2026 Architecture & Design Salary Report
How much do architecture professionals earn in Canada? DMC Recruitment Group, in collaboration with the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada, surveyed 1,250 architecture and design professionals across the country. The report provides salary benchmarks by role and region, typical salary ranges, additional pay, benefits, career satisfaction and workplace priorities.
2026 Report at a Glance
- 1,250 architecture and design professionals participated across Canada.
- 10 positions have published national base salary benchmarks.
- Six regional groups are included in the published salary table.
- 96% rated workplace culture as important or very important.
- 62% said their firm offers clear career progression.
- 49% planned to change roles or were unsure about staying.
Architecture Salaries in Canada by Job Title
The table below shows the published national salary range and average base salary for each position. The lower and upper figures represent the 25th and 75th percentiles. They are not minimum and maximum salaries.
| Job title | 25th percentile | Average base salary | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intern Architect | $62,000 | $69,750 | $80,000 |
| Junior Architect | $65,000 | $72,100 | $78,000 |
| Architectural Technologist | $55,000 | $72,200 | $90,000 |
| Intermediate Architect | $75,000 | $86,500 | $100,000 |
| Senior Architect | $95,000 | $106,900 | $125,000 |
| Senior Associate / Associate | $95,000 | $113,500 | $125,000 |
| Director | $110,000 | $128,000 | $160,000 |
| Principal | $120,000 | $153,000 | $200,000 |
| Partner | $125,000 | $154,000 | $180,000 |
| Owner | $100,000 | $143,100 | $180,000 |
All figures are annual base salaries in Canadian dollars. Data source: DMC Recruitment Group and RAIC 2026 Architecture & Design Salary Report.
What the National Salary Data Shows
Average base salaries rise from $69,750 for Intern Architects and $72,100 for Junior Architects to $106,900 for Senior Architects. Leadership compensation is higher, with Directors averaging $128,000, Principals $153,000, Partners $154,000 and Owners $143,100.
The salary bands also widen at senior levels. Principals have the broadest published typical range, from $120,000 at the 25th percentile to $200,000 at the 75th percentile.
Architecture Salaries by Region
Compensation varies by role and location. Ontario reported the highest average for Intermediate Architects at $92,600. Alberta reported the highest average for Senior Architects at $113,000 and Partners at $182,000. Some role and region combinations did not have a published value in the report.
| Job title | British Columbia | Alberta | Sask. and Manitoba | Ontario | Quebec | Atlantic Canada |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Architectural Technologist | $85,200 | $68,150 | $59,800 | $77,950 | $55,000 | $62,000 |
| Junior Architect | $80,400 | Not available | $73,000 | $70,750 | Not available | Not available |
| Intern Architect | $75,600 | $69,100 | $57,500 | $71,200 | $55,700 | $62,600 |
| Intermediate Architect | $87,700 | $83,300 | $81,700 | $92,600 | $75,300 | $82,000 |
| Senior Architect | $110,600 | $113,000 | $103,400 | $106,200 | $93,500 | $106,400 |
| Senior Associate / Associate | $116,000 | $118,000 | $102,000 | $114,000 | $100,200 | $97,400 |
| Director | $135,000 | $128,600 | Not available | $128,800 | Not available | Not available |
| Principal | $142,000 | $169,400 | $164,300 | $159,600 | Not available | $121,700 |
| Partner | $172,100 | $182,000 | $112,000 | $152,800 | $137,800 | $119,700 |
| Owner | $154,000 | $135,500 | $155,300 | $142,000 | $134,000 | $90,400 |
Not available means the report did not publish a value for that role and region. Do not treat blank cells as zero.
Architecture Salary by Years of Experience
Average base salary increases across the five published experience bands. Professionals with 25 or more years of experience reported an average base salary of $147,365, more than twice the average reported by professionals with up to five years of experience.
| Years of experience | Average base salary |
|---|---|
| 0 to 5 years | $63,639 |
| 6 to 10 years | $84,882 |
| 11 to 15 years | $100,403 |
| 16 to 24 years | $122,731 |
| 25+ years | $147,365 |
Bonus, Profit Share and Employer RRSP Matching
Base salary is only one part of compensation. The report also tracks average performance pay and the share of respondents receiving employer RRSP matching.
| Job title | Average bonus or profit share | Employer RRSP matching |
|---|---|---|
| Architectural Technologist | $5,010 | 23% |
| Landscape Architect | $11,300 | 43% |
| Junior Architect | $3,330 | 16% |
| Intern Architect | $3,910 | 27% |
| Intermediate Architect | $3,970 | 29% |
| Senior Architect | $6,670 | 32% |
| Senior Associate / Associate | $12,020 | 29% |
| Director | $17,140 | 36% |
| Principal | $35,510 | 24% |
| Partner | $68,800 | 7% |
| Owner | $72,090 | 7% |
Additional pay becomes more significant in ownership and leadership positions. Owners reported average performance pay of $72,090, Partners $68,800 and Principals $35,510.
