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Systems and Applications Architect V Salary in the United States

How much does a Systems and Applications Architect V make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Systems and Applications Architect V in the United States is $168,190 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $81.

However, a Systems and Applications Architect V's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $185,766
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $156,890 to $177,390
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $146,602
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Systems and Applications Architect V Salaries

A Systems and Applications Architect V'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, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Systems and Applications Architect Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Systems and Applications Architect V'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:

  • Information Systems Architect III (4-7 years): $119,067
  • Information Systems Architect IV (7+ years): $140,213
  • Systems and Applications Architect V (7-10 years): $168,114
  • Systems and Applications Architecture Supervisor (10+ years): $135,593
  • Systems and Applications Architecture Manager (10+ years): $152,620
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Information Systems Architect III4-7 years$119,067
Information Systems Architect IV7+ years$140,213
Systems and Applications Architect V7-10 years$168,114
Systems and Applications Architecture Supervisor10+ years$135,593
Systems and Applications Architecture Manager10+ years$152,620
View as Graph

How Do Systems and Applications Architect V Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Systems and Applications Architect Vs. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $186,190.
  • California: $185,490.
  • Massachusetts: $182,990.

Top Paying Cities for Systems and Applications Architect Vs

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:

  • San Jose: $212,090
  • San Francisco: $209,790
  • Oakland: $205,390

What Skills Can Increase a Systems and Applications Architect V's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 5.34% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Software Development (Mentioned in 2.75% Job Postings): Software development is the process of conceiving, specifying, designing, programming, documenting, testing, and bug fixing involved in creating and maintaining applications, frameworks, or other software components. Software development is a process of writing and maintaining the source code, but in a broader sense, it includes all that is involved between the conception of the desired software through to the final manifestation of the software, sometimes in a planned and structured process. Therefore, software development may include research, new development, prototyping, modification, reuse, re-engineering, maintenance, or any other activities that result in software products. Software can be developed for a variety of purposes, the three most common being to meet specific needs of a specific client/business (the case with custom software), to meet a perceived need of some set of potential users (the case with commercial and open source software), or for personal use (e.g. a scientist may write software to automate a mundane task). Embedded software development, that is, the development of embedded software, such as used for controlling consumer products, requires the development process to be integrated with the development of the controlled physical product. System software underlies applications and the programming process itself, and is often developed separately.
  • Python (Mentioned in 1.44% Job Postings): Applying the concepts and algorithms of Python to design, develop and maintain software applications to comply with business requirements.
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 5.34%
Software Development 2.75%
Python 1.44%
See More Skills

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Systems and Applications Architect V's salary.

  • Partnering: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Systems Architecture: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • Commitment: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Partnering $178,281
6%
Systems Architecture $176,600
5%
Commitment $174,918
4%
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Systems and Applications Architect V Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Systems and Applications Architect V salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $187,959. While startup companies pay approximate $158,994.

Systems and Applications Architect V Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $158,994
Growth Stage 51~500 $168,153
Established 501~5000 $181,499
Enterprise 5000+ $187,959

Systems and Applications Architect V Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Systems and Applications Architect V roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 20% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Aerospace & Defense and Energy & Utilities sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 10% above the average. In contrast, Systems and Applications Architect positions in Retail & Wholesale or MFG Nondurable typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Systems and Applications Architect V as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Systems and Applications Architect V

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Aerospace & Defense$185,009$89.010%
Energy & Utilities$185,009$89.010%
Financial Services$185,009$89.010%
Pharmaceuticals$185,009$89.010%
Software & Networking$185,009$89.010%

How Education impacts a Systems and Applications Architect V's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Systems and Applications Architect Vs enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Systems and Applications Architect V with a Bachelor's Degree is between $165,390 and $172,909).

Systems and Applications Architect V Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Systems and Applications Architect V
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 2.6%
High School 11.9%
Associates 6.7%
Bachelors 49.5%
Masters 27.3%
Doctorate 2.1%
View as Graph

Systems and Applications Architect V Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Systems and Applications Architect V'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.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$156,890
Average $168,190/year
$177,390
$13,074
Average $14,016/month
$14,783
$3,017
Average $3,234/week
$3,411
$75
Average $81/hour
$85
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $177,390 $14,783 $3,411 $85
Average $168,190 $14,016 $3,234 $81
25th Percentile $156,890 $13,074 $3,017 $75

Systems and Applications Architect V Salary Growth & Career Path

Systems and Applications Architect V

Next Role

Advancement

Promotions are the fastest way to increase your earnings. As a Systems and Applications Architect V, 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.

Next Step Role Estimate Salary Projected Raise
Systems and Applications Architecture Supervisor $135,600 -19%
Cloud Computing Supervisor $135,900 -19%
Enterprise Infrastructure Design Supervisor $153,800 -9%
IT Infrastructure Operations Supervisor $105,200 -37%

Most common benefits for Systems and Applications Architect V

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Systems and Applications Architect V

Here are companies hiring for Systems and Applications Architect V and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Systems and Applications Architect V

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Systems and Applications Architect V?

The Aerospace & Defense industry offers the highest average compensation for Systems and Applications Architect V roles, with salaries approximately 10% above the market median.

2. Who gets paid more software engineer or architect?

At their peak, a Systems and Applications Architect typically earns more than a software engineer, with salaries ranging from $160,290 to $188,690. This higher pay reflects their responsibilities in communicating with management and designing high-level solutions. In contrast, software engineers generally earn less due to their focus on implementation rather than design.

3. Which country pays highest salary for Software Architect?

The highest salary for a Software Architect can be found in the United States, where the average salary for a Systems and Applications Architect ranges from $160,290 to $188,690, with a midpoint of $174,190. This significantly surpasses salaries in other countries, making the U.S. a top destination for this profession.

4. Where do software architects get paid the most?

Software Architects can earn competitive salaries, with the average range for a Systems and Applications Architect being between $160,290 and $188,690. Cities like San Jose, CA, offer some of the highest salaries, averaging around $185,933, while other locations like Broomfield, CO, and Arlington, VA, provide salaries of $164,061 and $160,119, respectively.

5. Can architects make 200K?

While it's possible for architects to approach or exceed $200K, such salaries are typically found in limited roles, like Partner or Principal positions in major firms. The salary data for Systems and Applications Architects shows a range from $160,290 to $188,690, indicating that reaching $200K would be exceptional and likely requires significant experience and responsibility.

6. Which states pay architects the most?

Best-Paying States for Systems and Applications Architects The states that pay Systems and Applications Architects the highest mean salary are likely to exceed the range of $160,290 to $188,690. While specific state data may vary, these salaries reflect the competitive compensation in the field. Consider exploring opportunities in tech hubs for potentially higher earnings.

7. Does System Architect do coding?

System architects play a crucial role in aligning business strategies with technical solutions. They require a blend of business acumen and coding expertise. While they focus on system integration, advanced coding skills are essential. The salary range for a Systems and Applications Architect is between $160,290 and $188,690, with a mid-salary of $174,190.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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