How much does an architect make in San Diego?
$120,000a year
Median yearly pay for architects in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area. That is $57.71 an hour or $10,000 a month.
- Hourly
- $57.71
- Vs. national median
- +21%
- Rank among cities
- 7 of 231
- Jobs in the area
- 1,280
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $76,130Median: $120,000Highest 10%: $164,800
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $76,130 | $36.60 | |
| 25th | $94,130 | $45.25 | |
| Median | $120,000 | $57.71 | |
| 75th | $151,900 | $73.02 | |
| 90th | $164,800 | $79.25 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for architects.
| San Jose, CA | $129,600 |
| San Francisco, CA | $126,600 |
| Sacramento, CA | $126,000 |
| Redding, CA | $120,100 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $111,100 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $107,300 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $104,200 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $103,800 |
| Oxnard, CA | $102,500 |
| Stockton, CA | $101,500 |
| Riverside, CA | $100,500 |
| Fresno, CA | $100,400 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $99,800 |
| Salinas, CA | $99,600 |
Related jobs in San Diego
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $174,400 |
| Electronics Engineer | $156,500 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $135,000 |
| Engineer | $132,800 |
| Bioengineer and Biomedical Engineer | $128,300 |
| Electrical Engineer | $127,300 |
| Health and Safety Engineer | $124,700 |
| Materials Engineer | $124,200 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $121,800 |
| Environmental Engineer | $119,400 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does an architect make an hour in San Diego?
The median hourly pay in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $57.71 ($120,000 a year).
Do architects make more in San Diego than the national average?
Yes: $120,000 against $99,280 nationally, 21% more.
How does San Diego compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $108,500, so San Diego pays 11% more.
Where does San Diego rank for architect pay?
7 of 231 metro areas with data.
How much does an architect make starting out in San Diego?
The lowest-paid 10% make $76,130 or less a year; the top 10% make $164,800 or more.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.