Architectural and Engineering Manager Salary
Architectural and Engineering Managers earn a median $171,270 a year nationally. Management Occupations
U.S. median
$171,270
$82.34 per hour
Range
$120,810 – $239,200+
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
220,260
across the U.S.
▲2.1%
Pay trend: The median for architectural and engineering managers in the U.S. rose from $167,740 (May 2024) to $171,270 (May 2025). That roughly kept pace with inflation (2.4%).
What architectural and engineering managers do
Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as architecture and engineering or research and development in these fields.
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- 5 years or more
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +5.5% (faster than average)
- Openings per year
- 14,900
Employment of architectural and engineering managers is projected to grow 5.5% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 14,900 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Architectural and Engineering Manager take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$128,329
per year · effective tax rate 25.1%
$10,694Monthly
$5,347Twice a month
$4,936Every 2 weeks
$61.70Hourly
- Federal income tax$29,839
- Social Security (6.2%)$10,619
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,483
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$128,329
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $120,810 | $58.08 | $93,820 |
| 25th percentile | $139,360 | $67.00 | $106,519 |
| Median (50th) | $171,270 | $82.34 | $128,329 |
| 75th percentile | $212,500 | $102.16 | $158,133 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $262,760+ | $126.33 | $191,559 |
Best cities for architectural and engineering managers (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $234,590 | $152,428 | $138,040 | 5,130 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $204,340 | $152,123 | $136,884 | 4,390 |
| 3 | Austin, TX | $176,540 | $131,931 | $134,533 | 3,130 |
| 4 | Cincinnati, OH | $177,160 | $128,265 | $134,492 | 2,950 |
| 5 | Boston, MA | $205,130 | $142,669 | $131,776 | 6,690 |
| 6 | Houston, TX | $172,020 | $128,842 | $130,633 | 5,330 |
| 7 | Denver, CO | $191,440 | $134,831 | $127,461 | 2,860 |
| 8 | San Francisco, CA | $221,580 | $145,266 | $125,649 | 5,000 |
| 9 | Dallas, TX | $172,160 | $128,937 | $125,073 | 5,970 |
| 10 | Philadelphia, PA | $171,140 | $122,986 | $119,923 | 5,060 |
| 11 | San Diego, CA | $202,810 | $133,728 | $119,521 | 3,270 |
| 12 | Detroit, MI | $168,550 | $119,557 | $119,202 | 9,260 |
| 13 | Phoenix, AZ | $169,310 | $122,965 | $119,019 | 3,250 |
| 14 | Hartford, CT | $174,440 | $122,179 | $118,914 | 2,530 |
| 15 | Washington, DC | $185,220 | $125,133 | $114,924 | 5,500 |
| 16 | Minneapolis, MN | $174,510 | $119,678 | $114,172 | 3,820 |
| 17 | New York, NY | $183,890 | $127,146 | $112,955 | 7,580 |
| 18 | Baltimore, MD | $167,350 | $117,796 | $112,737 | 2,350 |
| 19 | Los Angeles, CA | $190,900 | $126,137 | $111,069 | 9,570 |
| 20 | Chicago, IL | $163,430 | $115,025 | $111,034 | 6,670 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- San Jose, CA — $234,590
- San Francisco, CA — $221,580
- Boston, MA — $205,130
- Seattle, WA — $204,340
- San Diego, CA — $202,810
- Denver, CO — $191,440
- Los Angeles, CA — $190,900
- Washington, DC — $185,220
- New York, NY — $183,890
- Cincinnati, OH — $177,160
- Austin, TX — $176,540
- Minneapolis, MN — $174,510
- Hartford, CT — $174,440
- Dallas, TX — $172,160
- Houston, TX — $172,020
Architectural and Engineering Manager salary by state
| State | Median | 1-yr change | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Mexico | $215,120 | −0.3% | $150,853 | $163,530 – $239,200+ | 2,270 |
| California | $210,280 | +4.2% | $138,438 | $137,900 – $239,200+ | 29,630 |
| Massachusetts | $201,430 | +12.7% | $140,129 | $137,750 – $239,200+ | 7,690 |
| Washington | $189,680 | +4.7% | $141,233 | $148,930 – $239,200+ | 6,060 |
| District of Columbia | $185,220 | +4.7% | $125,133 | $138,470 – $225,080 | 1,290 |
| Colorado | $183,810 | +4.1% | $129,521 | $135,380 – $239,200+ | 4,900 |
| Delaware | $181,190 | +4.2% | $124,492 | $131,490 – $222,050 | 560 |
| New Jersey | $180,640 | +3.7% | $125,417 | $129,690 – $239,200+ | 4,540 |
| Oregon | $177,190 | +6.2% | $117,134 | $129,470 – $239,080 | — |
| Virginia | $176,160 | +4.4% | $122,356 | $124,830 – $239,200+ | 4,390 |
| Rhode Island | $175,910 | +3.2% | $124,747 | $124,410 – $239,200+ | 370 |
