From a Part I architectural assistant to an associate or director, enter your salary to see your take-home pay after Income Tax, National Insurance, pension and student loan for 2026/27.
Salary · pension · 2026/27
Architect pay in the UK follows the RIBA career stages. Part I assistants (post first degree) start in the mid-twenties, Part II assistants earn more, and qualifying as an ARB-registered architect lifts pay into the forties and fifties. Associates, senior architects and directors at larger or London practices earn the most. London salaries carry a clear premium over the rest of the UK.
| Role / level | Typical salary 2026 |
|---|---|
| Part I architectural assistant | £24,000 – £30,000 |
| Part II architectural assistant | £30,000 – £40,000 |
| Registered architect (ARB) | £40,000 – £55,000 |
| Associate / senior architect | £55,000 – £70,000 |
| Director / partner | £70,000 – £100,000+ |
The route to becoming an architect is long — typically seven years of study and practice — so most carry a Plan 2 or Plan 5 student loan, repaid at 9% above the threshold, which the calculator includes. Architects who go self-employed or run a practice pay tax on profit instead; use the self-employed tax calculator. ARB registration and RIBA membership fees required for your work may be allowable expenses. Compare offers with the salary calculator.
A Part I assistant earns £24,000–£30,000 and a Part II assistant £30,000–£40,000. A registered ARB architect earns ~£40,000–£55,000, associates/seniors £55,000–£70,000, and directors £70,000–£100,000+, with a London premium.
Most do — qualifying takes around seven years, so many carry a Plan 2 or Plan 5 loan repaid at 9% above the threshold. Select your plan above to include it.
ARB registration is required to practise and RIBA membership is common. Fees to approved professional bodies necessary for your work are generally allowable expenses — claim via your tax code or Self Assessment.
On £45,000 with a 5% pension and no student loan, an architect takes home roughly £33,500 a year, about £2,790 a month. Add a loan and it reduces slightly — enter your own figures above.
