Architectural Engineering Degree in Los Angeles, CA — Salary & ROI 2026
Architectural Engineering degree analysis for Los Angeles, CA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$110K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$155K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
2.1 yrs
in Los Angeles
Cost of Living
141
index (100 = avg)
Architectural Engineering in Los Angeles, CA Overview
Los Angeles is one of California's top college towns, with 69 institutions and a student population of 322,771. Public tuition averages $13,804/year here — near the national average for public universities. Architectural Engineering has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for Structural Systems and Building Physics skills. The adjusted starting salary in Los Angeles is approximately $109,980.
Category
Engineering
Local Colleges
69
Public Tuition
$13,804/yr
Private Tuition
$59,151/yr
Room & Board
$17,998/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$8,255/yr
Unemployment
3.4%
Graduation Rate
47%
Architectural Engineering Salary in Los Angeles (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Los Angeles's cost of living index of 141 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Architectural Engineering salary: $78,000 starting, $110,000 mid-career, $140,000 senior level.Los Angeles adjustment factor: 1.41x based on the local cost of living index.
Architectural Engineering ROI Calculator for Los Angeles
Estimate your return on investment for a Architectural Engineering degree using local Los Angeles tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $13,804 | Private avg: $59,151
Los Angeles avg aid: $8,255/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$127,208
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$60,630
vs HS diploma in Los Angeles
ROI Payback Period
2.1 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Los Angeles
$1,564,792
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,692,000) minus total education cost ($127,208)
Student Loan Payoff for Architectural Engineering in Los Angeles
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Los Angeles for Architectural Engineering
UCLA
public
$13,804/yr
$55,216 total
USC
private
$63,468/yr
$253,872 total
Loyola Marymount University
private
$54,834/yr
$219,336 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Los Angeles City College
$1,540/yr
Santa Monica College
$1,540/yr
Top Employers for Architectural Engineering in Los Angeles
Los Angeles offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Architectural Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Los Angeles Hiring Sectors for Engineering
Engineering firms
Manufacturing
Defense contractors
Energy companies
Construction firms
Common Architectural Engineering Job Titles
Architectural Engineering in Nearby California Cities
San Diego, CA
$109K starting · COL 140
68 colleges
San Jose, CA
$101K starting · COL 129
95 colleges
San Francisco, CA
$89K starting · COL 114
22 colleges
Fresno, CA
$92K starting · COL 118
37 colleges
Sacramento, CA
$87K starting · COL 112
38 colleges
Long Beach, CA
$90K starting · COL 116
14 colleges
Oakland, CA
$103K starting · COL 132
13 colleges
Bakersfield, CA
$105K starting · COL 134
18 colleges
Other Engineering Majors in Los Angeles
Petroleum Engineering
$71K starting · 2.5 yr ROI
Computer Engineering
$71K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemical Engineering
$116K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Nuclear Engineering
$71K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Electrical Engineering
$113K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Aerospace Engineering
$113K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mechanical Engineering
$110K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mining Engineering
$71K starting · 3 yr ROI
Architectural Engineering Degree in Los Angeles — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Architectural Engineering ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Los Angeles.