Architectural Design Manager Salary in the United States

How much does an Architectural Design Manager make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for an Architectural Design Manager in the United States is $118,631 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $57.

However, an Architectural Design Manager's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $133,878
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $104,654 to $126,612
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $91,929
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View as table View as graph 25% $104,654 10% $91,929 90% $133,878 75% $126,612 $118,631 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Architectural Design Manager Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $126,612 $10,551 $2,435 $61
Average $118,631 $9,886 $2,281 $57
25th Percentile $104,654 $8,721 $2,013 $50
Check out Architectural Design Manager Job Openings in the United States
Audio Visual Design Project Manager

Xtek Partners - Columbus, OH

Manager Solutions Design

Columbus Staffing - Columbus, OH

Audio Visual Design and Project Manager

Xtek Partners - Columbus, OH

Architectural Project Manager

Galloway & Company - Columbus, OH

Search More Architectural Design Manager Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Architectural Design Manager Salaries

An Architectural Design Manager'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 and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Architectural Design Manager Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Architectural Design Manager'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:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $121,007
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $98,124
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $118,044
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $146,060
  • Expert (over 8 years): $177,497
Levels Salary
Graphic D... Level Architectural Design Manager$121,007
Graphic D... Level Architectural Design Manager$98,124
Architect... Level Architectural Design Manager$118,044
Graphic D... Level Architectural Design Manager$146,060
Graphic D... Level Architectural Design Manager$177,497
$121,007 0 yr
$98,124 < 2 yrs
$118,044 2-4 yrs
$146,060 5-8 yrs
$177,497 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Architectural Design Manager Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Architectural Design Managers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $131,348.
  • California: $130,850.
  • Massachusetts: $129,106.

Top Paying Cities for Architectural Design Managers

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: $149,629
  • San Francisco: $147,991
  • Oakland: $144,872

What Skills Can Increase an Architectural Design Manager's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Presentation (Mentioned in 5.43% Job Postings): Presentation conveys information from a speaker to an audience. Presentations are typically demonstrations, introduction, lecture, or speech meant to inform, persuade, inspire, motivate, build goodwill, or present a new idea/product.
  • Photoshop (Mentioned in 2.47% Job Postings): Photoshop is an image creation, graphic design and photo editing software developed by Adobe. It is used to demonstrate knowledge of image resolution, image size, and image file format for web, video, and print.
  • Photography (Mentioned in 1.32% Job Postings): Photography is the art, application and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either electronically by means of an image sensor, or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film. It is employed in many fields of science, manufacturing (e.g., photolithography), and business, as well as its more direct uses for art, film and video production, recreational purposes, hobby, and mass communication. Typically, a lens is used to focus the light reflected or emitted from objects into a real image on the light-sensitive surface inside a camera during a timed exposure. With an electronic image sensor, this produces an electrical charge at each pixel, which is electronically processed and stored in a digital image file for subsequent display or processing. The result with photographic emulsion is an invisible latent image, which is later chemically "developed" into a visible image, either negative or positive depending on the purpose of the photographic material and the method of processing. A negative image on film is traditionally used to photographically create a positive image on a paper base, known as a print, either by using an enlarger or by contact printing.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Presentation 5.43%
Photoshop 2.47%
Photography 1.32%
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 Architectural Design Manager's salary.
  • Insight: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • Coaching: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Collaboration: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Insight
$124,563
5%
Coaching
$123,376
4%
Collaboration
$123,376
4%
Initiative
$122,190
3%
Project Management
$122,190
3%
Career Development
$122,190
3%
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Architectural Design Manager Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Architectural Design Manager roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Aerospace & Defense and Business Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Architectural Design Manager positions in Biotechnology or Transportation typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Architectural Design Manager as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for an Architectural Design Manager

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Aerospace & Defense$142,357$68.020%

Architectural Design Manager Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Architectural Design Manager'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

Salary Trends for Architectural Design Manager

Salaries for an Architectural Design Manager can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary increased from $105,311 in 2023 to around $105,587 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Architectural Design Manager salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Architectural Design Manager Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$105,311
2024
$106,067
2025
$105,587
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $105,311
2024 $106,067
2025 $105,587
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Architectural Design Manager

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Architectural Design Manager

Here are companies hiring for Architectural Design Manager and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Architectural Design Manager Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Architectural Design Manager job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

United States
  • Design Group Inc

    Columbus, OH

    Design Group Inc | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. Job Description. Description. Project Manager - Healthcare. DesignGroup is currently seeking a Project Manager with extensive healthcare e... more

    5 Days Ago

  • Resourcing Edge

    Columbus, OH

    Resourcing Edge | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. Job Description. OneDigital | Resourcing Edge, a premiere HR/Talent services company, has partnered directly with. The DesignGroup. a 50+ ... more

    8 Days Ago

  • giftHEALTH Inc

    Columbus, OH

    giftHEALTH Inc | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. Job Description. Description. About Us. At Gifthealth, we're revolutionizing the way people experience healthcare by simplifying the proce... more

    7 Days Ago

  • ISAT Total Support

    Columbus, OH

    ISAT Total Support | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. Job Description. Join Our Team. At Tomarco Contractor Specialties LLP/ ISAT Total Support, our employees are thriving both inside and outs... more

    7 Days Ago

  • Crimson Design Group

    Columbus, OH

    Crimson Design Group | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. Job Description. Salary: $120-160 BOE. Are you an energetic design leader ready to make the next move in your career and shape a rapidly g... more

    5 Days Ago

  • Oracle

    Columbus, OH

    Oracle | Columbus, OH

    Job DescriptionLeading a team that develops strategies for the operational planning, design, and optimization of data center white space, including rack la... more

    7 Days Ago

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FAQ about Architectural Design Manager

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Architectural Design Manager?

The Aerospace & Defense industry offers the highest average compensation for Architectural Design Manager roles, with salaries approximately 20% 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.)

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