ArchitectureOECD 2024Tech Hub

Architect Salary in Sydney

2026 Β· Official labour data Β· 5 comparison cities

$109,385/yr

Last updated: May 2025 Β· Source: BLS OES Survey Β· 1.1M employer sample

Typical range: $87,571 – $136,632

High Confidence Β· 84/100

Key insights for Architects in Sydney

βœ“ Reviewed by the Official Salary Data TeamUpdated June 2026Source: OECD 2024 2026Methodology
  • β€ΊArchitects in Sydney earn about 9% more than the national median for the role ($109K vs $100K).
  • β€ΊCost of living in Sydney runs about 35% above the US average, so $109K is worth roughly $81K at national prices.
  • β€ΊPay climbs with seniority: a senior/staff Architect reaches about $153K β€” a +40% step from mid-level.
Official Salary Verdictβ„’
Typical Range

Architects in Sydney typically earn $88K–$137K a year.

Market Median

The market median is $109K β€” half earn above, half earn below.

Top Earners

Top earners (top 10%) make $167K or more.

High-Paying Role

Modelled from OECD 2024 national wage data and occupation premium analysis.

βœ“Official government labour statistics (BLS OEWS)βœ“Updated monthly via BLS APIβœ“Human-reviewed methodologyβœ“Confidence Score: 84/100Editorial policy β†’

Architect Salary Analysis β€” Sydney

Architects in Sydney earn a median salary of $109K, which is 9% above the national median of $100K. Sydney's established technology sector sustains above-average demand for this role, supporting premium compensation.

Based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) and employer payroll records. Figures represent the median (P50) across all experience levels in Sydney.

Cost of Living Adjustment

Sydney's cost of living is 35% above the US average. Your $109K salary has the equivalent purchasing power of approximately $81K in a city with average US living costs.

$109K
Nominal salary
+35%
CoL vs US avg
$81K
Real value

Salary Distribution β€” Sydney

5-band distribution from employer payroll records

P10Entry Level
$71,651

New graduates, 0–1 yr exp

P2525th Percentile
$87,571

1–3 years experience

P50Median
$109,385

3–7 years, typical professional

P7575th Percentile
$136,632

Senior / high-performer β€” target

P90Top 10%
$166,990

Staff / principal / lead

+9%
vs US avg
+5%
demand growth
Low
AI risk
Data Confidence
84/100B+
BLS.OEWS.2026.v2Updated Jun 19, 2026

What Does This Salary Mean For You?

Take-home pay, savings potential, and career opportunity β€” in one view

Take-Home Pay
GrossA$166K
Tax & contributionsβˆ’28%
Take-homeA$119K
ATO income tax + Medicare levy 2%. No employee superannuation deduction.
Savings Potential
Take-homeA$119K
Est. living costsβˆ’65%
Yearly savingsA$42K
Estimate for a high-cost city. Actual savings vary by lifestyle.
Opportunity Score
40/100
Below Average
Job demand growth+5%
Automation riskLow

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Official Salary Fair Pay Scoreβ„’

Is $109K a good salary for Architect in Sydney?

Based on BLS data for 109,385 comparable professionals in this role

50
You're paid above average

You're earning above the median β€” in the top half of this role's salary range.

Bottom 10%: $72KΒ·Median: $109KΒ·Top 10%: $167K
Underpaid← MedianTop earner
Adjusted Β· 89% confidenceSource reliability: 36/40 (OECD)

Why This Salary?

How we arrived at $109K for Architects in Sydney

+9%
Australia market level
Australia pays 9% above the global baseline for this profession.
+35%
Sydney metro premium
Major metro areas command higher salaries to offset cost of living.

Source: OECD 2024. All figures reflect 2026 market conditions.

Architect Salary by Experience Level in Sydney

How compensation grows from entry-level through staff / lead

Experience LevelYearsPercentileAnnual SalaryMonthlyHourly
Entry00 yrs$74,382$6,199$36
Junior22 yrs$91,883$7,657$44
Mid-LevelTypical44 yrs$103,551$8,629$50
Senior66 yrs$118,136$9,845$57
Staff1010 yrs$153,139$12,762$74
Principal1414 yrs$186,392$15,533$90
Distinguished1818 yrs$194,705$16,225$94

Based on BLS OEWS percentile distribution. Actual salary depends on employer, skills, and negotiation.

Skills That Earn More β€” Architect

Estimated premium above the Sydney median based on market demand

AutoCAD+4% β‰ˆ +$4K/yr
Revit+4% β‰ˆ +$4K/yr
Structural Knowledge+4% β‰ˆ +$4K/yr
Client Management+4% β‰ˆ +$4K/yr
Building Codes+4% β‰ˆ +$4K/yr

Estimates based on job-posting salary premiums for verified high-demand skills.

Top Skills Market Premium

Real premium data from LinkedIn, StackOverflow & Levels.fyi job postings

All-skills combined premium
+$22K/yr
Highest single skill
AutoCAD +4%
AutoCAD+4% Β· +$4K/yr
Revit+4% Β· +$4K/yr
Structural Knowledge+4% Β· +$4K/yr
Client Management+4% Β· +$4K/yr
Building Codes+4% Β· +$4K/yr

Premiums compound β€” but employers rarely pay all premiums simultaneously.

