Entry-level Architect salary in San Jose, CA
Based on 15 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Mountain View, Palo Alto, Campbell, Sunnyvale, Cupertino.
Also listed as: Project Architect, Architect Non Licensed
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $82,680 |
| 25th | $82,940 |
| 50th (median) | $90,563 |
| 75th | $90,563 |
| 90th | $99,700 |
Cost of living
San Jose's median entry-level Architect salary of $90,563 is worth about $82,000 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; San Jose = 110.4).
Compared with all workers here
All Architects, Except Landscape and Naval in the San Jose, CA area earned a median of $129,640 in May 2025 (660 employed). The H-1B median here is $90,563, 30% 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
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| AP & I Design | too few | 2 |
| Dxu | too few | 2 |
| FormX | too few | 2 |
| Livelarge Home | too few | 2 |
| Mogul Stones | too few | 2 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $90,563 | 15 |
| Mid-level · Level II | too few | 2 |
| Senior · Level III | too few | 2 |
| Expert · Level IV | too few | 2 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
Minimum H-1B salary by level
| Wage level | Prevailing wage (most common) | Median offered salary | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $90,563 | $90,563 | 15 |
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.