GeraJobs / US Real Pay Index / Architects, Except Landscape and Naval
Best States to Be a Architects, Except Landscape and Naval
After 2025 state income tax and 2024 cost of living, a architects, except landscape and naval salary goes furthest in Wyoming — a $120,580 BLS median worth $130,088 in real terms (Gera US Real Pay Index 134.7).
Which US states are best for a architects, except landscape and naval after cost of living and tax?
For a architects, except landscape and naval, the Gera US Real Pay Index ranks Wyoming #1: a $120,580 BLS median becomes $130,088 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms (index 134.7). Maine ranks last ($77,186, index 79.9). Real BLS OEWS May 2025 across 51 states; re-dated annually.
Gera US Real Pay Index
Wyoming ranks #1 of 51 states for a architects, except landscape and naval. Index 100 = the average state; 134.7 means pay goes 34.7% further after tax and cost of living.
How this is calculatedArchitects, Except Landscape and Naval — real pay by state (best first)
| # | State | BLS median | State tax | Cost (RPP) | Real pay | Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wyoming | $120,580 | — | 92.7 | $130,088 | 134.7 |
| 2 | South Dakota | $102,500 | — | 88.6 | $115,707 | 119.8 |
| 3 | Oklahoma | $100,350 | $4,229 | 87.8 | $109,424 | 113.3 |
| 4 | North Dakota | $97,110 | $656 | 89.0 | $108,425 | 112.2 |
| 5 | Alaska | $108,730 | — | 102.4 | $106,224 | 110.0 |
| 6 | Iowa | $96,810 | $3,639 | 87.8 | $106,164 | 109.9 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $117,330 | $5,647 | 105.8 | $105,604 | 109.3 |
| 8 | Missouri | $98,490 | $3,748 | 90.8 | $104,322 | 108.0 |
| 9 | Maryland | $114,550 | $5,130 | 105.0 | $104,250 | 107.9 |
| 10 | Kentucky | $97,680 | $3,776 | 90.2 | $104,153 | 107.8 |
| 11 | West Virginia | $96,470 | $3,715 | 89.5 | $103,640 | 107.3 |
| 12 | South Carolina | $101,550 | $4,689 | 93.7 | $103,320 | 107.0 |
| 13 | Alabama | $95,990 | $4,535 | 88.8 | $102,964 | 106.6 |
| 14 | Tennessee | $94,030 | — | 91.9 | $102,351 | 105.9 |
| 15 | Nevada | $101,570 | — | 100.0 | $101,591 | 105.2 |
| 16 | Ohio | $94,960 | $1,829 | 92.8 | $100,385 | 103.9 |
| 17 | Wisconsin | $98,510 | $4,069 | 94.1 | $100,368 | 103.9 |
| 18 | Indiana | $96,060 | $2,852 | 93.3 | $99,871 | 103.4 |
| 19 | Rhode Island | $105,160 | $3,436 | 102.3 | $99,456 | 103.0 |
| 20 | Georgia | $100,420 | $4,766 | 96.3 | $99,337 | 102.8 |
| 21 | Arizona | $102,000 | $2,075 | 100.7 | $99,253 | 102.7 |
| 22 | Montana | $97,290 | $4,602 | 94.6 | $97,932 | 101.4 |
| 23 | North Carolina | $95,700 | $3,525 | 94.3 | $97,719 | 101.2 |
| 24 | Nebraska | $91,530 | $3,663 | 90.1 | $97,518 | 100.9 |
| 25 | Texas | $94,490 | — | 97.1 | $97,355 | 100.8 |
| 26 | New Hampshire | $101,100 | — | 104.2 | $97,058 | 100.5 |
| 27 | Pennsylvania | $97,030 | $2,979 | 97.6 | $96,392 | 99.8 |
| 28 | Minnesota | $99,940 | $5,307 | 98.6 | $95,956 | 99.3 |
| 29 | Connecticut | $103,540 | $4,120 | 103.6 | $95,956 | 99.3 |
| 30 | Colorado | $102,400 | $3,846 | 103.1 | $95,636 | 99.0 |
| 31 | Idaho | $93,710 | $4,216 | 95.5 | $93,716 | 97.0 |
| 32 | Washington | $100,190 | — | 107.0 | $93,624 | 96.9 |
| 33 | Florida | $96,240 | — | 103.4 | $93,063 | 96.3 |
| 34 | California | $108,540 | $5,972 | 110.7 | $92,637 | 95.9 |
| 35 | Utah | $95,590 | $4,349 | 98.9 | $92,289 | 95.5 |
| 36 | Delaware | $97,030 | $5,063 | 99.8 | $92,144 | 95.4 |
| 37 | Virginia | $97,680 | $4,817 | 101.1 | $91,849 | 95.1 |
| 38 | Kansas | $85,490 | $3,971 | 90.1 | $90,509 | 93.7 |
| 39 | Mississippi | $80,870 | $2,753 | 87.0 | $89,838 | 93.0 |
| 40 | Michigan | $88,430 | $3,512 | 96.2 | $88,257 | 91.4 |
| 41 | Oregon | $98,800 | $7,841 | 103.4 | $88,001 | 91.1 |
| 42 | Louisiana | $79,580 | $2,012 | 88.2 | $87,938 | 91.0 |
| 43 | New Jersey | $99,800 | $4,167 | 108.8 | $87,894 | 91.0 |
| 44 | District of Columbia | $102,040 | $5,798 | 109.9 | $87,571 | 90.6 |
| 45 | New York | $99,280 | $4,909 | 107.9 | $87,445 | 90.5 |
| 46 | Hawaii | $102,340 | $6,248 | 110.0 | $87,396 | 90.5 |
| 47 | Arkansas | $78,190 | $2,841 | 86.9 | $86,671 | 89.7 |
| 48 | New Mexico | $77,720 | $2,539 | 92.2 | $81,531 | 84.4 |
