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Hourly Wage for Software Architect IV Salary in the United States

What is the highest and lowest hourly pay for Software Architect IV?

As of January 01, 2026, the average hourly rate for a Software Architect IV in the United States is $70, which translates to an annual salary of about $145,647.

However, the hourly wage can vary significantly based on several factors. Here’s a detailed look at the typical pay range per hour:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $79 per hour
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $65 to $75 per hour
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $60 per hour
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View as table View as graph 25% $65 10% $60 90% $79 75% $75 $70 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Software Architect IV Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $155,266 $12,939 $2,986 $75
Average $145,647 $12,137 $2,801 $70
25th Percentile $134,291 $11,191 $2,583 $65
Check out Software Architect IV Job Openings in the United States
Software Security Engineer IV

Airlines Reporting Corporation - ARLINGTON, VA

Software Architect

Compass Inc - HAMPTON, VA

Senior Software Architect

Barbaricum - WARREN, MI

CIAM Software Architect

Seneca Resources, LLC - RALEIGH, NC

Search More Software Architect IV Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Software Architect IV Salaries

A Software 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, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Software Architect IV Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Software 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:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $139,715
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $140,562
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $141,410
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $143,613
  • Expert (over 8 years): $148,805
Levels Salary
Entry Level Software Architect IV$139,715
Intermediate Level Software Architect IV$140,562
Senior Level Software Architect IV$141,410
Specialist Level Software Architect IV$143,613
Expert Level Software Architect IV$148,805
$139,715 0 yr
$140,562 < 2 yrs
$141,410 2-4 yrs
$143,613 5-8 yrs
$148,805 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Software 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:

  • San Jose: $183,705
  • San Francisco: $181,899
  • Oakland: $177,864

What Skills Can Increase a Software Architect IV's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 4.62% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Agile (Mentioned in 3.7% Job Postings): Agile is a development process where feedback is continuously gathered from users to create the best user experience.
  • Enterprise Architecture (Mentioned in 1.65% Job Postings): Conceptualizing and developing blueprints and structures to direct the enterprise architecture in achieving current and future business goals.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 4.62%
Agile 3.7%
Enterprise Architecture 1.65%
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 Software Architect IV's salary.
  • Architecture Software: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
  • Innovation: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
  • Insight: Can increase your salary by up to 2%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Architecture Software
$150,016
3%
Innovation
$150,016
3%
Insight
$148,560
2%
Product Management
$148,560
2%
Software Engineering
$148,560
2%
Networking
$148,560
2%
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How Education impacts a Software Architect IV's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Software Architect IVs 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 Software Architect IV with a Bachelor's Degree is between $145,673 and $154,268).

Software Architect IV Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Software Architect IV
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.7%
High School 4.0%
Associates 2.6%
Bachelors 50.0%
Masters 40.7%
Doctorate 2.0%
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Software Architect IV Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Software 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.

Last Updated on January 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Software Architect IV

Salaries for a Software Architect IV can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $132,438 in 2023 to around $129,446 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Software Architect IV salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Software Architect IV Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$132,438
2024
$131,333
2025
$129,446
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $132,438
2024 $131,333
2025 $129,446
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Software Architect IV

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Software Architect IV

Here are companies hiring for Software Architect IV and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Software Architect IV

1. What are the responsibilities of Software Architect IV?

Responsible for the structural design and development of new software systems or extensive software revisions for external customers. Analyzes software requirements and defines system components to ensure efficient and scalable software architecture. Designs and implements software solutions to consider business and technical needs and ensures compatibility with existing systems. Creates and maintains architecture documentation such as design specifications and diagrams to guide future maintenance and development. Works with non-technical stakeholders to analyze requirements and understand constraints, dependencies, and business needs. Has in-depth knowledge of software development processes and methodologies. Requires a bachelor's degree. Typically reports to a manager. Work is highly independent. May assume a team lead role for the work group. A specialist on complex technical and business matters. Typically requires 7+ years of related experience.

2. What are the skills of Software Architect IV

Specify the abilities and skills that a person needs in order to carry out the specified job duties. Each competency has five to ten behavioral assertions that can be observed, each with a corresponding performance level (from one to five) that is required for a particular job.

1.)

Leadership: Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.

2.)

Agile: Agile is a development process where feedback is continuously gathered from users to create the best user experience.

3.)

Enterprise Architecture: Conceptualizing and developing blueprints and structures to direct the enterprise architecture in achieving current and future business goals.

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.

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