Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
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Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2021
17-0000 Architecture and Engineering Occupations (Major Group)
Architecture and Engineering Occupations comprises the following occupations:
Landscape Architects;
Architects, Except Landscape and Naval;
Cartographers and Photogrammetrists;
Surveyors;
Aerospace Engineers;
Agricultural Engineers;
Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers;
Chemical Engineers;
Civil Engineers;
Computer Hardware Engineers;
Electronics Engineers, Except Computer;
Electrical Engineers;
Environmental Engineers;
Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors;
Industrial Engineers;
Marine Engineers and Naval Architects;
Materials Engineers;
Mechanical Engineers;
Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers;
Nuclear Engineers;
Petroleum Engineers;
Engineers, All Other;
Drafters, All Other;
Electrical and Electronics Drafters;
Mechanical Drafters;
Architectural and Civil Drafters;
Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other;
Calibration Technologists and Technicians;
Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians;
Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and Technicians;
Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians;
Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians;
Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians;
Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians;
Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians;
Surveying and Mapping Technicians
National estimates for Architecture and Engineering Occupations
Industry profile for Architecture and Engineering Occupations
Geographic profile for Architecture and Engineering Occupations
National estimates for Architecture and Engineering Occupations:
Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for Architecture and Engineering Occupations:
| Employment (1) |
Employment
RSE (3) |
Mean hourly
wage |
Mean annual
wage (2) |
Wage RSE (3) |
| 2,436,520 |
0.3 % |
$ 44.10 |
$ 91,740 |
0.3 % |
Percentile wage estimates for Architecture and Engineering Occupations:
| Percentile |
10% |
25% |
50%
(Median) |
75% |
90% |
| Hourly Wage |
$ 22.83 |
$ 29.55 |
$ 38.39 |
$ 54.11 |
$ 71.37 |
| Annual Wage (2) |
$ 47,490 |
$ 61,470 |
$ 79,840 |
$ 112,550 |
$ 148,460 |
Industry profile for Architecture and Engineering Occupations:
Industries with the highest published employment and wages for Architecture and Engineering Occupations are provided.
For a list of all industries with employment in Architecture and Engineering Occupations, see the Create Customized Tables function.
Industries with the highest levels of employment in Architecture and Engineering Occupations:
| Industry |
Employment (1) |
Percent of industry employment |
Hourly mean wage |
Annual mean wage (2) |
| Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services |
700,280 |
46.33 |
$ 40.93 |
$ 85,120 |
| Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) |
132,080 |
6.27 |
$ 52.27 |
$ 108,720 |
| Scientific Research and Development Services |
100,780 |
12.66 |
$ 56.81 |
$ 118,170 |
| Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing |
99,270 |
21.15 |
$ 52.53 |
$ 109,260 |
| Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing |
79,940 |
20.00 |
$ 50.11 |
$ 104,230 |
Industries with the highest concentration of employment in Architecture and Engineering Occupations:
| Industry |
Employment (1) |
Percent of industry employment |
Hourly mean wage |
Annual mean wage (2) |
| Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services |
700,280 |
46.33 |
$ 40.93 |
$ 85,120 |
| Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing |
75,960 |
21.25 |
$ 48.69 |
$ 101,270 |
| Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing |
99,270 |
21.15 |
$ 52.53 |
$ 109,260 |
| Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing |
79,940 |
20.00 |
$ 50.11 |
$ 104,230 |
| Pipeline Transportation of Crude Oil |
1,980 |
17.28 |
$ 64.50 |
$ 134,160 |
Top paying industries for Architecture and Engineering Occupations:
Geographic profile for Architecture and Engineering Occupations:
States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for Architecture and Engineering Occupations are provided.
For a list of all areas with employment in Architecture and Engineering Occupations, see the Create Customized Tables function.