| 49 | Vermont | $82,400 | $3,057 | 98.0 | $80,997 | 83.8 |
| 50 | Illinois | $81,780 | $3,907 | 100.0 | $77,906 | 80.6 |
| 51 | Maine | $78,600 | $3,691 | 97.0 | $77,186 | 79.9 |
"Real pay" = BLS median − 2025 state income tax, divided by the state's 2024 BEA cost of living (US = 100). Only the 51 states for which BLS publishes a median for this occupation are ranked; suppressed cells are excluded, never set to zero.
Where does your salary go furthest?
Enter a salary and a state. We adjust for 2025 state income tax and the 2024 BEA cost of living to show your real, purchasing-power-equivalent pay — then rank every state.
In Wyoming, a $120,580 salary is worth about $130,088 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms.
State income tax $0 (no state income tax) · take-home $120,580 · BEA cost of living 92.7 (US = 100).
The same salary goes furthest in South Dakota — worth $136,116, a $6,028 gain over Wyoming.
| # | State | Real value | Cost (RPP) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Dakota | $136,116 | 88.6 |
| 2 | Arkansas | $133,289 | 86.9 |
| 3 | Louisiana | $132,600 | 88.2 |
| 4 | Mississippi | $132,571 | 87.0 |
| 5 | Iowa | $132,173 | 87.8 |
| 6 | North Dakota | $132,157 | 89.0 |
| 7 | Tennessee | $131,251 | 91.9 |
| 8 | Oklahoma | $130,747 | 87.8 |
| 9 | Wyoming | $130,088 | 92.7 |
| 10 | Alabama | $128,965 | 88.8 |
| 11 | Kentucky | $128,392 | 90.2 |
| 12 | West Virginia | $128,237 | 89.5 |
Estimate only. State income tax is approximated from each state's 2025 flat rate (or top marginal rate as an upper bound for graduated states) and ignores federal tax, deductions and credits. The pre-published occupation and state pages use exact 2025 bracket math. Cost of living is the 2024 BEA Regional Price Parity (All Items).
Architects, Except Landscape and Naval — real pay FAQ
- What is the best state to be a architects, except landscape and naval?
- By the Gera US Real Pay Index, Wyoming is the best state for a architects, except landscape and naval: a BLS median of $120,580 is worth $130,088 after the 2025 state income tax ($0) and the 2024 BEA cost-of-living adjustment (RPP 92.7), an index of 134.7 where the average state is 100.
- Does the highest-paying state also leave you best off?
- Not necessarily. Wyoming has the highest headline BLS median for a architects, except landscape and naval at $120,580, but after state tax and cost of living it ranks #1 of 51 on real pay (index 134.7). That gap is exactly what the Gera US Real Pay Index reveals.
- Where does a architects, except landscape and naval salary go least far?
- Maine ranks last of 51 states for a architects, except landscape and naval: a $78,600 BLS median is worth only $77,186 after tax and cost of living (index 79.9). Higher local prices and/or income tax less far than the national average erode the headline pay.
Compare other occupations
- Home Health and Personal Care AidesWashington
- Retail SalespersonsNorth Dakota
- Fast Food and Counter WorkersCalifornia
- General and Operations ManagersSouth Dakota
- Registered NursesCalifornia
- CashiersWashington
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, HandNorth Dakota
- Stockers and Order FillersWyoming
- Customer Service RepresentativesIowa
- Office Clerks, GeneralNorth Dakota
- Waiters and WaitressesVermont
- Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping CleanersWashington
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Related on GeraJobs
- Gera US Real Pay Index — all states ranked — and how the index is calculated.
- Methodology — the exact BLS + BEA + tax computation.
- Browse US jobs with salary ranges — roles hiring now.
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) (May 2025 state estimates, US federal public domain); U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities (All Items), by state (2024 (US = 100)); Tax Foundation — 2025 State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets. The Gera US Real Pay Index for a architects, except landscape and naval is computed by GeraJobs from these figures; no figure is modelled or interpolated.