SOC 17-1011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Architects, Except Landscape and Naval — Virginia
Virginia · 5 metro areas compared
The median wage here is $97,680 a year, within a few percent of the national median of $99,280.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage here is $97,680 a year, within a few percent of the national median of $99,280. Half of workers earn between $78,300 and $125,750. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $65,910 and the ninetieth at $164,190.
The area has 2,130 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.75 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Among the 51 states with published data for this occupation, Virginia ranks 26th by median wage. Virginia Beach leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $101,410. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 139th of 747 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $65,910 | −33.6% |
| 25th | $78,300 | −21.1% |
| Median (50th) | $97,680 | −1.6% |
| 75th | $125,750 | +26.7% |
| 90th | $164,190 | +65.4% |
| Mean | $105,970 | +6.7% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Virginia
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Virginia Beach | $101,410 | 420 | |
| 2 | Richmond | $95,860 | 410 | |
| 3 | Charlottesville | $84,650 | 170 | |
| 4 | Roanoke | $82,530 | 50 | |
| 5 | Blacksburg | $73,710 | 30 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Virginia sit close to the national average, so $97,680 is worth roughly its face value against pay elsewhere.
Published median
$97,680as reported by BLSLocal price level
101.1US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$96,617US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $97,680 a year, 1.6% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $65,910 to $164,190 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 2,130 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 26th of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Virginia Beach, at $101,410.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Architects, Except Landscape and Naval in Virginia?
The median annual wage is $97,680, or $46.96 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $99,280, so pay in Virginia is 1.6% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Virginia earns more than $164,190 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $65,910 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Virginia Beach, at $101,410 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 2,130 jobs in this occupation in Virginia. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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