Entry-level Architect salary in Portland, OR

Based on 13 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I in the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Lake Oswego, Hillsboro, Beaverton.

Also listed as: Project Architect, Architect Non Licensed

Median salary$68,640
Middle 50%$66.5k–$72k
vs. all levels here−5%comparison median $72,000
Filings13FY2025–FY2026 · latest two fiscal years

Salary range

Box: middle 50% of filings. Whiskers: 10th–90th percentile. 99% of filings are between $66,310 and $86,947.
PercentileSalary
10th$66,310
25th$66,500
50th (median)$68,640
75th$72,000
90th$79,642

Cost of living

Portland's median entry-level Architect salary of $68,640 is worth about $65,100 at national average prices.

Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Portland = 105.4).

Compared with all workers here

All Architects, Except Landscape and Naval in the Portland, OR area earned a median of $100,490 in May 2025 (1,700 employed). The H-1B median here is $68,640, 32% lower.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.

Employers filing at this level

EmployerMedianFilings
Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Architectstoo few5

Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.

By experience level

Wage levelMedianFilings
Entry-level · Level I $68,640 13
Mid-level · Level II – 0
Senior · Level III – 0
Expert · Level IV – 0

Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.

Minimum H-1B salary by level

Wage levelPrevailing wage (most common)Median offered salaryFilings
Entry-level · Level I$66,310$68,64013

The prevailing wage is the minimum an employer must pay for this job and area. Amounts vary by county within a metro and by wage source.