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Licensed Architect, Senior Salary in the United States

How much does a Licensed Architect, Senior make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Licensed Architect, Senior in the United States is $93,590 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $45.

However, a Licensed Architect, Senior's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $110,020
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $85,290 to $102,190
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $77,733

Key Factors That Influence Licensed Architect, Senior Salaries

A Licensed Architect, Senior's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Licensed Architect, Senior Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Licensed Architect, Senior's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Design Architect, Entry (0-2 years): $62,488
  • Design Architect, Experienced (2-4 years): $75,889
  • Licensed Architect, Senior (4-7 years): $93,515
  • Design Architect, Specialist (7+ years): $111,857
  • Design Architect, Master (7-10 years): $131,558
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Design Architect, Entry0-2 years$62,488
Design Architect, Experienced2-4 years$75,889
Licensed Architect, Senior4-7 years$93,515
Design Architect, Specialist7+ years$111,857
Design Architect, Master7-10 years$131,558

Top Paying Cities for Licensed Architect, Seniors

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $117,990
  • San Francisco: $116,690
  • Oakland: $114,290

What Skills Can Increase a Licensed Architect, Senior's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 5.15% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Construction Administration (Mentioned in 2.11% Job Postings): The process that the designer goes through to stay involved during the construction process to help solve problems and assist with delivering high-quality projects.
  • Conceptual Design (Mentioned in 1.31% Job Postings): Conceptual Design is an early phase of the design process, in which the broad outlines of function and form of something are articulated. It includes the design of interactions, experiences, processes and strategies. It involves an understanding of people's needs - and how to meet them with products, services, & processes. Common artifacts of conceptual design are concept sketches and models.
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 5.15%
Construction Administration 2.11%
Conceptual Design 1.31%

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Licensed Architect, Senior's salary.

  • API: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
  • Azure: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
  • ERP: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
API $103,885
11%
Azure $103,885
11%
ERP $102,949
10%

Licensed Architect, Senior Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Licensed Architect, Senior salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $101,681. While startup companies pay approximate $86,173.

Licensed Architect, Senior Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $86,173
Growth Stage 51~500 $91,097
Established 501~5000 $98,234
Enterprise 5000+ $101,681

Licensed Architect, Senior Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Licensed Architect, Senior roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 45% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit and Construction sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 25% above the average. In contrast, Licensed Architect, Senior positions in Retail & Wholesale or Business Services typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Licensed Architect, Senior as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Licensed Architect, Senior

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit$116,988$56.025%
Construction$102,949$49.010%

How Education impacts a Licensed Architect, Senior's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Licensed Architect, Seniors enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Licensed Architect, Senior with a Bachelor's Degree is between $97,894 and $104,496).

Licensed Architect, Senior Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Licensed Architect, Senior
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.1%
High School 0.6%
Associates 0.9%
Bachelors 46.0%
Masters 51.6%
Doctorate 0.8%

Licensed Architect, Senior Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Licensed Architect, Senior's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$85,290
Average $93,590/year
$102,190
$7,108
Average $7,799/month
$8,516
$1,640
Average $1,800/week
$1,965
$41
Average $45/hour
$49
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $102,190 $8,516 $1,965 $49
Average $93,590 $7,799 $1,800 $45
25th Percentile $85,290 $7,108 $1,640 $41

Licensed Architect, Senior Salary Growth & Career Path

For a Licensed Architect, Senior, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Design Architect, Specialist role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $111,900 - a projected growth of 20% over your current level.

Most common benefits for Licensed Architect, Senior

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Licensed Architect, Senior

Here are companies hiring for Licensed Architect, Senior and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Licensed Architect, Senior

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Licensed Architect, Senior?

The Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit industry offers the highest average compensation for Licensed Architect, Senior roles, with salaries approximately 25% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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