Lead Network Architect Salary in the United States

How much does a Lead Network Architect make in the United States?

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for a Lead Network Architect in the United States is $159,821 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $77.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $181,665
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $146,258 to $171,255
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $133,910
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View as table View as graph 25% $146,258 10% $133,910 90% $181,665 75% $171,255 $159,821 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Lead Network Architect Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $171,255 $14,271 $3,293 $82
Average $159,821 $13,318 $3,073 $77
25th Percentile $146,258 $12,188 $2,813 $70
Check out Lead Network Architect Job Openings in the United States
Network Architect

Utah Transit Authority - SALT LAKE CITY, UT

Lead Technical Solutions Architect- Stoughton, MA

Diesel Direct Inc - STOUGHTON, MA

Network Architect with Security Clearance

TEKsystems c/o Allegis Group - HICKAM AFB, HI

Network Architect with Security Clearance

Mission Services LLC (MSI) - MC LEAN, VA

Search More Lead Network Architect Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Lead Network Architect Salaries

A Lead Network Architect'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 Lead Network Architect Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Lead Network Architect'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): $153,766
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $154,392
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $156,477
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $158,980
  • Expert (over 8 years): $161,839
Levels Salary
Entry Level Lead Network Architect$153,766
Intermediate Level Lead Network Architect$154,392
Senior Level Lead Network Architect$156,477
Specialist Level Lead Network Architect$158,980
Expert Level Lead Network Architect$161,839
$153,766 0 yr
$154,392 < 2 yrs
$156,477 2-4 yrs
$158,980 5-8 yrs
$161,839 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Lead Network Architect 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 Lead Network Architects. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $176,954.
  • California: $176,283.
  • Massachusetts: $173,933.

Top Paying Cities for Lead Network Architects

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: $201,582
  • San Francisco: $199,600
  • Oakland: $195,173

What Skills Can Increase a Lead Network Architect's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 3.13% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Docker (Mentioned in 2.44% Job Postings): Building, running, and managing containers to deliver software quickly on various platforms.
  • Cloud Computing (Mentioned in 1.54% Job Postings): Cloud computing is the on-demand availability of computer system resources, especially data storage and computing power, without direct active management by the user. The term is generally used to describe data centers available to many users over the Internet. Large clouds, predominant today, often have functions distributed over multiple locations from central servers. If the connection to the user is relatively close, it may be designated an edge server. Clouds may be limited to a single organization (enterprise clouds), be available to many organizations (public cloud), or a combination of both (hybrid cloud). Cloud computing relies on sharing of resources to achieve coherence and economies of scale. Advocates of public and hybrid clouds note that cloud computing allows companies to avoid or minimize up-front IT infrastructure costs. Proponents also claim that cloud computing allows enterprises to get their applications up and running faster, with improved manageability and less maintenance, and that it enables IT teams to more rapidly adjust resources to meet fluctuating and unpredictable demand. Cloud providers typically use a "pay-as-you-go" model, which can lead to unexpected operating expenses if administrators are not familiarized with cloud-pricing models.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 3.13%
Docker 2.44%
Cloud Computing 1.54%
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 Lead Network Architect's salary.
  • Commitment: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Process Management: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • Collaboration: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Commitment
$169,410
6%
Process Management
$167,812
5%
Collaboration
$166,214
4%
Open Source
$166,214
4%
Microservices
$166,214
4%
Container
$164,616
3%
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Lead Network Architect Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Lead Network Architect'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 Lead Network Architect

Salaries for a Lead Network Architect can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $149,460 in 2023 to around $146,499 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Lead Network Architect salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Lead Network Architect Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$149,460
2024
$148,782
2025
$146,499
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $149,460
2024 $148,782
2025 $146,499
2026
View More
2027
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Most common benefits for Lead Network Architect

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

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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.)

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