The American Institute of Architects collects and analyzes data from hundreds of architecture firms to create the industry’s most comprehensive and reliable report on salary and benefits. The 2025 edition of the AIA Compensation & Benefits Report offers valuable insights into how firms structure compensation, benefits, professional development and workplace practices.
While firm leaders saw stagnant or declining salaries, emerging professionals and specialized roles (e.g., medical planners, specifications writers) experienced stronger growth. Gains between 2023 and 2025 were moderate compared to the post-pandemic boom (5% annual growth), but they outpaced the stagnant compensation of the 2019–21 pandemic period. Since 2002, architect compensation has grown 88%, closely aligning with the 88% increase for professional roles and 89% for all private sector workers, highlighting how compensation volatility tends to balance out over time.
Additional insights include:
- Architectural associates (non-licensed recent graduates) saw some of the most robust salary growth among architectural staff from 2023 to 2025 at 7%
- 77% of large firms offer mentorship opportunities
- 21% of large firms reported applying AIA’s Guides for Equitable Practice in 2024
- Over the past two decades, the value of benefits as a share of compensation has been drifting down from 19% to 16%
- AIA offers members a salary calculator to learn topline data on architecture position salary ranges by region of the country.