| New York | $175,710 | +1.3% | $122,037 | $128,500 – $239,200+ | 8,250 |
| Connecticut | $175,490 | +2.2% | $122,834 | $122,200 – $239,200+ | 4,970 |
| Maryland | $172,670 | +3.1% | $121,139 | $114,080 – $231,460 | 5,240 |
| New Hampshire | $172,240 | +0.4% | $128,992 | $120,350 – $239,200+ | 2,160 |
| Minnesota | $172,130 | +2.3% | $118,238 | $128,430 – $223,540 | 4,580 |
| Texas | $171,370 | +0.4% | $128,397 | $120,460 – $239,200+ | 19,030 |
| Florida | $170,740 | +1.8% | $127,967 | $116,900 – $239,200+ | 8,710 |
| South Carolina | $169,040 | +3.2% | $117,820 | $115,280 – $226,970 | 3,200 |
| North Carolina | $167,840 | +2.7% | $119,797 | $121,900 – $231,350 | 6,960 |
| Arizona | $167,480 | −3.0% | $121,760 | $121,500 – $239,200+ | 4,680 |
| Michigan | $166,930 | +2.4% | $118,519 | $117,490 – $218,050 | 14,820 |
| Ohio | $166,870 | +4.3% | $121,515 | $117,640 – $220,990 | 9,690 |
| Pennsylvania | $164,690 | +6.7% | $118,776 | $118,170 – $221,940 | 9,640 |
| South Dakota | $164,330 | +7.7% | $123,586 | $116,320 – $209,210 | 310 |
| Alaska | $164,260 | +7.9% | $123,538 | $113,790 – $236,490 | 900 |
| Illinois | $163,610 | +3.9% | $115,140 | $112,090 – $231,880 | 8,900 |
| Wyoming | $163,560 | +15.2% | $123,059 | $116,010 – $224,990 | — |
| Idaho | $162,970 | +3.6% | $115,127 | $103,130 – $219,970 | 850 |
| Louisiana | $162,850 | −3.0% | $118,075 | $119,600 – $218,970 | 1,840 |
| Alabama | $162,350 | +3.1% | $114,380 | $106,100 – $236,230 | 3,790 |
| Nevada | $161,560 | +5.4% | $121,692 | $108,300 – $228,590 | 780 |
| Georgia | $161,470 | +1.6% | $113,873 | $107,170 – $221,750 | 3,590 |
| Tennessee | $161,430 | +4.9% | $121,603 | $105,980 – $239,200+ | 3,600 |
| Utah | $161,120 | +7.4% | $115,107 | $113,080 – $221,400 | 2,290 |
| Kansas | $160,150 | +8.9% | $112,592 | $113,990 – $235,170 | 2,010 |
| Missouri | $157,800 | +2.7% | $112,643 | $105,170 – $213,050 | 2,250 |
| Vermont | $157,710 | −0.2% | $110,862 | $110,930 – $214,980 | 350 |
| Oklahoma | $157,330 | +2.7% | $112,267 | $108,990 – $234,620 | 2,070 |
| Indiana | $155,810 | +7.5% | $113,195 | $102,030 – $214,470 | 4,610 |
| Hawaii | $151,670 | +2.1% | $104,872 | $99,920 – $216,650 | 1,220 |
| West Virginia | $149,430 | +3.9% | $107,134 | $103,690 – $211,550 | 420 |
| Kentucky | $147,680 | +9.5% | $107,154 | $114,220 – $201,730 | 1,800 |
| North Dakota | $147,400 | +4.9% | $110,399 | $112,130 – $215,100 | 270 |
| Iowa | $147,320 | +6.9% | $107,013 | $103,470 – $210,220 | 1,520 |
| Montana | $146,030 | +13.5% | $104,188 | $105,270 – $204,300 | 560 |
| Maine | $145,720 | +3.8% | $101,942 | $111,490 – $208,140 | 820 |
| Mississippi | $142,790 | +5.0% | $103,883 | $99,210 – $205,560 | 860 |
| Wisconsin | $142,060 | +2.4% | $102,215 | $103,720 – $207,680 | 4,550 |
| Nebraska | $141,020 | +5.2% | $102,116 | $103,070 – $222,240 | 1,510 |
| Arkansas | $140,600 | +6.0% | $102,095 | $98,520 – $209,320 | 1,220 |
Related jobs
| Job | Median salary | Education | Growth 2025–35 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural Sciences Manager | $167,220 | Bachelor's degree | +8.2% |
| Managers, All Other | $141,900 | Bachelor's degree | +4.9% |
| Medical and Health Services Manager | $123,860 | Bachelor's degree | +24.2% |
| Construction Manager | $114,990 | Bachelor's degree | +9.1% |
| Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary | $105,870 | Master's degree | -0.3% |
| Education Administrators, Postsecondary | $104,590 | Master's degree | +1.8% |
| Postmaster and Mail Superintendent | $96,660 | High school diploma or equivalent | -0.3% |
| Education Administrators, All Other | $95,200 | Bachelor's degree | +1.6% |
| Emergency Management Director | $93,330 | Bachelor's degree | +3.9% |
| Gambling Manager | $93,220 | High school diploma or equivalent | +3.6% |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a architectural and engineering manager make?
The national median salary for architectural and engineering managers is $171,270 a year ($82.34 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $120,810 and the top 10% earn over $239,200+. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays architectural and engineering managers the most?
New Mexico has the highest median pay at $215,120. After taxes and local prices, San Jose, CA offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many architectural and engineering managers are there in the U.S.?
About 220,260 people work as architectural and engineering managers nationwide.