Compensation Satisfaction Compared with Job Satisfaction
Respondents consistently rated their current position more highly than their compensation. The largest gap appeared among mid junior professionals, who rated compensation 5.8 out of 10 and their current position 6.5 out of 10.
| Career level | Compensation satisfaction | Current position satisfaction |
|---|---|---|
| Executives / leaders | 7.7/10 | 8.4/10 |
| Senior / management | 6.4/10 | 6.9/10 |
| Mid junior | 5.8/10 | 6.5/10 |
| Architectural technologists | 6.0/10 | 6.6/10 |
What Architecture Professionals Value Most
Working environment and culture ranked first. In the detailed results, 66% rated it very important and 29% rated it important. Colleagues, earning potential, job responsibilities and professional development also ranked highly.
- Culture: 95% selected important or very important in the detailed chart. The report highlights the unrounded result as 96%.
- Colleagues: 94% selected important or very important.
- Earning potential: 93% selected important or very important.
- Job responsibilities: 93% selected important or very important.
- Professional development: 92% selected important or very important.
Workplace Priorities Shifted from 2025
The share rating workplace flexibility as very important fell from 43% in 2025 to 31% in 2026. Job responsibilities fell from 56% to 42%, while project type and scale fell from 37% to 27%. Culture remained the leading priority even though its very important rating declined from 72% to 66%.
Career Progression and Retention Risk
Clear progression is closely connected with satisfaction. Professionals with a defined career pathway reported satisfaction of 7.69 out of 10, compared with 6.13 among those without one. While 62% said their firm offers clear career progression, 38% said it does not.
Retention risk also increased. Only 51% said they did not plan to change roles, leaving 49% who planned a move or were unsure. Among respondents with satisfaction scores from 1 to 6 out of 10, 80% planned to leave or were uncertain.
Benefits Received by Architecture Professionals
| Benefit | Respondents receiving benefit |
|---|---|
| Extended health coverage | 81% |
| Dental coverage | 78% |
| Paid professional association fees | 66% |
| Paid licensing / registration fees | 66% |
| Life insurance | 53% |
| Paid professional development allowance | 53% |
| Disability insurance | 51% |
| Paid parental leave top up | 14% |
| None of the above | 7% |
Health and dental coverage remain the most common benefits. Professional association fees and licensing or registration fees were each paid by employers for 66% of respondents.
Expected Raises in 2026
Sixty seven percent of respondents anticipated a raise in 2026. The leading expected reasons were cost of living adjustments at 43%, merit based increases at 34% and promotion related increases at 13%.
Survey Methodology
The survey was conducted anonymously through SurveyMonkey and received responses from 1,250 architecture and design professionals across Canada. No personal information was linked to respondents’ answers. DMC distributed the survey through social media, the DMC website, email outreach, its database and third party database information. The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada supported distribution to its members and stakeholders.
Salary values on this page reproduce the figures published in the 2026 report. National lower and upper values represent the 25th and 75th percentiles. National and regional central figures are averages. Some combinations did not have a published salary value.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average salary for an Intern Architect in Canada?
The 2026 report places the average base salary for an Intern Architect at $69,750. The typical 25th to 75th percentile range is $62,000 to $80,000.
What is the average salary for a Junior Architect in Canada?
Junior Architects reported an average base salary of $72,100, with a typical range of $65,000 to $78,000.
What is the average salary for an Intermediate Architect in Canada?
Intermediate Architects reported an average base salary of $86,500. The typical range is $75,000 to $100,000.
What is the average salary for a Senior Architect in Canada?
Senior Architects reported an average base salary of $106,900, with a typical range of $95,000 to $125,000.
What is the average salary for an Architectural Technologist in Canada?
Architectural Technologists reported an average base salary of $72,200. The typical range is $55,000 to $90,000.
How much do architecture Principals earn in Canada?
Principals reported an average base salary of $153,000, with a typical range of $120,000 to $200,000. Average bonus or profit share was $35,510.
How do architecture salaries vary by region?
Salary differences depend on role. For example, Intermediate Architects averaged $92,600 in Ontario, $87,700 in British Columbia, $83,300 in Alberta, $81,700 in Saskatchewan and Manitoba, $82,000 in Atlantic Canada and $75,300 in Quebec.
Does the salary data include bonuses?
The national and regional salary tables report base salary. Bonus and profit share are reported separately. Average additional pay ranges from $3,330 for Junior Architects to $72,090 for Owners.
What benefits are common in Canadian architecture firms?
Extended health coverage was reported by 81% of respondents and dental coverage by 78%. Paid professional association fees and paid licensing or registration fees were each reported by 66%.
How was the 2026 architecture salary report created?
DMC Recruitment Group and the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada collected 1,250 anonymous responses through SurveyMonkey. The survey was distributed through social media, the DMC website, email outreach and database contacts.
Is this salary data a minimum and maximum range?
No. The lower and upper national figures represent the 25th and 75th percentiles. They show the typical salary band for each role, not the lowest and highest salaries in the market.
Download the Complete Report
The full 30 page report includes additional charts covering gender comparisons, employer profiles, sectors, working hours, demographics, provincial association registration and detailed workplace findings.
Need Help Benchmarking a Role?
DMC Recruitment Group recruits architecture and design professionals across Canada and the United States. Our team can help employers assess compensation, define a role and reach candidates who may not be actively applying.