What are the main factors that influence a Computer Systems 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 Computer Systems Architect?

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

How does experience change A Computer Systems Architect's salary?

A Computer Systems Architect's salary grows with experience: a Systems Architect III (4-7 years)earns $117,028, a Systems Architect IV (7+ years)earns $137,793, a Computer Systems Architect (7-10 years)earns $165,202, a Systems Architecture Supervisor (10+ years)earns $133,249, a Systems Architecture Manager (10+ years)earns $149,986,

What are the highest paying states for a Computer Systems Architect?

Computer Systems Architect salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Computer Systems Architect roles are District of Columbia $181,996, California $181,306, Massachusetts $178,889. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of Computer Systems Architect roles make?

Salaries for Computer Systems Architect level roles vary by specialization: Computer Architect: $143,317; computer information systems: $131,802; Computer Systems Manager: $131,460; Computer Systems Analyst: $112,118; Associate Dean - Computer and Information Systems: $96,395.

How do different companies affect a Computer Systems Architect's salary?

Company size, industry, and compensation structure create significant salary variations for Computer Systems Architect roles. Large, established industry leaders like C R Bard Inc ($128,509) and Henry Schein Canada ($124,697) offer base salaries 35-40% above the national average. In contrast, smaller firms or startups may offer closer to $82,041.

Computer Systems Architect Salary in the United States

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

As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for a Computer Systems Architect in the United States is $164,375 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $79.

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

Top Earners (90th percentile): $180,904
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $152,470 to $173,027
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $141,631

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Computer Systems Architect Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$173,027	$14,419	$3,327	$83
Average	$164,375	$13,698	$3,161	$79
25th Percentile	$152,470	$12,706	$2,932	$73

You may get higher pay by adjusting the following factors:

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Check out Computer Systems Architect Job Openings in the United States

Software Support Specialist

London Computer Systems (LCS) - Cincinnati, OH

Software Support Specialist

LCS - London Computer Systems - Cincinnati, OH

Systems Architect Apprentice

Apogee Engineering, LLC - Dayton, OH

Computer Information Systems Adjunct Faculty

Ohio Dominican University - Columbus, OH

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Key Factors That Influence Computer Systems Architect Salaries

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

How Experience Level Affects Computer Systems Architect Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Computer Systems 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): $117,028
Early Career (1-2 years): $137,793
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $165,202
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $133,249
Expert (over 8 years): $149,986

Levels	Salary
Systems A... Level Computer Systems Architect	$117,028
Systems A... Level Computer Systems Architect	$137,793
Computer ... Level Computer Systems Architect	$165,202
Systems A... Level Computer Systems Architect	$133,249
Systems A... Level Computer Systems Architect	$149,986

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What Am I Worth?

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

District of Columbia: $181,996.
California: $181,306.
Massachusetts: $178,889.

District of Columbia $181,996 California $181,306 Massachusetts $178,889 Washington $178,232 New Jersey $178,166 Alaska $177,936 Connecticut $175,668 New York $174,747

Hawaii $171,805 Rhode Island $170,424 Maryland $169,487 Minnesota $168,205 Colorado $167,712 Illinois $167,547 Oregon $166,923 Delaware $166,463

New Hampshire $166,173 Virginia $165,526 Pennsylvania $163,635 Nevada $162,682 North Dakota $162,370 Michigan $161,877 Wisconsin $161,696 Vermont $161,334

Texas $160,331 Maine $160,266 Arizona $160,167 Ohio $160,052 Georgia $158,540 Indiana $157,784 Wyoming $157,636 Utah $157,406

Iowa $157,307 Kansas $156,518 Louisiana $156,288 North Carolina $156,206 Missouri $156,173 Florida $155,532 Montana $155,186 Nebraska $154,858

Kentucky $154,677 South Carolina $154,019 Tennessee $153,608 Idaho $153,444 New Mexico $152,244 Oklahoma $151,981 Alabama $151,011 South Dakota $149,384

Arkansas $148,496 West Virginia $148,020 Mississippi $146,590

Top Paying Cities for Computer Systems 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: $207,326
San Francisco: $205,056
Oakland: $200,735

