How to Become an Architect in Kentucky: Salary & Requirements (2026)

Q: "How much does an architect make in Kentucky?"

"The median annual wage for architects, except landscape and naval in Kentucky is $97,680 (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 2% below the national median of $99,280."

Q: "How do I become an architect in Kentucky?"

"The core path is the same nationwide - NAAB-accredited Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch, 5 years) or M.Arch - with licensing administered at the state level: State architecture license via the ARE exam (required to stamp drawings). See the steps below."

Q: "How many architects work in Kentucky?"

"BLS counts about 630 architects, except landscape and naval employed in Kentucky (BLS OEWS, May 2025)."

Updated July 23, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Kentucky architects, except landscape and naval earn a median annual wage of $97,680 ($46.96/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 630 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -1.6% below the national median of $99,280 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $97,680 ($46.96/hr)
25th percentile: $75,420 per year
75th percentile: $116,460 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $130,490 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $60,980 per year
Workers employed in Kentucky: 630
Versus national median: -1.6% below the U.S. median of $99,280
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.46 - this occupation is less concentrated in Kentucky than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed July 23, 2026.

Quick answer: The median architect salary in Kentucky is $97,680 per year - 2% below the national median of $99,280 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The career requires a 4-year degree: NAAB-accredited Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch, 5 years) or M.Arch.

Architect Salary in Kentucky

Wage level	Annual salary
Kentucky entry level (10th percentile)	$60,980
Kentucky 25th-75th percentile	$75,420 - $116,460
Kentucky median	$97,680
Kentucky top earners (90th percentile)	$130,490
U.S. median	$99,280

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. State employment: 630.

The Kentucky Job Market: Architect

Metric	Value
Employed in Kentucky	630
Jobs per 1,000 in the state	0.31
Concentration vs U.S. (location quotient)	0.46
Mean annual wage in Kentucky	$97,670

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. With a location quotient of 0.46, Kentucky employs architects at a lower concentration than the national average; expect fewer openings per capita and weigh relocation or remote-friendly specialties.

Requirements in Kentucky

The education path is national - NAAB-accredited Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch, 5 years) or M.Arch - while licensing runs through Kentucky’s own boards: State architecture license via the ARE exam (required to stamp drawings). Verify current requirements with the Kentucky licensing authority before enrolling, as details change. The step-by-step path (degree, exams, first role, advancement) is covered in the national guide: How to Become an Architect.

Salary Nationwide

Annual Wage by Percentile - Architects, Except Landscape and Naval

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025

Architects, Except Landscape and Naval annual wage percentiles
Percentile	Annual wage
10th	$62,300
25th	$77,960
50th (median)	$99,280
75th	$126,550
90th	$161,420

Job Outlook

Projected employment growth, Architects, Except Landscape and Naval, 2024-2034

Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024-2034

Architects, Except Landscape and Naval employment projection 2024 to 2034
Year	Employment
2024	123,600
2034 projected	128,400
Percent change	+3.9%

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does an architect make in Kentucky?

The median annual wage for architects, except landscape and naval in Kentucky is $97,680 (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 2% below the national median of $99,280.

How do I become an architect in Kentucky?

The core path is the same nationwide - NAAB-accredited Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch, 5 years) or M.Arch - with licensing administered at the state level: State architecture license via the ARE exam (required to stamp drawings). See the steps below.

How many architects work in Kentucky?

BLS counts about 630 architects, except landscape and naval employed in Kentucky (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Architect in Nearby States

Sources

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Architects, Except Landscape and Naval (SOC 17-1011), Kentucky and national
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34

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/.

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

Data	Provider	Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	May 2025
Employment Projections	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System	National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)	2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirements	CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programs	CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)	U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)	O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)