Architects, Except Landscape and Naval Salary in San Francisco, CA
Architects, Except Landscape and Naval in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area earn a median $126,550 a year — 27% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $88,578 take-home, or $7,382 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median architects, except landscape and naval salary in San Francisco, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$19,106
- Social Security (6.2%)$7,846
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,835
- California income tax$7,540
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,645
- Take-home pay$88,578
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 9.30% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Architects, Except Landscape and Naval pay by experience in San Francisco, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $78,990 | $37.98 | $60,256 | $5,021 |
| 25th percentile | $93,450 | $44.93 | $68,896 | $5,741 |
| Median (50th) | $126,550 | $60.84 | $88,578 | $7,382 |
| 75th percentile | $164,750 | $79.21 | $110,639 | $9,220 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $200,380 | $96.34 | $132,196 | $11,016 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $126,550 buys in San Francisco, CA
Prices in San Francisco, CA are 15.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.95× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median architects, except landscape and naval's $88,578 take-home pay has the buying power of $76,616 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
San Francisco, CA has 2.3× the national concentration of architects, except landscape and naval jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for architects, except landscape and naval, adjusted for cost of living
San Francisco, CA ranks #3 of 9 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston, MA | $119,120 | $86,895 | $80,261 |
| 2 | Houston, TX | $97,590 | $77,485 | $78,562 |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | $126,550 | $88,578 | $76,616 |
| 4 | Dallas, TX | $93,840 | $74,846 | $72,603 |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | $100,610 | $79,609 | $71,634 |
| 6 | Washington, DC | $102,080 | $74,935 | $68,821 |
| 7 | Los Angeles, CA | $104,170 | $75,301 | $66,306 |
| 8 | New York, NY | $99,710 | $74,133 | $65,859 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 9 metros →
About the job: architects, except landscape and naval
Plan and design structures, such as private residences, office buildings, theaters, factories, and other structural property.
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Internship/residency
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +4.3% (about average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Architects, Except Landscape and Naval salaries elsewhere in California
- Los Angeles, CA — $104,170
Frequently asked questions
How much does a architects, except landscape and naval make in San Francisco, CA?
The median architects, except landscape and naval salary in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area is $126,550 a year, or about $60.84 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $93,450 and $164,750.
What is a architects, except landscape and naval’s take-home pay in San Francisco, CA?
On the median $126,550 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $88,578 a year ($7,382 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $9,185 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Francisco, CA a good place to work as a architects, except landscape and naval?
Pay here is 27% above the national median of $99,280. Local prices are 15.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $76,616 would in a typical U.S. city. San Francisco, CA ranks #3 of 9 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a architects, except landscape and naval afford rent in San Francisco, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Francisco, CA is $2,620 a month ($3,187 for two bedrooms) — 35% of a median architects, except landscape and naval’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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