The U.S. economy today has no lack of opportunities for architects. An ongoing shortage of housing stock contributed to the dramatic spike in housing prices over the last two years, illustrating a need for professionals who can help make design and construction more affordable and efficient. The threat of climate change has increased interest in designers with expertise in energy efficiency, sustainability, and resilience. And the landmark Bipartisan Infrastructure Law passed in 2021 will pour billions of dollars into projects requiring the services of architects, engineers, and other design professionals.

While demand for architects’ services appears likely to remain high and even grow in coming years, the future of overall employment in the field is more uncertain. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 3% growth in employment for architects by 2030, a rate slower than the average for all occupations. While retirements and transitions to different industries will continue to create job openings, improved software and technologies have made architects more productive. This means that fewer architects will be needed to handle similar volumes of work.

Recent employment data has already shown signs of potential decline in the field. Like many other construction-related occupations, total employment for architects fell sharply when the housing bubble burst and the Great Recession began. From 2008 to 2012, the number of architects in the U.S. declined by more than a quarter, a rate of employment loss far greater than the economy as a whole experienced. But even after recovering to near pre-recession levels in 2019, total employment for architects has remained down over the past two years.

Strong educational and licensure requirements for practitioners also constrains the supply of new architects. To practice as an architect, one must usually obtain a bachelor’s or master’s degree in the field, complete a multi-year internship, pass a licensing exam, and meet continuing education requirements. But because of the specialized knowledge and training required to practice in the field, architects tend to be well-compensated compared to other occupations. From 2001 to 2020, the median wage for an architect was more than double the median wage for all occupations, though this gap narrowed slightly in 2021. The overall median wage for an architect today sits at $80,180.

However, architects’ earning potential can vary significantly between locations in the U.S. When adjusted for cost of living, the typical salary for an architect is highest in Arizona, where the median adjusted wage is $97,153 per year. The list of best-paying states also includes Alaska, Massachusetts, California, and New York.

These top states also host many of the best-paying cities for architects. Locations like Phoenix, Boston, the Bay Area, and New York City are fast-growing areas that provide plentiful opportunities for architects. Median wages in these locations far exceed the national median for architects, in some cases approaching six figures annually.

To determine the best-paying locations for architects, researchers at Construction Coverage analyzed the latest data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. The researchers ranked metro areas according to the median annual wage for architects adjusted for local cost-of-living differences. In the event of a tie, the metro with the higher unadjusted median annual wage for architects was ranked higher.

Here is a summary of the data for the Huntsville, AL metro area:

Median annual wage for architects (adjusted): $104,213
Median annual wage for architects (actual): $96,020
Median annual wage for all occupations (actual): $47,260
Concentration of architects (compared to average): -17%

For reference, here are the statistics for the entire United States:

Median annual wage for architects (adjusted): $80,180
Median annual wage for architects (actual): $80,180
Median annual wage for all occupations (actual): $45,760
Concentration of architects (compared to average): N/A

For more information, a detailed methodology, and complete results, you can find the original report on Construction Coverage’s website: https://constructioncoverage.com/research/best-paying-cities-for-architects-2022