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Hourly Wage for Architect I Salary in the United States

How much does an Architect I make hourly?

As of August 01, 2026, the average hourly rate for an Architect I in the United States is $30, which translates to an annual salary of about $62,492.

However, the hourly wage can vary significantly based on several factors. Here’s a detailed look at the typical pay range per hour:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $36 per hour
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $27 to $33 per hour
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $23 per hour

Key Factors That Influence Architect I Salaries

An Architect I'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 Architect I Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Architect I'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:

  • Architect I (0-2 years): $62,492
  • Architect II (2-4 years): $75,893
  • Architect III (4-7 years): $93,513
  • Architect IV (7+ years): $111,869
  • Architect V (7-10 years): $131,582
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Architect I0-2 years$62,492
Architect II2-4 years$75,893
Architect III4-7 years$93,513
Architect IV7+ years$111,869
Architect V7-10 years$131,582

Top Paying Cities for Architect I

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: $78,821
  • San Francisco: $77,958
  • Oakland: $76,315

What Skills Can Increase an Architect I's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 5.12% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Adobe (Mentioned in 1.96% Job Postings): A mixture of wet earth and grass made into bricks and dried in the sun, used to build houses. It originated from the oral form of Arabic al-tob, meaning "brick," It is the first materials used to create buildings in the 8th century B.C
  • Conceptualization (Mentioned in 1.36% Job Postings): Conceptualization is a process that involves coming up with clear, concise definitions. It is the reverse process of conception.
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 5.12%
Adobe 1.96%
Conceptualization 1.36%

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 an Architect I's salary.

  • AWS: Can increase your salary by up to 36%.
  • Azure: Can increase your salary by up to 33%.
  • Salesforce: Can increase your salary by up to 26%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
AWS $84,989
36%
Azure $83,114
33%
Salesforce $78,740
26%

Architect I Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Architect I salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $68,003. While startup companies pay approximate $57,639.

Architect I Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $57,639
Growth Stage 51~500 $60,932
Established 501~5000 $65,702
Enterprise 5000+ $68,003

Architect I Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Architect I roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 55% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Energy & Utilities and Construction sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 25% above the average. In contrast, Architect positions in Retail & Wholesale or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Architect I as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Architect I

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Energy & Utilities$78,115$38.025%
Construction$74,990$36.020%
Business Services$65,617$32.05%

How Education impacts an Architect I's Salary?

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

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Architect I with a Bachelor's Degree is between $65,537 and $68,762.

Architect I Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Architect I
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.4%
High School 2.2%
Associates 3.0%
Bachelors 47.7%
Masters 45.5%
Doctorate 1.1%

Architect I Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Architect I'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 August 01, 2026
$55,289
Average $62,492/year
$68,496
$4,607
Average $5,208/month
$5,708
$1,063
Average $1,202/week
$1,317
$27
Average $30/hour
$33
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $68,496 $5,708 $1,317 $33
Average $62,492 $5,208 $1,202 $30
25th Percentile $55,289 $4,607 $1,063 $27

Most common benefits for Architect I

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

Common company salaries for Architect I

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

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FAQ about Architect I

1. What are the responsibilities of Architect I?

Responsible for performing design computations, compiling data, and completing rudimentary architectural assignments. Works from the designs of others to prepare sketches, preliminary drawings, and schematic designs. Prepares project estimates and completes architectural plans/renderings following specific instructions. Prepares reports and specifications as requested. May participate in an architectural internship or professional development program. May be working towards obtaining architecture license. Requires a bachelor's degree in architecture. Typically reports to a manager. Work is closely managed. Works on projects/matters of limited complexity in a support role. Typically requires 0-2 years of related experience.

2. What are the skills of Architect I

Specify the abilities and skills that a person needs in order to carry out the specified job duties. Each competency has five to ten behavioral assertions that can be observed, each with a corresponding performance level (from one to five) that is required for a particular job.

1.)

Leadership: Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.

2.)

Adobe: A mixture of wet earth and grass made into bricks and dried in the sun, used to build houses. It originated from the oral form of Arabic al-tob, meaning "brick," It is the first materials used to create buildings in the 8th century B.C

3.)

Conceptualization: Conceptualization is a process that involves coming up with clear, concise definitions. It is the reverse process of conception.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.

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