What are the main factors that influence a Principal Security Architect's salary?

The primary factors are: 1) Experience Level, 2) Geographic Location, 3) Education/Skills, 4) Company Size & Industry

What industry pays the highest salary for Principal Security Architect?

The Aerospace & Defense industry offers the highest average compensation for Principal Security Architect roles, with salaries approximately 5% above the market median.

How does experience change A Principal Security Architect's salary?

A Principal Security Architect's salary grows with experience: a Cyber Security Architect II (4-7 years)earns $150,024, a Cyber Security Architect III (7+ years)earns $173,240, a Principal Security Architect (7-10 years)earns $204,199, a Cyber Security Architect V (10-12 years)earns $238,677, a Cyber Security Architecture Supervisor (12+ years)earns $147,532,

What are the highest paying states for a Principal Security Architect?

Principal Security Architect salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Principal Security Architect roles are District of Columbia $204,937, California $204,160, Massachusetts $201,439. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of Principal Security Architect roles make?

Salaries for Principal Security Architect level roles vary by specialization: Enterprise Architect, Principal: $289,137; Principal Network Architect: $191,897; Principal Systems Architect: $169,683; Principal Data Architect: $163,761; Principal Solution Architect: $159,193.

Principal Security Architect Salary in District of Columbia

How much does a Principal Security Architect make in District of Columbia?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Principal Security Architect in District of Columbia is $204,937 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $99.

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

Top Earners (90th percentile): $224,110
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $194,551 to $214,973
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $185,094

Compensation Planning

Develop a Job Description

Pay Equity

2026 Compensation Trend

Recruit with AI

AI-Powered Talent

Salary Salary + Bonus Benefits

View as table

Principal Security Architect Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$214,973	$17,914	$4,134	$103
Average	$204,937	$17,078	$3,941	$99
25th Percentile	$194,551	$16,213	$3,741	$94

You may get higher pay by adjusting the following factors:

Change Search Criteria

Check out Principal Security Architect Job Openings in District of Columbia

Principal Optical System Architect (Remote)

TE Connectivity Corporation - Washington, DC

Principal Software Architect - AI Platform (Remote)

HackerOne - Washington, DC

Senior Security Architect

Evolver Federal - Washington, DC

AI Security Solutions Architect

BOOZ, ALLEN & HAMILTON, INC. - Washington, DC

Search More Principal Security Architect Jobs in District of Columbia

Key Factors That Influence Principal Security Architect Salaries

A Principal Security 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 Principal Security Architect Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Principal Security 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): $150,024
Early Career (1-2 years): $173,240
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $204,199
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $238,677
Expert (over 8 years): $147,532

Levels	Salary
Cyber Sec... Level Principal Security Architect	$150,024
Cyber Sec... Level Principal Security Architect	$173,240
Principal... Level Principal Security Architect	$204,199
Cyber Sec... Level Principal Security Architect	$238,677
Cyber Sec... Level Principal Security Architect	$147,532

View as Graph

What Am I Worth?

How Do Principal Security 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 Principal Security Architects. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

District of Columbia: $204,937.
California: $204,160.
Massachusetts: $201,439.

District of Columbia $204,937 California $204,160 Massachusetts $201,439 Washington $200,699 New Jersey $200,624 Alaska $200,365 Connecticut $197,811 New York $196,774

Hawaii $193,461 Rhode Island $191,906 Maryland $190,851 Minnesota $189,408 Colorado $188,852 Illinois $188,667 Oregon $187,964 Delaware $187,446

New Hampshire $187,120 Virginia $186,391 Pennsylvania $184,262 Nevada $183,189 North Dakota $182,837 Michigan $182,282 Wisconsin $182,078 Vermont $181,671

Texas $180,542 Maine $180,468 Arizona $180,357 Ohio $180,227 Georgia $178,524 Indiana $177,673 Wyoming $177,506 Utah $177,247

Iowa $177,136 Kansas $176,247 Louisiana $175,988 North Carolina $175,896 Missouri $175,859 Florida $175,137 Montana $174,748 Nebraska $174,378

Kentucky $174,174 South Carolina $173,434 Tennessee $172,971 Idaho $172,786 New Mexico $171,435 Oklahoma $171,139 Alabama $170,047 South Dakota $168,214

Arkansas $167,215 West Virginia $166,678 Mississippi $165,068

Top Paying Cities for Principal Security 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:

Parcel Return Service: $203,825
Washington: $203,827
Naval Anacost Annex: $203,817

Parcel Return Service, DC $203,825 Washington, DC $203,827 Naval Anacost Annex, DC $203,817 Washington Navy Yard, DC $203,825

Principal Security Architect Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Principal Security Architect roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 10% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Aerospace & Defense and Business Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 5% above the average. In contrast, Principal Security Architect positions in Transportation or Software & Networking typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Principal Security Architect as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Principal Security Architect

Industry Sector	Average Annual Salary	Average Hourly Rate	Pay vs.Avg
Aerospace & Defense	$215,184	$103.0	5%
Business Services	$215,184	$103.0	5%
Construction	$215,184	$103.0	5%
Energy & Utilities	$215,184	$103.0	5%
Healthcare	$215,184	$103.0	5%

Principal Security Architect Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Principal Security 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 September 01, 2026

$194,551

Average $204,937/year

$214,973

$16,213

Average $17,078/month

$17,914

$3,741

Average $3,941/week

$4,134

$94

Average $99/hour

$103

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$214,973	$17,914	$4,134	$103
Average	$204,937	$17,078	$3,941	$99
25th Percentile	$194,551	$16,213	$3,741	$94

Salaries of jobs related to Principal Security Architect

Find Your Next Principal Security Architect Job

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

Kalles Group

Washington, DC

Senior Security Architect Consultant

Kalles Group | Washington, DC

ABOUT KALLES GROUP: Everyone deserves to be secure. Our mission at Kalles Group is to help secure the future for companies of all shapes and sizes. While o... more

2 Days Ago
Revolutional, LLC

Washington, DC

Technical Lead Chief Security Architect

Revolutional, LLC | Washington, DC

Job Description. Job Description. Revolutional. delivers advanced technology solutions and mission support to federal agencies across civilian, health, and... more

4 Days Ago
Cognizant

Washington, DC

Network Architect

Cognizant | Washington, DC

A leading global IT services provider is looking for a Network Architect to enhance enterprise and cloud network infrastructure.This remote position requir... more

5 Days Ago
Cox Automotive

PINEWOOD, VT

Principal Architect

Cox Automotive | PINEWOOD, VT

Cox Automotive is seeking a Principal Architect to drive end-to-end architecture for scalable, cloud-native platforms that power our automotive and media s... more

1 Day Ago
Cox Automotive

QUEEN PARK, VT

Principal Architect

Cox Automotive | QUEEN PARK, VT

Cox Automotive is seeking a Principal Architect to drive end-to-end architecture for scalable, cloud-native platforms that power our automotive and media s... more

1 Day Ago
Cox Automotive

PLATTSBURGH, NY

Principal Architect

Cox Automotive | PLATTSBURGH, NY

Cox Automotive is seeking a Principal Architect to drive end-to-end architecture for scalable, cloud-native platforms that power our automotive and media s... more

1 Day 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 District of Columbia

Cost of Living in District of Columbia is

10.7% 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

Salary Search

Salary Calculator Tools

Know Your Worth

Advance at Work

Explore Career Path

Land Your Next Role

Software + AI

Data

Survey Catalogue