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Architectural Lighting Designer Salary in the United States

How much does an Architectural Lighting Designer make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for an Architectural Lighting Designer in the United States is $93,304 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $45.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $109,982
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $85,195 to $102,034
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $77,812
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Paid Annually Paid Monthly Paid Semimonthly Paid Biweekly Paid Weekly Paid Hourly
View as table View as graph 25% $85,195 10% $77,812 90% $109,982 75% $102,034 $93,304 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Architectural Lighting Designer Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $102,034 $8,503 $1,962 $49
Average $93,304 $7,775 $1,794 $45
25th Percentile $85,195 $7,100 $1,638 $41
Check out Architectural Lighting Designer Job Openings in the United States
Sr Architectural Designer

Galloway & Company - Columbus, OH

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Confidential - Columbus, OH

Vice President Credit Risk Strategy&Data Science

Confidential - Columbus, OH

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Key Factors That Influence Architectural Lighting Designer Salaries

An Architectural Lighting Designer'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 Architectural Lighting Designer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Architectural Lighting Designer'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): $61,923
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $75,202
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $92,662
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $110,851
  • Expert (over 8 years): $130,385
Levels Salary
Architect... Level Architectural Lighting Designer$61,923
Architect... Level Architectural Lighting Designer$75,202
Architect... Level Architectural Lighting Designer$92,662
Architect... Level Architectural Lighting Designer$110,851
Architect... Level Architectural Lighting Designer$130,385
$61,923 0 yr
$75,202 < 2 yrs
$92,662 2-4 yrs
$110,851 5-8 yrs
$130,385 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Architectural Lighting Designers

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: $117,684
  • San Francisco: $116,396
  • Oakland: $113,943

What Skills Can Increase an Architectural Lighting Designer'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.
See More Skills
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 an Architectural Lighting Designer'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
 $103,567
11%
Azure
 $103,567
11%
ERP
 $102,634
10%
Oracle
 $101,701
9%
Insight
 $99,835
7%
Analysis
 $97,036
4%
Get Latest Data

Architectural Lighting Designer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Architectural Lighting Designer 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, Architectural Lighting Designer positions in Retail & Wholesale or Business Services typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Architectural Lighting Designer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Architectural Lighting Designer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit$116,630$56.025%
Construction$102,634$49.010%

How Education impacts an Architectural Lighting Designer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Architectural Lighting Designers 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 an Architectural Lighting Designer with a Bachelor's Degree is between $98,345 and $104,968).

Architectural Lighting Designer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Architectural Lighting Designer
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%
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Architectural Lighting Designer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Architectural Lighting Designer'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.

  • Hourly
  • Monthly
  • Weekly
  • Yearly
  • Table View
Last Updated on August 01, 2026
$85,195
Average $93,304/year
$102,034
$7,100
Average $7,775/month
$8,503
$1,638
Average $1,794/week
$1,962
$41
Average $45/hour
$49
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $102,034 $8,503 $1,962 $49
Average $93,304 $7,775 $1,794 $45
25th Percentile $85,195 $7,100 $1,638 $41

Salaries of jobs related to Architectural Lighting Designer

Salary Trends for Architectural Lighting Designer

Salaries for an Architectural Lighting Designer can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $80,959 in 2023 to around $79,909 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Architectural Lighting Designer salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Architectural Lighting Designer Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$80,959
2024
$80,708
2025
$79,909
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $80,959
2024 $80,708
2025 $79,909
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Architectural Lighting Designer

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

Here are companies hiring for Architectural Lighting Designer and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Architectural Lighting Designer Job

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

United States

  • KreilKamp Trucking

    Columbus, OH

    Regional Truck Driver Company

    KreilKamp Trucking | Columbus, OH

    Regional CDL A Drivers | NEW Grads Welcome | Earn $70,000+ Annually. We're proud to be a 4th generation family truck line, started in 1935, but even proude... more

    19 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Vice President Payments Engineering

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Vice President, Payments Engineering. About the Company. Globally-recognized provider of corporate payment solutions. Industry. Financial Services. Type. P... more

    21 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Senior Vice President of Project Delivery

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Senior Vice President of Project Delivery. About the Company. A multi-billion-dollar construction organization with collaborative, servant-minded leadershi... more

    21 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Chief of Staff

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Chief of Staff. About the Company. Innovative travel platform for booking & managing work trips. Industry. Computer Software. Type. Privately Held, VC-back... more

    21 Days Ago

  • McDonalds

    Columbus, OH

    McDonalds

    McDonalds | Columbus, OH

    McDonald’s is seeking Crew Team Members to assist with daily restaurant operations including customer service, food preparation, and maintaining restaurant... more

    28 Days Ago

  • Amazon Flex

    Columbus, OH

    Amazon Flex

    Amazon Flex | Columbus, OH

    Amazon Flex Delivery Drivers use their own vehicle to deliver Amazon packages to customers on scheduled delivery blocks. Drivers are responsible for pickin... more

    28 Days Ago

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FAQ about Architectural Lighting Designer

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Architectural Lighting Designer?

The Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit industry offers the highest average compensation for Architectural Lighting Designer 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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