Compensation Calculator

The 2025 compensation calculator is based on a survey
conducted and reported for
The American Institute of Architects (AIA) in 2025.

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This AIA salary calculator includes data for full-time architectural staff employees at AIA member firms in the U.S. with three or more architectural staff employees. Data is current as of Jan. 1, 2025.

Note that salaries found in this calculator are not adjusted for specific factors that may affect salary like exact location, firm size, firm type, and other factors. These salaries are broad averages and ranges only, and may vary substantially based on your location, years of experience, specific job duties and/or other factors. These salaries are intended as a broad guide only.

These are descriptive of positions at architecture firms for classification and salary reporting purposes and not intended to be recommended as specific titles for unlicensed staff working at architecture firms. Please check with your licensing board for title restrictions.

The full 2025 AIA Compensation Report has more insights and information, such as compensation for 25 other positions at architectural firms, details on benefits packages, and select state and metro area salaries. View key takeaways from the report and position descriptions. (Information on salaries at small firms (fewer than 3 architectural staff employees and/or those classified as a sole proprietorship) can be found in the Small Firm Compensation Report.)

Select a Position to get started:

How to Read This Data

For each position, salary figures are shown at three points:

25th percentile: 25% of reported salaries fall below this figure, 75% above.
50th percentile (median): The midpoint — half are higher, half are lower.
75th percentile: 75% fall below this figure, 25% above.

Career stage: Salaries often start closer to the 25th percentile for those early in their careers or new to a role. With more experience or tenure, salaries typically move toward the median or 75th percentile.

Location: Cost of living and metro size affect placement within the range. Larger or higher-cost metros often trend toward the median or 75th percentile, while smaller or lower-cost areas may align more with the 25th percentile.

Other factors: Salaries can vary significantly within the same region and even the same title, depending on the metro area and specific roles or responsibilities.

Definitions

Compensation Measures

Base Pay (US$): Average annual full-time base salary per position as of Jan. 1, 2025.
Additional Cash Compensation (US$): Average extra cash earned in 2024 (if any), including overtime, commissions, bonuses, incentive pay, profit-sharing, and retirement payouts. Excludes base pay, deferred compensation, and non-cash benefits.

Statistics

25th Percentile: 25% of reported salaries fall below this figure.
Median (50th Percentile): The midpoint — half above, half below. Less affected by extreme values.
75th Percentile: 75% of reported salaries fall below this figure.
# of Establishments: Number of firms that reported the position.
# of Positions: Total full-time employees in that role (excludes part-time and contractors) as of Jan. 1, 2025.

Selection Variables

Geographic Regions (U.S. Census Divisions)	States in Region	Key States / Metro Areas Influencing Salaries
New England	CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT	Connecticut, Massachusetts, Boston
Middle Atlantic	NJ, NY, PA	New Jersey, New York, New York City, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh
East North Central	IL, IN, MI, OH, WI	Illinois, Chicago, Indiana, Indianapolis, Michigan, Detroit, Ohio, Columbus, Wisconsin, Milwaukee
West North Central	IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, SD	Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Minneapolis, Missouri, Kansas City, St. Louis, Nebraska
South Atlantic	DC, DE, FL, GA, MD, NC, SC, VA, WV	Florida, Miami, Orlando, Tampa, Georgia, Atlanta, Maryland, Baltimore, North Carolina, Charlotte, Raleigh, South Carolina, Virginia, Washington DC
East South Central	AL, KY, MS, TN	Alabama, Kentucky, Tennessee, Nashville
West South Central	AR, LA, OK, TX	Louisiana, New Orleans, Oklahoma, Texas, Austin, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio
Mountain	AZ, CO, ID, MT, NM, NV, UT, WY	Arizona, Phoenix, Colorado, Denver, Montana, Utah, Salt Lake City
Pacific	AK, CA, HI, OR, WA	California, Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, Hawaii, Honolulu, Oregon, Portland, Washington, Seattle

If you live outside of the states/major metropolitan areas represented by the data in a region, you may need to consult additional resources to adjust the salary ranges to better reflect conditions in your areas. Additional resources could include state/local inflation levels, state/local cost of living, etc.

Benefits

Average estimated value of automatic and defined benefits (varies by firm) as a percentage of base pay in 2024, by firm size. Excludes profit-sharing and discretionary year-end bonuses.

About The Compensation Survey and This Calculator

Additional Resources

Find resume resources and job boards at the AIA Career Center
AIA Guides for Equitable Practice
AIA Articles
- Know Your Worth: Are you compensated fairly?

About the Compensation Survey and Calculator

This calculator is based on the 2025 AIA Compensation Survey (excluding the Small Firm Compensation Survey). Results are shown for both the user's selections and for all respondents. Statistics include base pay and additional cash compensation. Data is not shown if fewer than five firms meet the selection criteria.

The full Compensation and Benefits Report as well as the Small Firm Compensation Report is intended for the use of firm leaders to discern competitive pay in their business. This tool is free and intended as a resource for emerging professionals to understand regional markets and negotiate competitive salaries. Users should consult additional resources and market data in addition to this calculator. Many local and state AIA Components retain a hard copy of the Compensation and Benefits Report in their office for full review without purchase. Find your local and state components here: Find an AIA Chapter

Disclaimer: This tool provides a broad, high-level view of salaries by position. It does not set or prescribe pay levels. Results are not adjusted for factors such as exact location, firm size, or job duties. Actual salaries may vary significantly based on experience, responsibilities, firm type, and market conditions.

More Data and Insights

The full 2025 AIA Compensation Report includes:

25+ additional positions
Details on benefits packages
State- and metro-level salary data

Visit AIA Compensation & Benefits Report for the complete report.

For data on firms with fewer than three architectural staff (or sole proprietors), see the AIA Small Firm Compensation Report

Survey Methodology

Sample: Invitations were sent to 14,629 architecture establishments via AIA lists (LFRT firms, firm leaders, prior survey participants) and open calls through AIA and components.
Fielding: Survey conducted April 10-May 19, 2025 by Readex Research in partnership with AIA. Multiple email reminders and local chapter outreach supported participation.
Response: 817 firms (1,376 locations) qualified; data covered 13,227 positions.
Processing: Responses were cleaned, edited, and outliers (top/bottom 1% per position) removed to enhance reliability.

About AIA Research

The AIA Research group delivers insights on the business of architecture through surveys, reports, and analysis of economic and market trends. Using internal and external data, we provide members with timely, practical intelligence to support firm's performance.

For questions:economics@aia.org.

About Readex Research

Founded in 1947, Readex Research (www.readexresearch.com) is a nationally recognized independent research company located in Stillwater, MN. Its roots are found in survey research for the magazine publishing industry, but its specialization in conducting high-quality self-administered surveys has brought it clients from many other markets, including associations, corporate marketers and communicators, and government agencies.