States with the highest employment level in Architecture and Engineering Occupations:
| State |
Employment (1) |
Employment per thousand jobs |
Location quotient (9) |
Hourly mean wage |
Annual mean wage (2) |
| California |
316,980 |
19.18 |
1.11 |
$ 52.18 |
$ 108,540 |
| Texas |
224,440 |
18.36 |
1.06 |
$ 45.21 |
$ 94,030 |
| Michigan |
123,730 |
30.48 |
1.76 |
$ 41.15 |
$ 85,590 |
| Florida |
112,270 |
13.05 |
0.75 |
$ 39.91 |
$ 83,010 |
| New York |
99,910 |
11.53 |
0.67 |
$ 43.79 |
$ 91,080 |
States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Architecture and Engineering Occupations:
| State |
Employment (1) |
Employment per thousand jobs |
Location quotient (9) |
Hourly mean wage |
Annual mean wage (2) |
| Michigan |
123,730 |
30.48 |
1.76 |
$ 41.15 |
$ 85,590 |
| New Mexico |
22,340 |
28.76 |
1.66 |
$ 50.33 |
$ 104,690 |
| Colorado |
68,360 |
26.08 |
1.51 |
$ 47.66 |
$ 99,140 |
| Alabama |
46,060 |
23.89 |
1.38 |
$ 44.88 |
$ 93,350 |
| Alaska |
6,840 |
23.12 |
1.34 |
$ 49.96 |
$ 103,910 |
Top paying states for Architecture and Engineering Occupations:
| State |
Employment (1) |
Employment per thousand jobs |
Location quotient (9) |
Hourly mean wage |
Annual mean wage (2) |
| District of Columbia |
11,580 |
17.50 |
1.01 |
$ 56.33 |
$ 117,160 |
| California |
316,980 |
19.18 |
1.11 |
$ 52.18 |
$ 108,540 |
| New Mexico |
22,340 |
28.76 |
1.66 |
$ 50.33 |
$ 104,690 |
| Alaska |
6,840 |
23.12 |
1.34 |
$ 49.96 |
$ 103,910 |
| Maryland |
55,590 |
21.83 |
1.26 |
$ 49.93 |
$ 103,850 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in Architecture and Engineering Occupations:
| Metropolitan area |
Employment (1) |
Employment per thousand jobs |
Location quotient (9) |
Hourly mean wage |
Annual mean wage (2) |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA |
95,750 |
16.74 |
0.97 |
$ 49.15 |
$ 102,230 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA |
88,490 |
10.20 |
0.59 |
$ 47.43 |
$ 98,660 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI |
75,170 |
41.73 |
2.41 |
$ 42.83 |
$ 89,090 |
| Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX |
73,940 |
25.52 |
1.48 |
$ 50.67 |
$ 105,390 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX |
64,240 |
17.90 |
1.03 |
$ 44.93 |
$ 93,450 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH |
59,060 |
22.84 |
1.32 |
$ 48.89 |
$ 101,690 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV |
58,140 |
19.83 |
1.15 |
$ 54.25 |
$ 112,850 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI |
53,830 |
12.72 |
0.74 |
$ 43.41 |
$ 90,280 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA |
52,180 |
23.27 |
1.35 |
$ 56.13 |
$ 116,750 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA |
47,710 |
24.88 |
1.44 |
$ 52.05 |
$ 108,260 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Architecture and Engineering Occupations:
| Metropolitan area |
Employment (1) |
Employment per thousand jobs |
Location quotient (9) |
Hourly mean wage |
Annual mean wage (2) |
| California-Lexington Park, MD |
5,720 |
123.39 |
7.14 |
$ 54.21 |
$ 112,760 |
| Huntsville, AL |
19,200 |
83.38 |
4.82 |
$ 51.14 |
$ 106,360 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL |
12,560 |
56.84 |
3.29 |
$ 46.51 |
$ 96,730 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale, WA |
4,570 |
52.90 |
3.06 |
$ 45.60 |
$ 94,840 |
| Boulder, CO |
9,190 |
50.54 |
2.92 |
$ 53.82 |
$ 111,950 |
| Warner Robins, GA |
3,250 |
44.01 |
2.54 |
$ 41.20 |
$ 85,700 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA |
46,650 |
43.66 |
2.52 |
$ 64.30 |
$ 133,750 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI |
75,170 |
41.73 |
2.41 |
$ 42.83 |
$ 89,090 |
| Portsmouth, NH-ME |
3,580 |
40.32 |
2.33 |
$ 44.49 |
$ 92,540 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA |
3,200 |
38.18 |
2.21 |
$ 42.25 |
$ 87,890 |