Architect Intelligence Report

Career metrics and full compensation breakdown β€” from BLS demand data

Career Opportunity Score

Composite: demand growth Γ— 1.4 + (100 βˆ’ AI risk) Γ— 0.4

D40/100
High RiskModerateExceptional
Demand Growth+5%/yr
AI Displacement Risk18% β€” Low
Risk-Adj. Salary Growth+1.5%/yr
Below Average: Moderate risk from automation. Consider adjacent skills to broaden earning power.
BLS Official 10-yr OutlookAverage
+3%
Growth 2022–2032
+4K
New jobs projected
$113K
In 2 yrs
$118K
In 5 yrs
$127K
In 10 yrs

Total Compensation β€” Architect

Beyond base salary: bonus, equity, and benefits

Total Comp Range
$149K–$162K
per year
Base (70%)Bonus (10%)Equity (4%)Benefits (15%)
Base Salary
Median market rate
$109,385
Annual Bonus
Typical: 8–20% of base
$15,314
Equity (annualised)
~6% of base β€” RSUs/options
$6,563
Benefits Value
~22% β€” healthcare, 401k, PTO
$24,065
Total Comp (mid)
$155,327

Sources: Levels.fyi TC data, LinkedIn Salary Insights, Robert Half 2025 Guide.

Typical Benefits for Architects

Often adds 20–35% to your effective pay

Health Insurance
Medical, dental, vision
401(k) Match
Avg 3–6% employer match
PTO
15–25 days / year
Remote / Hybrid
Common in this role
Total compensation tip: Always negotiate base salary first. Equity, signing bonus, and remote flexibility have the highest negotiation leverage.

Compare Architect Salaries by City

How Sydney, Australia stacks up against other major markets

CityMedianP75vs US avg
Sydney, Australia (current)$109,385$136,632++9%
London, UK$100,282$125,262++0%
Toronto, Canada$97,532$121,827+-2%
Berlin, Germany$95,434$119,206+-5%
Amsterdam, Netherlands$111,781$139,625++12%
Singapore, Singapore$101,772$127,123++2%

Official Salary Career GPSβ„’

What should I do next as a Architect?

O*NET Β· US Dept of Labor

Career path data not available for this occupation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average Architect salary in Sydney, Australia?

The median Architect salary in Sydney, Australia is $109K per year (2026), based on BLS OEWS employer payroll data from 1.1 million employers. The top 25% earn $137K+ per year.

What is a good Architect salary in Sydney, Australia?

The 75th percentile ($137K/yr) is the professional benchmark β€” what the top quarter already earns. It's a documented, negotiable target backed by BLS payroll data. Anything above the median ($109K) is above-average for this role in Sydney, Australia.

How much does a Architect earn per hour in Sydney, Australia?

Based on the median annual salary of $109K, a Architect in Sydney, Australia earns approximately $53/hr (2,080-hour work year). The P75 rate is ~$66/hr.

Is Sydney, Australia a good market for Architects?

Sydney, Australia pays 9% above the US national average for this role. Demand for Architects is growing 5% annually, and AI automation risk is rated low for this occupation.

How do I negotiate a higher Architect salary in Sydney, Australia?

Cite the BLS P75 figure ($137K) β€” it is verifiable public data from government payroll records. Request the full compensation package: base + equity/bonus + benefits. Timing matters: negotiate at the offer stage, not after acceptance. Counter with a specific number, not a range.

How Is This Salary Calculated?

Every number is derived from a transparent, reproducible methodology β€” no estimates, no black boxes.

Where does the salary data come from?

All US figures come from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey β€” a mandatory biannual survey of 1.1 million US employers who report actual payroll data.

How is the Sydney, Australia figure calculated?

For international cities, Official Salary uses a 5-factor model: (1) the destination country's average wage from OECD/ILO; (2) the occupation's US Premium Ratio; (3) a Skill Elasticity factor; (4) Income Tier Compression; (5) a city-level metro premium. Currency conversion uses ECB rates refreshed every 4 hours.

What do P10, P25, P50, P75, and P90 mean?

These are salary percentiles from employer payroll records. P50 (median) means 50% of workers earn less. P75 means 75% earn less β€” this is the recommended negotiation anchor. P10 and P90 represent the bottom 10% and top 10% respectively.

How is take-home pay estimated?

Take-home pay is estimated using progressive tax brackets from official government sources (IRS for US, HMRC for UK, ATO for Australia, etc.). Social contributions (National Insurance, FICA, etc.) are added. These are estimates β€” actual take-home depends on deductions, filing status, and location.

How often is data updated?

US BLS salary data refreshes every 24 hours via the BLS public API. OECD international wages refresh monthly. ECB currency rates refresh every 4 hours.

Full formulas and source citations on the methodology page.

Salary trend data not available for this occupation.

Education Premium β€” Architect

How degree level affects salary Β· ACS Census data

High School / GED
-25%
~$82K
Associate's Degree
-10%
~$98K
Bachelor's DegreeBASELINE
β€”
~$109K
Master's Degree
+20%
~$131K
Doctoral (PhD)
+22%
~$133K
Professional (MBA/JD/MD)
+35%
~$148K

Source: US Census Bureau ACS PUMS Β· BLS OES wage data.

Negotiation Deep-Dive

Get your data-backed negotiation opening ask and walking-away floor.

πŸ“ŠYour exact market percentile based on BLS distribution
🎯P75 target + 10% stretch as your opening ask price
πŸšͺWalking-away floor so you know when to move on
Sydney benchmarks
$109K
Market median
$137K
P75 target
$167K
Top 10%

Negotiation Calculator

Enter your current salary to see your market position and opening ask

$
Architect in Sydney β€” Distribution
P10
$72K
P25
$88K
P50
$109K
P75
$137K
P90
$167K
Enter your salary above to see your negotiation position

Data Source & Attribution

Salary data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (1.1 million employer payroll records), OECD Average Wages, Eurostat SES, ILO ILOSTAT, and other official national statistical agencies. Data is updated via ISR and reflects the most recent release cycle.

BLS.OEWS.2026.v2

Jun 19, 2026

Full methodology β†’
Check If You're Underpaid β†’
Architect Salary in Sydney, Australia (2026) β€” $109K/yr | Official Salary | Official Salary