Architects, except Landscape and Naval: 106,770 jobs, median pay $99,280

106,770

Jobs in the U.S.

People employed, May 2025

$99,280

Median pay a year

Middle half: $77,960–$126,550

6,900

Annual openings

10-year change: +4.3%

1,826

LCA filings, last 4 quarters

+24.6% from the prior 4 quarters

Metro areas with the highest employment

10 of 234 metro areas with BLS data for this occupation. LCA filings: Apr 2025–Mar 2026.

Metro areaEmploymentMedian payLCA filings

New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJMedian pay $99,710 · LCA filings 46910,240$99,710469

Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim, CAMedian pay $104,170 · LCA filings 2174,870$104,170217

Chicago–Naperville–Elgin, IL–INMedian pay $81,790 · LCA filings 1204,460$81,790120

Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NHMedian pay $119,120 · LCA filings 993,930$119,12099

San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CAMedian pay $126,550 · LCA filings 1213,780$126,550121

Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WVMedian pay $102,080 · LCA filings 623,020$102,08062

Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue, WAMedian pay $100,610 · LCA filings 702,970$100,61070

Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington, TXMedian pay $93,840 · LCA filings 852,580$93,84085

Houston–Pasadena–The Woodlands, TXMedian pay $97,590 · LCA filings 372,360$97,59037

Philadelphia–Camden–Wilmington, PA–NJ–DE–MDMedian pay $98,140 · LCA filings 252,330$98,14025

Metro areas with the highest median pay

Median pay for this occupation in each metro area, May 2025.

Metro areaMedian payEmploymentLCA filings

San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CAEmployment 660 · LCA filings 24$129,64066024

San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CAEmployment 3,780 · LCA filings 121$126,5503,780121

Sacramento–Roseville–Folsom, CAEmployment 640 · LCA filings 8$125,9806408

Modesto, CAEmployment 30 · LCA filings 0$124,810300

Barnstable Town, MAEmployment 180 · LCA filings 0$120,4601800

Metro areas with the most LCA filings

Labor Condition Applications filed by employers with the U.S. Department of Labor, Apr 2025–Mar 2026. They’re used in the H-1B process and show filing history, not hires or current job openings.

Metro areaLCA filingsEmployers with LCA filingsEmployment

New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJEmployers with LCA filings 231 · Employment 10,24046923110,240

Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim, CAEmployers with LCA filings 126 · Employment 4,8702171264,870

San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CAEmployers with LCA filings 68 · Employment 3,780121683,780

Chicago–Naperville–Elgin, IL–INEmployers with LCA filings 63 · Employment 4,460120634,460

Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NHEmployers with LCA filings 55 · Employment 3,93099553,930

Prevailing wage levels (H-1B and PERM)

The minimum yearly wage by level. Level I is entry level and Level IV is fully competent; an H-1B employer must pay at least the level that fits the job.

Metro areaLevel ILevel IILevel IIILevel IV

New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJLevel II $92,872 · Level III $113,797 · Level IV $134,701$71,968$92,872$113,797$134,701

Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim, CALevel II $95,098 · Level III $115,731 · Level IV $136,344$74,485$95,098$115,731$136,344

Chicago–Naperville–Elgin, IL–INLevel II $77,126 · Level III $93,101 · Level IV $109,054$61,173$77,126$93,101$109,054

Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NHLevel II $102,128 · Level III $118,789 · Level IV $135,470$85,446$102,128$118,789$135,470

San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CALevel II $105,019 · Level III $131,040 · Level IV $157,061$78,998$105,019$131,040$157,061

Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WVLevel II $96,221 · Level III $115,294 · Level IV $134,347$77,168$96,221$115,294$134,347

Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue, WALevel II $88,400 · Level III $101,379 · Level IV $114,379$75,400$88,400$101,379$114,379

Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington, TXLevel II $84,864 · Level III $100,755 · Level IV $116,626$68,994$84,864$100,755$116,626

Houston–Pasadena–The Woodlands, TXLevel II $84,282 · Level III $101,275 · Level IV $118,248$67,309$84,282$101,275$118,248

Philadelphia–Camden–Wilmington, PA–NJ–DE–MDLevel II $83,907 · Level III $103,813 · Level IV $123,739$63,981$83,907$103,813$123,739

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC Online Wage Library, July 2026–June 2027.

Related majors

Majors most closely related to this occupation. International graduates: 2024–25 academic year.

MajorInternational graduatesSTEM OPT

ArchitectureCIP 04.02OPT · up to 12 months334OPT · up to 12 months

Architectural Sciences and TechnologyCIP 04.09Varies by program2,177Varies by program

Environmental DesignCIP 04.04OPT · up to 12 months59OPT · up to 12 months

See Architects, except Landscape and Naval in every metro area

All 234 metro areas, pay in each, related majors, schools in each job market, and employers with LCA filing history.

Employers with LCA filings for this occupation

See every metro area →

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Sources: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 · BLS Employment Projections 2025-35 · U.S. Department of Labor LCA disclosure data, Apr 2025–Mar 2026 · IPEDS 2024–25. Prevailing wages: U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC Online Wage Library, July 2026–June 2027. Methodology