Top paying metropolitan areas for Architecture and Engineering Occupations:
| Metropolitan area |
Employment (1) |
Employment per thousand jobs |
Location quotient (9) |
Hourly mean wage |
Annual mean wage (2) |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA |
46,650 |
43.66 |
2.52 |
$ 64.30 |
$ 133,750 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA |
52,180 |
23.27 |
1.35 |
$ 56.13 |
$ 116,750 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV |
58,140 |
19.83 |
1.15 |
$ 54.25 |
$ 112,850 |
| California-Lexington Park, MD |
5,720 |
123.39 |
7.14 |
$ 54.21 |
$ 112,760 |
| Boulder, CO |
9,190 |
50.54 |
2.92 |
$ 53.82 |
$ 111,950 |
| Idaho Falls, ID |
2,740 |
37.92 |
2.19 |
$ 53.10 |
$ 110,440 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA |
47,710 |
24.88 |
1.44 |
$ 52.05 |
$ 108,260 |
| Albuquerque, NM |
13,140 |
36.05 |
2.08 |
$ 51.56 |
$ 107,240 |
| Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA |
17,940 |
18.26 |
1.06 |
$ 51.43 |
$ 106,970 |
| Anchorage, AK |
4,080 |
25.23 |
1.46 |
$ 51.34 |
$ 106,780 |
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in Architecture and Engineering Occupations:
| Nonmetropolitan area |
Employment (1) |
Employment per thousand jobs |
Location quotient (9) |
Hourly mean wage |
Annual mean wage (2) |
| Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area |
5,370 |
29.29 |
1.69 |
$ 38.88 |
$ 80,860 |
| West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area |
5,030 |
21.01 |
1.22 |
$ 36.07 |
$ 75,020 |
| Balance of Lower Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area |
4,570 |
18.07 |
1.05 |
$ 37.01 |
$ 76,980 |
| North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) |
4,410 |
14.04 |
0.81 |
$ 37.11 |
$ 77,180 |
| Kansas nonmetropolitan area |
4,260 |
11.34 |
0.66 |
$ 34.97 |
$ 72,740 |
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Architecture and Engineering Occupations:
| Nonmetropolitan area |
Employment (1) |
Employment per thousand jobs |
Location quotient (9) |
Hourly mean wage |
Annual mean wage (2) |
| Northeast Virginia nonmetropolitan area |
3,050 |
63.31 |
3.66 |
$ 53.23 |
$ 110,720 |
| Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area |
5,370 |
29.29 |
1.69 |
$ 38.88 |
$ 80,860 |
| Upper Savannah South Carolina nonmetropolitan area |
2,020 |
25.98 |
1.50 |
$ 38.81 |
$ 80,730 |
| Southwest New York nonmetropolitan area |
3,690 |
22.14 |
1.28 |
$ 37.91 |
$ 78,840 |
| Southwest Montana nonmetropolitan area |
2,940 |
21.24 |
1.23 |
$ 35.00 |
$ 72,810 |
Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for Architecture and Engineering Occupations:
About May 2021 National, State, Metropolitan, and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors, all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and all states and the District of Columbia.
The percentile wage estimate is the value of a wage below which a certain percent of workers fall.
The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate—50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median.
More about percentile wages.
(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.
(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours;
for those occupations where there is not an hourly wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.
(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.
(9) The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration.
A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average.
Other OEWS estimates and related information:
May 2021 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2021 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2021 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2021 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2021 Occupation Profiles
Technical Notes
Last Modified Date: March 31, 2022
United States Department of Labor
