 2025
10th percentile
$70,020
$62,300
BLS OEWS, May 2025
25th percentile
$80,960
$77,960
BLS OEWS, May 2025
75th percentile
$114,430
$126,550
BLS OEWS, May 2025
90th percentile
$130,380
$161,420
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Employment
3,720
106,770
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Location quotient
1.52
1.00
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Projected change (2024-34)
not published by state
3.9%
BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34
How Washington Pay Compares to the Rest of the Country
The Washington median of $100,190 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 1.52 puts Washington 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.
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 Washington
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), architects, except landscape and naval wages in Washington 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
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue
2,970
$100,610
$101,520
$73,840
$130,490
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro
1,700
$100,490
$105,000
$74,100
$132,920
Spokane-Spokane Valley
180
$95,910
$94,160
$62,140
$125,000
Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard
120
$95,350
$101,190
$63,890
$134,220
Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater
70
$93,720
$94,240
$51,610
$126,100
Kennewick-Richland
40
$102,890
$113,500
$62,450
$171,260
Bellingham
30
$92,320
$98,090
$77,080
$128,290
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 .
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do architects make in Washington?
The median annual wage for architects in Washington is $100,190, above the national median of $99,280 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle of the range runs from $80,960 at the 25th percentile to $114,430 at the 75th.
How many architects work in Washington?
Washington holds about 3,720 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 Washington?
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 Washington?
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 Washington for architects?
Among Washington metro areas with published data, Kennewick reports the highest median at $102,890 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Is Washington a good state for architects?
On pay, the state median of $100,190 sits above the national $99,280 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). A location quotient of 1.52 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
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/.
