Management · SOC 11-9041

Architectural and Engineering Managers Salary (2024) — Pay by Metro Area

Architectural and Engineering Managers earn a national median of $167,740 per year. Because pay tracks local labour markets, the same job ranges from $155,100 in the cheapest metro covered to $208,580 in the most expensive — a 34% gap for identical work. This page ranks 24 metro areas with released data.

US national median
$167,740
210,340 workers nationwide
Highest-paying metro
Detroit, MI
$167,890 median
Lowest-paying metro
Detroit, MI
$167,890 median
Metro spread
$53,480
between best and worst metro

Architectural and Engineering Managers pay by metro area

Ranked by median annual wage among the metro areas with published estimates for this occupation. Local cost of living is not applied — a lower median in a cheaper metro can still leave more in your pocket.

Median hourly and annual wage for Architectural and Engineering Managers by metro area, 2024. Hourly shown as annual ÷ 2,080.
Metro area Hourly Annual Employment
Detroit, MI — MI $80.72 $167,890 8,720
What the spread means

The gap between Detroit, MI ($167,890) and Detroit, MI ($167,890) is 0% . For architectural and engineering managers this mainly reflects industry mix and regional price levels rather than a difference in the work itself. The middle metro sits at $170,970, which is the better single number for a "typical" market than either extreme.

Frequently asked questions

How much do architectural and engineering managers make in the United States?

The national median for this occupation is $167,740 per year, across all areas including non-metropolitan ones. Metro-level medians for this occupation range from $155,100 to $208,580, with a middle value of $170,970.

Which metro area pays architectural and engineering managers the most?

Detroit, MI pays the most among the metros covered, at a median of $167,890, with about 8,720 people employed in the occupation.

Which metro area pays architectural and engineering managers the least?

Detroit, MI sits at the bottom of the range, with a median of $167,890.

Do architectural and engineering managers earn more in large cities?

Usually, but not always. Large metros tend to show higher nominal pay because they concentrate high-wage industries and a higher cost of living. The spread above is nominal — it is not adjusted for local prices, so a lower median in a cheaper metro can still buy more.

About these figures

Method and limits

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024. The US figure on this page is an employment-weighted benchmark computed across the metro areas covered by this site, not the official national OEWS median, which BLS publishes separately. OEWS excludes self-employed workers and reports wages only, not benefits or total compensation.

See the methodology for how the benchmark and the metro ranking are derived.

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