How much does an architect make in San Francisco?
$126,600a year
Median yearly pay for architects in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area. That is $60.84 an hour or $10,550 a month.
- Hourly
- $60.84
- Vs. national median
- +27%
- Rank among cities
- 2 of 231
- Jobs in the area
- 3,780
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $78,990Median: $126,600Highest 10%: $200,400
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $78,990 | $37.98 | |
| 25th | $93,450 | $44.93 | |
| Median | $126,600 | $60.84 | |
| 75th | $164,800 | $79.21 | |
| 90th | $200,400 | $96.34 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for architects.
| San Jose, CA | $129,600 |
| Sacramento, CA | $126,000 |
| Redding, CA | $120,100 |
| San Diego, CA | $120,000 |
| 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 Francisco
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $203,900 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $191,300 |
| Electrical Engineer | $166,000 |
| Electronics Engineer | $162,400 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $161,400 |
| Engineer | $159,800 |
| Health and Safety Engineer | $147,200 |
| Petroleum Engineer | $143,600 |
| Bioengineer and Biomedical Engineer | $140,700 |
| Marine Engineer and Naval Architect | $140,500 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does an architect make an hour in San Francisco?
The median hourly pay in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area is $60.84 ($126,600 a year).
Do architects make more in San Francisco than the national average?
Yes: $126,600 against $99,280 nationally, 27% more.
How does San Francisco compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $108,500, so San Francisco pays 17% more.
Where does San Francisco rank for architect pay?
2 of 231 metro areas with data.
How much does an architect make starting out in San Francisco?
The lowest-paid 10% make $78,990 or less a year; the top 10% make $200,400 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.