salary.city
HomeRankingsArchitects, Except Landscape and Naval
DISPOSABLE INCOME RANKINGS

Top 20 Best Cities for Architects, Except Landscape and Navals

We've ranked the best US cities for architects, except landscape and navals by calculating the Real Disposable Income. Unlike absolute salary rankings, this proprietary metric deducts localized housing costs, regional inflation, and state income taxes to reveal where you will actually keep the most cash at the end of the month.

How We Calculate the Score

Disposable Income = Monthly Take-Home Pay (after federal & state taxes) - Estimated Mortgage (assuming 20% down, current rates on median local home) - Cost of Living Adjusted Standard Expenses.

#1

Virginia Beach, VA

MSA Pop: 1.8M
Monthly Disposable Cash
$3,323
Median Base Salary
$120,430
Cost Index
101.7
Est. Mortgage
$1,677/mo
#2

Rochester, NY

MSA Pop: 1.1M
Monthly Disposable Cash
$3,042
Median Base Salary
$102,507
Cost Index
92
Est. Mortgage
$1,022/mo
#3

St. Louis, MO

MSA Pop: 2.8M
Monthly Disposable Cash
$2,978
Median Base Salary
$102,633
Cost Index
90.1
Est. Mortgage
$1,153/mo
#4

Hartford, CT

MSA Pop: 1.2M
Monthly Disposable Cash
$2,958
Median Base Salary
$109,924
Cost Index
110.8
Est. Mortgage
$1,573/mo
#5

Birmingham, AL

MSA Pop: 1.1M
Monthly Disposable Cash
$2,853
Median Base Salary
$98,935
Cost Index
88.2
Est. Mortgage
$1,075/mo
#6

Kansas City, MO

MSA Pop: 2.2M
Monthly Disposable Cash
$2,806
Median Base Salary
$104,283
Cost Index
93.4
Est. Mortgage
$1,415/mo
#7

Philadelphia, PA

MSA Pop: 6.2M
Monthly Disposable Cash
$2,780
Median Base Salary
$105,449
Cost Index
108.4
Est. Mortgage
$1,625/mo
#8

New Haven, CT

MSA Pop: 0.9M
Monthly Disposable Cash
$2,692
Median Base Salary
$106,037
Cost Index
112.5
Est. Mortgage
$1,625/mo
#9

Louisville, KY

MSA Pop: 1.3M
Monthly Disposable Cash
$2,673
Median Base Salary
$98,998
Cost Index
91.2
Est. Mortgage
$1,258/mo
#10

Greenville, SC

MSA Pop: 0.9M
Monthly Disposable Cash
$2,672
Median Base Salary
$102,801
Cost Index
92.1
Est. Mortgage
$1,468/mo
#11

Milwaukee, WI

MSA Pop: 1.6M
Monthly Disposable Cash
$2,670
Median Base Salary
$100,847
Cost Index
93.5
Est. Mortgage
$1,363/mo
#12

Omaha, NE

MSA Pop: 0.9M
Monthly Disposable Cash
$2,665
Median Base Salary
$99,818
Cost Index
90.6
Est. Mortgage
$1,311/mo
#13

Columbus, OH

MSA Pop: 2.1M
Monthly Disposable Cash
$2,663
Median Base Salary
$102,644
Cost Index
92.4
Est. Mortgage
$1,468/mo
#14

Providence, RI

MSA Pop: 1.6M
Monthly Disposable Cash
$2,645
Median Base Salary
$111,868
Cost Index
105.2
Est. Mortgage
$1,992/mo
#15

Lexington, KY

MSA Pop: 0.5M
Monthly Disposable Cash
$2,618
Median Base Salary
$99,912
Cost Index
92
Est. Mortgage
$1,363/mo
#16

Memphis, TN

MSA Pop: 1.3M
Monthly Disposable Cash
$2,607
Median Base Salary
$89,175
Cost Index
87.5
Est. Mortgage
$1,101/mo
#17

Lakeland, FL

MSA Pop: 0.7M
Monthly Disposable Cash
$2,606
Median Base Salary
$96,309
Cost Index
93.2
Est. Mortgage
$1,520/mo
#18

Buffalo, NY

MSA Pop: 1.1M
Monthly Disposable Cash
$2,528
Median Base Salary
$94,396
Cost Index
91.3
Est. Mortgage
$1,101/mo
#19

Jacksonville, FL

MSA Pop: 1.5M
Monthly Disposable Cash
$2,521
Median Base Salary
$98,441
Cost Index
98.3
Est. Mortgage
$1,730/mo
#20

Sacramento, CA

MSA Pop: 2.4M
Monthly Disposable Cash
$2,449
Median Base Salary
$124,559
Cost Index
120.3
Est. Mortgage
$2,673/mo