Architects, except landscape and naval
May 2005 employment and annual earnings distribution, wage and salary workers
Architects, Except Landscape and Naval: Plan and design structures, such as private residences, office buildings, theaters, factories, and other structural property.
Architects held about 129,000 jobs in 2004. Approximately 3 out of 5 jobs were in the architectural, engineering, and related services industry—mostly in architectural firms with fewer than five workers. A small number worked for residential and nonresidential building construction firms and for government agencies responsible for housing, community planning, or construction of government buildings, such as the U.S. Departments of Defense and Interior, and the General Services Administration. About 1 in 4 architects was self-employed.
Median annual earnings of wage and salary architects were $60,300 in May 2004. The middle 50 percent earned between $46,690 and $79,230. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $38,060, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $99,800. Those just starting their internships can expect to earn considerably less.
Earnings of partners in established architectural firms may fluctuate because of changing business conditions. Some architects may have difficulty establishing their own practices and may go through a period when their expenses are greater than their income, requiring substantial financial resources.
(from the Occupational Outlook Handbook: Architects, Except Landscape and Naval)
See more recent statistics for employed workers below.
May 2005 employment and annual earnings distribution, wage and salary workers
National Occupational Employment and Earnings by Industry (NAICS sector and 3-digit industry group)
| Architects, except landscape and naval | |||||
| Percentile earnings distribution | |||||
| 10th | 25th | 50th | 75th | 90th | |
| Utilities employment: 60 mean earnings: $76,780 (EC) (def) (IG) | $49,310 | $56,180 | $80,890 | $91,800 | $104,490 |
| Utilities employment: 60 mean earnings: $76,780 | $49,310 | $56,180 | $80,890 | $91,800 | $104,490 |
| Construction employment: 4,430 mean earnings: $67,960 (EC) (def) (IG) | $36,830 | $47,510 | $63,790 | $83,170 | $104,160 |
| Construction of Buildings employment: 4,130 mean earnings: $67,940 | $37,140 | $47,720 | $63,980 | $83,280 | $103,470 |
| Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction employment: 190 mean earnings: $74,930 | $29,770 | $48,400 | $66,530 | $90,040 | $138,680 |
| Specialty Trade Contractors employment: 110 mean earnings: $56,350 | $34,450 | $40,960 | $53,810 | $68,560 | $81,700 |
| Manufacturing employment: 560 mean earnings: $57,020 (EC) (def) (IG) | $33,590 | $39,410 | $47,050 | $70,190 | $94,410 |
| Wood Product Manufacturing employment: 110 mean earnings: $58,020 | $31,280 | $36,060 | $51,240 | $68,900 | $97,720 |
| Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing employment: n.a. mean earnings: $60,520 | $41,720 | $47,750 | $56,630 | $68,400 | $86,380 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing employment: 30 mean earnings: $60,010 | $39,260 | $44,420 | $53,210 | $68,610 | $89,850 |
| Wholesale Trade employment: 40 mean earnings: $82,420 (EC) (def) (IG) | $51,220 | $59,050 | $76,390 | $99,030 | $129,610 |
| Retail Trade employment: 60 mean earnings: $64,730 (EC) (def) (IG) | $32,240 | $38,580 | $49,130 | $82,940 | $113,070 |
| Transportation and Warehousing employment: 160 mean earnings: $80,040 (EC) (def) (IG) | $62,950 | $72,950 | $80,700 | $88,580 | $101,740 |
| Postal Service employment: 140 mean earnings: $80,690 | $65,040 | $73,960 | $81,280 | $88,600 | $100,880 |
| Information employment: 60 mean earnings: $89,330 (EC) (def) (IG) | $53,110 | $75,930 | $92,600 | $109,670 | $120,430 |
| Finance and Insurance employment: 110 mean earnings: $87,670 (EC) (def) (IG) | $51,020 | $65,470 | $83,680 | $104,540 | $133,190 |
| Credit Intermediation and Related Activities employment: 50 mean earnings: $100,040 | $56,590 | $73,720 | $95,200 | $115,730 | >$145K |
| Insurance Carriers and Related Activities employment: 50 mean earnings: $75,410 | $49,560 | $61,530 | $77,560 | $90,040 | $103,170 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing employment: 440 mean earnings: $69,270 (EC) (def) (IG) | $39,410 | $47,310 | $68,020 | $84,000 | $100,180 |
| Real Estate employment: 430 mean earnings: $69,420 | $39,520 | $47,420 | $68,130 | $84,090 | $100,850 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services employment: 83,970 mean earnings: $68,350 (EC) (def) (IG) | $38,960 | $48,350 | $62,150 | $80,950 | $105,950 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services employment: 83,970 mean earnings: $68,350 | $38,960 | $48,350 | $62,150 | $80,950 | $105,950 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises employment: 1,010 mean earnings: $74,620 (EC) (def) (IG) | $42,220 | $51,530 | $69,730 | $90,570 | $115,350 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises employment: 1,010 mean earnings: $74,620 | $42,220 | $51,530 | $69,730 | $90,570 | $115,350 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services employment: 640 mean earnings: $76,810 (EC) (def) (IG) | $41,740 | $52,180 | $71,320 | $91,720 | $121,400 |
| Administrative and Support Services employment: 640 mean earnings: $76,850 | $41,680 | $52,150 | $71,350 | $91,820 | $121,630 |
| Educational Services employment: 1,010 mean earnings: $65,570 (EC) (def) (IG) | $42,660 | $51,640 | $63,210 | $74,800 | $90,160 |
| Educational Services employment: 1,010 mean earnings: $65,570 | $42,660 | $51,640 | $63,210 | $74,800 | $90,160 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance employment: 150 mean earnings: $78,000 (EC) (def) (IG) | $50,760 | $60,460 | $73,640 | $91,230 | $114,870 |
| Hospitals employment: 120 mean earnings: $76,290 | $50,030 | $59,440 | $72,780 | $89,900 | $108,200 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation employment: 70 mean earnings: $64,550 (EC) (def) (IG) | $31,020 | $41,690 | $72,510 | $85,350 | $95,710 |
| Amusement, Gambling, and Recreation Industries employment: n.a. mean earnings: $70,030 | $37,680 | $45,650 | $76,960 | $87,080 | $95,860 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) employment: n.a. mean earnings: $47,250 (EC) (def) (IG) | $39,060 | $40,760 | $43,600 | $46,430 | $59,820 |
| Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations employment: n.a. mean earnings: $46,580 | $39,030 | $40,690 | $43,460 | $46,230 | $47,870 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) employment: 3,870 mean earnings: $71,920 (def) (IG) | $48,610 | $58,600 | $71,990 | $85,560 | $98,400 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) employment: 3,870 mean earnings: $71,920 | $48,610 | $58,600 | $71,990 | $85,560 | $98,400 |
source: Occupational Employment Statistics Program; about these estimates
The (EC) links lead to data from the Economic Census from the Census Bureau.
The (def) links lead to 2002 NAICS industry definitions from the Census Bureau.
The (IG) links lead to Industry at a Glance industry profiles from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.