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Systems Architect V Salary in the United States

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

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Systems Architect V in the United States is $168,112 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $81.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $185,705
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $156,842 to $177,321
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $146,581
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Systems Architect V Salaries

A Systems 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 Architect V Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Systems 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:

  • Systems Architect III (4-7 years): $119,077
  • Systems Architect IV (7+ years): $140,216
  • Systems Architect V (7-10 years): $168,112
  • Systems Architecture Supervisor (10+ years): $135,594
  • Systems Architecture Manager (10+ years): $152,623
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Systems Architect III4-7 years$119,077
Systems Architect IV7+ years$140,216
Systems Architect V7-10 years$168,112
Systems Architecture Supervisor10+ years$135,594
Systems Architecture Manager10+ years$152,623
View as Graph

How Do Systems Architect Vs 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 Architect Vs. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $186,134.
  • California: $185,428.
  • Massachusetts: $182,956.

Top Paying Cities for Systems Architect V

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: $212,040
  • San Francisco: $209,718
  • Oakland: $205,298

What Skills Can Increase a Systems 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 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 $178,199
6%
Systems Architecture $176,518
5%
Commitment $174,836
4%
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Systems Architect V Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Systems Architect V salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $188,192. While startup companies pay approximate $159,206.

Systems Architect V Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $159,206
Growth Stage 51~500 $168,379
Established 501~5000 $181,732
Enterprise 5000+ $188,192

Systems Architect V Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Systems 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 Architect positions in Retail & Wholesale or MFG Nondurable typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Systems Architect V as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Systems Architect V

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Aerospace & Defense$184,923$89.010%
Energy & Utilities$184,923$89.010%
Financial Services$184,923$89.010%
Pharmaceuticals$184,923$89.010%
Software & Networking$184,923$89.010%

How Education impacts an Systems Architect V's Salary?

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

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Systems Architect V with a Bachelor's Degree is between $166,206 and $173,760.

Systems Architect V Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Systems 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 Architect V Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Systems 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 August 01, 2026
$156,842
Average $168,112/year
$177,321
$13,070
Average $14,009/month
$14,777
$3,016
Average $3,233/week
$3,410
$75
Average $81/hour
$85
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $177,321 $14,777 $3,410 $85
Average $168,112 $14,009 $3,233 $81
25th Percentile $156,842 $13,070 $3,016 $75

Systems Architect V Salary Growth & Career Path

Systems Architect V

Next Role

Advancement

Promotions are the fastest way to increase your earnings. As a Systems 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 Architecture Supervisor $135,594 -19%
Cloud Architecture Supervisor $135,849 -19%
Enterprise Infrastructure Supervisor $153,771 -9%
Enterprise Operations Supervisor $105,133 -37%

Most common benefits for Systems Architect V

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

Common company salaries for Systems Architect V

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

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FAQ about Systems Architect V

1. Where can a Systems Architect V earn the most?

A Systems Architect V's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Systems Architect V earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Systems Architect V is $212,040.

2. What is the highest pay for Systems Architect V?

The highest pay for Systems Architect V is $185,705.

3. What is the lowest pay for Systems Architect V?

The lowest pay for Systems Architect V is $146,581.

4. What are the responsibilities of Systems Architect V?

Responsible for the architectural design, development, and deployment of an infrastructure to support specific IT applications and platforms. Designs systems to consider functional requirements, scalability, and security. Defines system solutions based on user needs, cost, and required integration with existing applications, systems, or platforms. Researches, identifies, selects, and tests technology products required for solution delivery. Establishes, implements, and documents technology integrations or migration strategies. Requires a bachelor's degree. Typically reports to a manager. Works autonomously. Goals are generally communicated in "solution" or project goal terms. May provide a leadership role for the work group through knowledge in the area of specialization. Works on advanced, complex technical projects or business issues requiring state of the art technical or industry knowledge. Typically requires 10+ years of related experience.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for Systems Architect V?

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

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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