California ranks 2nd of 51 states and D.C. for architectural and engineering managers pay, trailing top-paying New Mexico ($215,730) by $13,920 — a 7% gap.
Architectural and Engineering Managers are more concentrated in California than the U.S. average — a location quotient of 1.25 means the occupation's share of local jobs is 1.25× the national share.
California employs roughly 14.6% of all architectural and engineering managers in the country (30,690 workers).
Salary Range: 10th to 90th Percentile
Full Percentile Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual Wage | Hourly Wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry-level) | $132,880 | $63.88 |
| 25th percentile | $163,030 | $78.38 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $201,810 | $97.02 |
| 75th percentile | $231,920 | $111.50 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | N/A | N/A |
| Mean (average) | $205,610 | $98.85 |
How California Compares
| State | Median Annual | vs. California |
|---|---|---|
| California (current) | $201,810 | n/a |
| New Mexico | $215,730 | +7% |
| Washington | $181,080 | -10% |
| Massachusetts | $178,800 | -11% |
| District of Columbia | $176,950 | -12% |
| Colorado | $176,610 | -12% |
| New Jersey | $174,230 | -14% |
| Delaware | $173,910 | -14% |
| New York | $173,530 | -14% |
Showing top-paying states with available data. View all states →
Related Occupations in California
| Occupation | Median Annual | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Physicians, All Other | $201,510 | 20,750 |
| Natural Sciences Managers | $204,100 | 14,120 |
| Lawyers | $197,790 | 92,580 |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $211,340 | 100,020 |
| Chief Executives | $220,600 | 36,980 |
| Computer Hardware Engineers | $179,880 | 24,200 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average Architectural and Engineering Managers salary in California?
The mean architectural and engineering managers salary in California is $205,610 per year. The median (middle) salary is $201,810 per year.
What is the starting salary for a Architectural and Engineering Managers in California?
Entry-level architectural and engineering managerss (10th percentile) in California typically earn around $132,880 per year. Workers at the 25th percentile earn approximately $163,030 per year.
What is the highest Architectural and Engineering Managers salary in California?
Top earners (90th percentile) in this occupation in California make approximately N/A per year. Those in the 75th percentile earn around $231,920 per year.
How does the California Architectural and Engineering Managers salary compare to the national average?
The median architectural and engineering managers salary in California is $201,810, which is +20% above national average of $167,740.