What is the pay rate for an Information Architect in Seattle?

October 10, 2005 7:43 AM

What is the current pay rate for an information architect in the Seattle area?

Hi there,

I'm currently in the Seattle job market, looking for positions involving Information Architecture. I've had a few interviews so far, and when I'm asked what my pay rate is, I usually quote 45 an hour.

A fellow IA I talked to this weekend told me I was nuts to quote that low, and should start the rate around 55-60. The rate I was quoting was more inline with what a Junior Information Architect might be expecting. Apparently 55 is the norm, while 70 and up are reserved for Senior IA's who have at least 5-7 years in the field.

I've been to a couple of salary sites that are supposed to track this sort of thing, but I've found nothing conclusive.

Can anyone help me figure out what I should be telling contracting companies (or even human resource departments) what my hourly/yearly salary requirements are?

posted by DCTapeworm to work & money (8 comments total)

What exactly is an information architect?

Do you mean a web designer? Because that's about right for a web designer.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 9:10 AM on October 10, 2005

What your friend said sounds about right to me. An IA is not a web designer.
posted by matildaben at 9:14 AM on October 10, 2005

Are we talking database design? The jargony job title is mildly annoying.
posted by argybarg at 9:23 AM on October 10, 2005

It's not just DB design either. Google results for define:information architect. And it's not really jargony -- I mean I guess it is but there's no other good way to define it. It includes a lot of different things and is a title that many companies use; it's not just one set of people trying to sound better. It's an actual title & position.
Folks I know are getting about what your friend said, yes. They all have MLISes, though. Don't know if it makes a difference.
posted by librarina at 9:32 AM on October 10, 2005

The Information Architecture Institute conducts an annual salary survey -- the latest results are here. In general, the IA Institute is the best resource out there for career development for information architects.

Your friend is probably right on, but it all depends on how much experience you have. 55 sounds low to me, but I live in San Francisco and my company tends to work with highly experienced people.
posted by jjg at 10:52 AM on October 10, 2005

IBM hires contractor IAs in New York city at 50.

I would quote what you're comfortable quoting. In general, though, try not to answer this question - say you are flexible and ask them what they normally pay. This question is a trap in my opinion.

I'll never forget that during the nineties a lot of people insisted on high salaries... They were the first to go. In my experience, once you get your foot in the door and prove yourself you can at least make what everyone else is making if not more. The salary is never the biggest concern for me at the beginning.

Then again, if your just looking at very short term work, I would quote high and then do some bargaining.
posted by xammerboy at 11:54 AM on October 10, 2005

I'm not sure if you are talking about independent contractor positions or salaried positions. My bit of advice is to figure you keep about 50~60% of independent contractor wages after taxes and compensation for standard beneifts. Figure out your percentage and be ready to explain you can work full-time or independently, here are the compensation requirements for each.

I have no idea for Seattle, but in Boston the rate for a mid level IA (that includes some coding, right?) would be around $65~110 as an independent contractor depending on experience and the job.
posted by McGuillicuddy at 9:17 PM on October 10, 2005

P.S. this recent thread has some good description on what an IA actually is/does.
posted by matildaben at 6:30 PM on October 12, 2005