Unpacking the IA Salary Landscape: Insights from the Latest Surveys

Considering a career as an information architect (IA)?  Want to know more about what the salary landscape looks like? Understanding insights from the latest IA salary surveys can provide you with valuable information.

In this article, we will outline what information architecture is and explore what the latest IA salary surveys look like. There are plenty of interesting insights, so strap in and let’s begin.

What is Information Architecture?

Individuals in information architecture jobs need to design intuitive and accessible user experiences. Creating a structural design of shared information environments helps organize a system’s content, functions, and features.  Crafting it effectively means that it is easier for people to find and understand what they seek.

Analyzing how people interact with information helps you develop structures that match their needs. Some of the core responsibilities of individuals in information architecture roles are:

• Conducting research into users to determine how people access and interact with information.
• Developing sitemaps, metadata schemas, taxonomies, and more to effectively organize content strategically.
• Spending time to optimize the navigation and accessibility of information on websites, intranets, and other software.
• Making sure that there is a consistent and standardized approach to categorizing and labeling information.
• Being up-to-date with information architecture trends and best practices.

As you can see from these responsibilities, information architecture requires a mix of skills for workers to perform effectively. Now that we know this, we can take a look at the latest IA salary surveys. From here, we can understand what the typical salary will look like for information architecture workers at different levels.

Key Findings from a Variety of IA Salary Survey Sources

When looking at IA salary surveys, we can begin by looking at Salary.com’s research into the salary of information architecture positions. As of October 2023, we have found that the median salary for an information architect is $98,320 in the U.S. Furthermore, we can see that the typical salary range falls between $84,940 and $112,588.

When looking at PayScale’s research on information architecture positions, we can see that they have a wider salary range. This salary range stands at $83,000 to $172,000 as of September 2023. As well as this, their IA salary survey places the median salary at $131,027 a year.

ComputerCareers.org breaks down the average salary for information architecture into different states. They state that the average information architecture salary in the U.S. sits at $120,912 per year as of August 2023. The data reveals that Oregon ranks as the top-paying state for information architecture roles among all states. This state offers a salary of $151,522 annually.

Looking at the opposite end, Puerto Rico is the lowest-paying area. It offers a reported salary of $64,809 annually. Additionally, North Dakota is the lowest-paying state. It offers an average salary of $75,409 annually.

Seeing these from IA salary surveys, there is a broad range of pay within the field of information architecture. Gaining insights into the average compensation in different areas allows you to see what you may earn. But there are several factors that determine where you will fall in the salary range.

Salaries Can Vary for Multiple Reasons

The latest IA salary surveys only tell half the story. You need to evaluate the reasons why the salary range for roles differs and varies so much. Here are some reasons why:

• Location Matters

One factor that affects salary is location. For example, Oregon and California are two states with the highest salaries compared to others. San Francisco and Seattle also stand out for high-paying jobs. The reasons behind this are the cost of living and demands for jobs, which affect employee salaries.

• Experience Pays Off

Another factor that affects salary across each role is years of experience. Employers tend to pay more for those with years of experience. The more years of experience an employee has, the more they’ll receive a higher salary. While job roles and tasks differ for each organization, your pay still determines whether you have experience or not.

• Some Industries Are More Lucrative

When looking at an IA salary survey, it is important to realize that it gathers data from different industries.  Some industries pay more than others, even in similar roles. In the field of information architecture, professionals working in the technology sector will typically earn more than in other industries. For instance, individuals working in the healthcare or education industries tend to receive a lower salary range.

In a nutshell, balancing financial stability and fulfilling roles is key for those who want to pursue information architecture. Fortunately, there are many options available, so make sure to spend enough time looking for what interests you. You can then gain experience and find the perfect role in information architecture.