Architectural/Structural Designer Salary in the United States

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

As of May 18, 2021, the average salary for an Architectural/Structural Designer in the United States is $95,446 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $46.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $113,312
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $87,521 to $104,798
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $80,306
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View as table View as graph 25% $87,521 10% $80,306 90% $113,312 75% $104,798 $95,446 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Architectural/Structural Designer Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $104,798 $8,733 $2,015 $50
Average $95,446 $7,954 $1,836 $46
25th Percentile $87,521 $7,293 $1,683 $42
Check out Architectural/Structural Designer Job Openings in the United States
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Stimmel - CHARLOTTE, NC

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Key Factors That Influence Architectural/Structural Designer Salaries

An Architectural/Structural 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/Structural Designer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Architectural/Structural 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): $62,914
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $76,398
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $94,088
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $112,680
  • Expert (over 8 years): $132,609
Levels Salary
Architect... Level Architectural/Structural Designer$62,914
Architect... Level Architectural/Structural Designer$76,398
Architect... Level Architectural/Structural Designer$94,088
Architect... Level Architectural/Structural Designer$112,680
Architect... Level Architectural/Structural Designer$132,609
$62,914 0 yr
$76,398 < 2 yrs
$94,088 2-4 yrs
$112,680 5-8 yrs
$132,609 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Architectural/Structural Designer 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/Structural Designers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $105,678.
  • California: $105,277.
  • Massachusetts: $103,874.

Top Paying Cities for Architectural/Structural 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: $120,386
  • San Francisco: $119,203
  • Oakland: $116,559

What Skills Can Increase an Architectural/Structural 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/Structural Designer's salary.
  • Analysis: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Innovation: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Business Development: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Analysis
 $99,264
4%
Innovation
 $99,264
4%
Business Development
 $98,310
3%
Leadership
 $98,310
3%
Project Management
 $97,355
2%
Solution Design
 $97,355
2%
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How Education impacts an Architectural/Structural Designer's Salary?

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

Architectural/Structural Designer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Architectural/Structural 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/Structural Designer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Architectural/Structural 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 May 18, 2021
$87,521
Average $95,446/year
$104,798
$7,293
Average $7,954/month
$8,733
$1,683
Average $1,836/week
$2,015
$42
Average $46/hour
$50
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $104,798 $8,733 $2,015 $50
Average $95,446 $7,954 $1,836 $46
25th Percentile $87,521 $7,293 $1,683 $42

Salaries of jobs related to Architectural/Structural Designer

Salary Trends for Architectural/Structural Designer

Salaries for an Architectural/Structural Designer can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $82,217 in 2023 to around $81,151 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Architectural/Structural Designer salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Architectural/Structural Designer Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$82,217
2024
$81,963
2025
$81,151
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $82,217
2024 $81,963
2025 $81,151
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Architectural/Structural Designer

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

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

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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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