Architects, Except Landscape and Naval pay range in San Diego
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $76,130 a year or less, while the top 10% make $164,830 or more. The middle half of architects (except landscape and naval) in San Diego earn between $94,130 and $151,890.
- $76K10th
- $94K25th
- $120KMedian
- $152K75th
- $165K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $123,640 | $10,303 | $59.44 |
| Median | $120,040 | $10,003 | $57.71 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $94,130 | $7,844 | $45.25 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $151,890 | $12,658 | $73.02 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Architects, Except Landscape and Naval pay in San Diego vs. California and the U.S.
Architects (except landscape and naval) in San Diego earn about the same as the California average ($121,910) and 16% more than the U.S. average ($106,260). At the median the gap is +21% against the U.S. median of $99,280.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego | $123,640 | $120,040 | $76,130 | $164,830 | 1,280 |
| California | $121,910 | $108,540 | $75,640 | $171,160 | 13,270 |
| United States | $106,260 | $99,280 | $62,300 | $161,420 | 106,770 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Architects, Except Landscape and Naval salary after taxes in San Diego
On the average salary of $123,640, a single filer in San Diego takes home about $88,367 a year, or $7,364 a month and $3,399 every two weeks. Taxes take 29% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is San Diego a good place for architects (except landscape and naval)? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Diego area are 12% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 111.9), so the average $123,640 buys what about $110,504 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.0 times the median wage of all jobs in San Diego ($58,690). A typical home costs $946,365, or 7.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Architects, Except Landscape and Naval salary in other California cities
San Diego ranks 4th of 18 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($142,170).
- San Jose$142,170
- San Francisco$131,300
- Sacramento$124,740
- San Diego$123,640
- Redding$118,650
- Modesto$116,700
- Bakersfield$116,030
- Los Angeles$115,940
- Santa Rosa$115,070
- Stockton$113,900
All Architects, Except Landscape and Naval salaries in California
Highest-paying cities for architects (except landscape and naval)
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($142,170).
- San Jose, CA$142,170
- San Francisco, CA$131,300
- Trenton, NJ$127,000
- Kiryas Joel, NY$125,980
- Sacramento, CA$124,740
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Architects, Except Landscape and Naval salary in San Diego: questions
How much do architects (except landscape and naval) make an hour in San Diego?
$59.44 an hour on average, and $57.71 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level architects (except landscape and naval) salary in San Diego?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $76,130 a year and the 25th percentile is $94,130, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the architects (except landscape and naval) take-home pay in San Diego?
About $88,367 a year ($7,364 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $123,640. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do architects (except landscape and naval) earn more in San Diego than elsewhere?
The average here is 16% more than the U.S. average for this job ($106,260).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 17-1011; area San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA (41740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.3%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.21, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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