Official pay data
Updated 15 October 2026
Salary guide
Official annual estimates for the whole country, mapped to the closest published occupation.
United Kingdom · gross annual earnings estimate
25th percentile
£37,342
Median
£47,143
75th percentile
£55,262
This ASHE benchmark covers full-time employee jobs, not self-employed income or part-time jobs. ASHE gross earnings include basic pay, overtime, incentive pay such as bonuses and commissions, shift premiums, and other cash pay. They are before deductions, exclude payments in kind, and are not take-home pay or the whole benefits package. Compare the benchmark with an offer on the same working-hours and annual-pay basis.
This is a country-level occupation benchmark, not a local offer estimate. Pay can differ by location, employer, duties, and working pattern.
Source: ONS, 2025-04-30. Mapped to Architects; the occupation is broader than the page role. Figures are estimates, not advertised salaries.
This benchmark is a useful national reference for building architects: the occupation covers design, technical documentation, planning and construction coordination. It does not describe technical, software, cloud, enterprise or systems architect roles, and it is not a precise offer estimate for any individual architect.
Benchmark fit
The named role fits the UK Architects occupation because it concerns buildings, planning and construction, including design development, technical documentation and coordination with construction professionals. The comparison stops at building architecture; adjacent architect titles in technology or systems work are outside this occupational scope.
Do not use this benchmark for technical, solution, software, cloud, enterprise or systems architect roles; the occupational profile does not establish equivalence with them.
Role scope
Architects shape building projects from early requirements and feasibility through design development, technical information and construction coordination.
Assess building and user needs, then develop and present design proposals and feasibility studies. · Use digital design tools to produce detailed drawings, models and specifications. · Prepare planning and building-control applications and coordinate with engineers, surveyors, planners and contractors. · Monitor construction work, attend site visits and help resolve technical, design and construction issues.
Typical outputs include design proposals, feasibility material, detailed drawings, digital models, specifications and applications for planning or building control.
Read the range
A role focused on concept design and client proposals has a different responsibility mix from one focused on technical documentation, applications, consultant coordination and construction monitoring. Treat those as scope differences when reading an offer, not as automatic salary bands.
One quarter of employees earn below this figure.
Half of employees earn below this figure and half above it; it is not the arithmetic midpoint of the displayed range.
One quarter of employees earn above this figure.
Location
The benchmark is national. The snapshot also provides supplementary regional medians for London, North East, North West, Scotland, South East and West Midlands.
| Region | 25th percentile | Median | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| London | Not published | £49,292 | Not published |
| North East | Not published | £37,951 | Not published |
| North West | Not published | £43,003 | Not published |
| Scotland | Not published | £42,560 | Not published |
| South East | Not published | £47,056 | Not published |
| West Midlands | Not published | £46,362 | Not published |
A regional figure is still a benchmark, not a local offer estimate; pay can differ by employer, duties and working pattern.
Beyond salary
Compare an offer on the same annual-pay and working-hours basis, then separate fixed cash, conditional cash and benefits so unlike packages are not treated as equivalent.
Check the guaranteed annual salary and whether the stated figure is gross pay before deductions.
Ask whether overtime, bonuses, commissions, shift premiums or other cash payments are guaranteed, discretionary or dependent on conditions.
Confirm pension, health cover, paid leave and any other benefits separately, because payments in kind and the wider benefits package are not part of the ASHE gross-earnings measure.
Check contracted hours and whether the offer is a full-time employee job before comparing it with this full-time employee benchmark; part-time work and self-employed income are outside its coverage.
Offer review
Questions
Source
Source: ONS, 2025-04-30. The figures cover Architects (2451) and full time employee jobs. Updated 15 October 2026. This broad occupation benchmark may not match every Architect vacancy.
Put the benchmark to work
Use the salary range as context. Tailor your CV around the experience that supports your target level.
