Zweig Group, the leading provider of management consulting, research, and education for the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry, has released its 2026 Salary Report of AEC Firms and updated its Compensation Data Platform, delivering two distinct ways for firm leaders to benchmark and analyze compensation trends across the industry.
The newly released salary data shows continued upward momentum across multiple job categories, with notable acceleration between 2025 and 2026. Key findings include:
- Median salaries for Architectural Designers increased from $70,000 to $78,000, reflecting sustained demand for design talent.
- Entry-level CADD Operators experienced one of the largest year-over-year increases in the dataset, with salary growth rising from 1% to 10%.
- Entry-level Electrical Engineers saw steady growth, increasing from 2% in 2025 to 5% in 2026, signaling continued competition for early-career engineering talent.
- Administrative and nontechnical roles also saw stronger gains, with median salary growth increasing from 5% to 8%.
These trends reflect a labor market that continues to reward early-career talent and essential support roles. Firms that fail to adjust compensation strategies risk falling behind in an increasingly competitive environment.
The 2026 Salary Report is a comprehensive resource compiled from data collected between January and December 2025. It provides detailed salary benchmarks by role, discipline, and experience level, along with historical trend data that allows firms to track how compensation has evolved over time.
Zweig Group’s updated Compensation Data Platform, an interactive, subscription-based tool available exclusively through Zweig Insights, provides real-time access to salary data across nearly every AEC role, segmented by firm size, region, and career level. Subscribers receive automatic benchmarking updates during their subscription period, allowing firms to monitor compensation trends as the market evolves.
Both offerings are designed to support informed compensation planning, workforce strategy, and competitive positioning. These resources are an industry standard for firm leaders and human resources professionals seeking reliable, point-in-time compensation benchmarks. Learn more or access the data here.