Salary AI Book a Demo
upper level job

Software Research and Design Architect IV Salary in Virginia

How much does a Software Research and Design Architect IV make in Virginia?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Software Research and Design Architect IV in Virginia is $146,720 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $71.

However, a Software Research and Design Architect IV's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $165,232
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $135,250 to $156,410
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $124,807
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2026 Compensation Trend
Recruit with AI
Smart Recruiting
Salary Salary + Bonus Benefits
Paid Annually Paid Monthly Paid Semimonthly Paid Biweekly Paid Weekly Paid Hourly
View as table View as graph 25% $135,250 10% $124,807 90% $165,232 75% $156,410 $146,720 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Software Research and Design Architect IV Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $156,410 $13,034 $3,008 $75
Average $146,720 $12,227 $2,822 $71
25th Percentile $135,250 $11,271 $2,601 $65
Check out Software Research and Design Architect IV Job Openings in Virginia
Embedded Software FPGA Design Engineer

National Radio Astronomy Observatory - NEWCOMB HALL, VA

FPGA Design

GE Vernova - NISKAYUNA, NY

Architect

Cyntergy - TULSA, OK

Embedded Software FPGA Design Engineer

National Radio Astronomy Observatory - CHARLOTTESVILLE CITY, VA

Search More Software Research and Design Architect IV Jobs in Virginia
Select State
Select City in VA
Choose Similar Job
Choose Category
Cost of Living
Average Salary for United States
See it in Action

Key Factors That Influence Software Research and Design Architect IV Salaries

A Software Research and Design Architect IV's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Software Research and Design Architect Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Software Research and Design Architect IV's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Software Research and Design Architect II (2-4 years): $95,084
  • Software Research and Design Architect III (4-7 years): $129,577
  • Software Research and Design Architect IV (7+ years): $146,716
  • Software Research and Design Architect V (7-10 years): $178,105
  • Software Research and Design Architect VI (10-12 years): $223,519
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Software Research and Design Architect II2-4 years$95,084
Software Research and Design Architect III4-7 years$129,577
Software Research and Design Architect IV7+ years$146,716
Software Research and Design Architect V7-10 years$178,105
Software Research and Design Architect VI10-12 years$223,519
$95,084 Software ...
$129,577 Software ...
$146,716 Software ...
$178,105 Software ...
$223,519 Software ...
View as Table
View as Graph

What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Software Research and Design Architect IVs

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • Ivanhoe: $134,930
  • Lambsburg: $135,220
  • Laurel Fork: $135,370

Software Research and Design Architect IV Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Software Research and Design Architect IV salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $164,245. While startup companies pay approximate $138,947.

Software Research and Design Architect IV Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup1~50$138,947
Growth Stage51~500$146,953
Established501~5000$158,607
Enterprise5000+$164,245

Software Research and Design Architect IV Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Software Research and Design Architect IV roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 42% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Pharmaceuticals and Financial Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 25% above the average. In contrast, Software Research and Design Architect positions in Transportation or Healthcare typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Software Research and Design Architect IV as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Software Research and Design Architect IV

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Pharmaceuticals$183,400$88.025%
Financial Services$168,728$81.015%
Energy & Utilities$164,326$79.012%
Internet$164,326$79.012%
Software & Networking$158,458$76.08%

Software Research and Design Architect IV Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Software Research and Design Architect IV's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

  • Yearly
  • Monthly
  • Weekly
  • Hourly
  • Table View
Last Updated on August 01, 2026
$135,250
Average $146,720/year
$156,410
$11,271
Average $12,227/month
$13,034
$2,601
Average $2,822/week
$3,008
$65
Average $71/hour
$75
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $156,410 $13,034 $3,008 $75
Average $146,720 $12,227 $2,822 $71
25th Percentile $135,250 $11,271 $2,601 $65

Software Research and Design Architect IV Salary Growth & Career Path

Software Research and Design Architect IV
Application Programmer Analyst V
Software Research and Design Architect V
Backend Applications Developer V
Midrange Programmer - Consultant
Applications Programming Project Supervisor
VP of Software Research and Design Architecture
Backend Applications Developer Director

Promotions are the fastest way to increase your earnings. As a Software Research and Design Architect IV, you have the following paths for advancement. The table below compares the salary raises for common next-step roles. By comparing these figures, you can choose the career path that best meets your financial goals.

Software Research and Design Architect IV Salary Growth and Career Path
Next Step Role Estimate Salary Projected Raise
Application Programmer Analyst V $168,100 15%
Software Research and Design Architect V $178,200 21%
Backend Applications Developer V $152,100 4%
Midrange Programmer - Consultant $144,800 -1%

Salaries of jobs related to Software Research and Design Architect IV

Find Your Next Software Research and Design Architect IV Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Software Research and Design Architect IV job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

United States

  • ACV, INC.

    BUFFALO, NY

    Software Engineer IV Data

    ACV, INC. | BUFFALO, NY

    Who are we looking for: We are looking for an exceptional Software Engineer IV (DR) to lead, architect, and elevate our engineering team. We need a leader ... more

    5 Days Ago

  • STARLIMS

    FLORIDA, FL

    Senior Software Engineer IV

    STARLIMS | FLORIDA, FL

    Senior Software Engineer IV – STARLIMS Remote, U.S.| Full Time | R&D STARLIMS provides leading Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) solutions th... more

    6 Days Ago

  • Crane Co.

    BURBANK, IL

    Software Engineer III IV

    Crane Co. | BURBANK, IL

    Crane Aerospace and Electronics has an exciting opportunity for a Senior Software Engineer (Level III or IV) at our Burbank, CA location. About Crane: Cran... more

    6 Days Ago

  • Kingland

    FLORIDA, FL

    Senior Software Design Engineer

    Kingland | FLORIDA, FL

    COMPANY SUMMARY Since 1992, Kingland has been a leading provider of enterprise software products, using innovative problem solving to address many of the m... more

    6 Days Ago

  • Calabria Group

    FRISCO, TX

    Software Design Engineer

    Calabria Group | FRISCO, TX

    DirectHire ybrid locations As a Staff Software Engineer, Full Stack at Noetica, you'll help build robust backend systems and APIs that power our search-cen... more

    6 Days Ago

  • Research Triangle Institute

    DURHAM, NC

    Software Engineer

    Research Triangle Institute | DURHAM, NC

    About the Hiring Group You are: A Software Engineer with experience building cloud-native applications and applying AI technologies to practical business, ... more

    6 Days Ago

For Employees

Get a Salary Increase

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Search Job Openings

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

For Employers

Adjust Employee Salary

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Price My Industry Jobs

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

Cost of Living In Virginia

Cost of Living in Virginia is
0.7% Higher
than the National Average

Use Salary.com's Cost of Living Calculator to find out what income you need to maintain your standard of living in a different city and how much more or less money you need to budget for basic expenses.

Explore Cost of Living Calculator
Empower Your Team

Salary.com experts will help you thrive your workplaces.

Find Salary.com Comp Consulting
See Salary Trends in 2025

Salary.com provides salary survey data for thousands of industry Jobs.

Price Your Company Jobs and Make Pay Fair

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

  • Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
  • Job and employee pricing reports
  • Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.
Learn about CompAnalyst
lower level job