San Jose, CA $207,326

San Francisco, CA $205,056

Oakland, CA $200,735

New York, NY $189,260

Paramus, NJ $186,958

Queens Village, NY $186,950

Passaic, NJ $186,794

Bergenfield, NJ $186,779

Stamford, CT $186,418

Huntington, NY $186,350

Newark, NJ $185,136

Bridgeport, CT $184,789

Vallejo, CA $184,462

New Brunswick, NJ $184,396

Petaluma, CA $184,297

Middlesex, NJ $183,985

Somerset, NJ $183,870

Santa Cruz, CA $183,656

Boston, MA $182,654

Monterey, CA $182,077

Seattle, WA $181,700

Santa Rosa, CA $181,667

Los Angeles, CA $181,618

Juneau, AK $181,191

Washington, DC $181,010

Orange, CA $180,425

Santa Ana, CA $179,991

Long Beach, CA $179,826

Anaheim, CA $179,793

Anchorage, AK $179,711

Santa Maria, CA $179,218

Everett, WA $179,185

Danbury, CT $178,607

Bremerton, WA $178,380

Tacoma, WA $177,788

New Suffolk, NY $177,785

Sacramento, CA $177,739

Santa Barbara, CA $177,558

Trenton, NJ $177,377

San Diego, CA $177,377

Brockton, MA $177,196

Fairbanks, AK $176,794

Lompoc, CA $176,374

Lowell, MA $176,241

Ventura, CA $176,210

Nashua, NH $176,177

Stockton, CA $176,161

Modesto, CA $174,961

Poughkeepsie, NY $174,599

Olympia, WA $174,287

Kennewick, WA $174,287

New Haven, CT $174,221

Lawrence, MA $173,629

Hartford, CT $173,465

Riverside, CA $173,432

New Bedford, MA $173,268

Richland, WA $173,268

Bakersfield, CA $173,038

San Bernardino, CA $172,972

New Britain, CT $172,955

Atlantic City, NJ $172,955

New London, CT $172,890

Norwich, CT $172,840

Portsmouth, NH $172,807

Boulder, CO $172,459

Portland, OR $172,232

Worcester, MA $172,216

Minneapolis, MN $171,706

Philadelphia, PA $171,476

Honolulu, HI $170,934

Saint Paul, MN $170,855

Vineland, NJ $170,819

Providence, RI $170,342

Chicago, IL $169,865

Bellingham, WA $169,668

Springfield, MA $169,536

Baltimore, MD $169,487

Chico, CA $169,076

Pittsfield, MA $168,632

Manchester, NH $168,320

Spokane, WA $167,597

Denver, CO $167,580

Albany, NY $166,808

Troy, NY $166,742

Nassau, NY $166,566

Schenectady, NY $166,397

Wilmington, DE $166,265

Burlington, VT $166,035

Salem, OR $165,969

Portland, ME $165,460

Yakima, WA $165,296

Rochester, MN $164,786

Reno, NV $164,704

Fresno, CA $164,704

Milwaukee, WI $164,556

Detroit, MI $164,391

Ann Arbor, MI $164,363

Allentown, PA $164,342

Colorado Springs, CO $164,063

Syracuse, NY $163,981

Carson City, NV $163,981

Houston, TX $163,750

Eugene, OR $163,668

Gary, IN $163,471

Springfield, OR $163,339

Bismarck, ND $163,307

Galveston, TX $163,192

Medford, OR $162,945

Fort Collins, CO $162,879

Concord, NH $162,797

Austin, TX $162,748

Mesa, AZ $162,403

Reading, PA $162,386

Phoenix, AZ $162,370

Dallas, TX $162,320

Saint Cloud, MN $162,163

Madison, WI $161,942

Utica, NY $161,498

Rochester, NY $161,235

Des Moines, IA $161,219

Raleigh, NC $161,203

Atlanta, GA $160,956

Battle Creek, MI $160,907

Salt Lake City, UT $160,857

Lancaster, PA $160,611

Harrisburg, PA $160,381

Kansas City, MO $160,216

Champaign, IL $160,183

Kansas City, KS $160,183

Fort Worth, TX $160,167

Columbus, OH $160,139

Boca Raton, FL $160,101

Pittsburgh, PA $160,036

Richmond, VA $159,970

Indianapolis, IN $159,937

Cleveland, OH $159,920

Las Vegas, NV $159,723

Cincinnati, OH $159,723

Petersburg, VA $159,477

Huntsville, AL $159,230

Lansing, MI $159,120

Lebanon, PA $159,099

Pueblo, CO $159,082

Appleton, WI $159,033

Buffalo, NY $158,967

Dayton, OH $158,918

Racine, WI $158,885

Charlotte, NC $158,868

Saint Louis, MO $158,819

York, PA $158,721

Elkhart, IN $158,721

Gastonia, NC $158,689

Billings, MT $158,650

Beaumont, TX $158,605

Lorain, OH $158,573

Benton Harbor, MI $158,540

Toledo, OH $158,507

Binghamton, NY $158,425

Rock Hill, SC $158,408

Rockford, IL $158,326

Springfield, IL $158,260

Elyria, OH $158,244

Fargo, ND $158,244

Flagstaff, AZ $158,129

Fort Lauderdale, FL $158,030

Duluth, MN $157,932

Miami, FL $157,932

Cheyenne, WY $157,816

Grand Forks, ND $157,816

Bangor, ME $157,455

Cedar Rapids, IA $157,274

Durham, NC $157,205

Louisville, KY $157,192

Grand Rapids, MI $157,159

Hialeah, FL $157,143

Casper, WY $156,912

Scranton, PA $156,715

New Orleans, LA $156,666

Virginia Beach, VA $156,649

Akron, OH $156,567

Peoria, IL $156,354

Sarasota, FL $156,321

Nashville, TN $156,206

Omaha, NE $156,206

Green Bay, WI $156,206

Baton Rouge, LA $156,123

Charleston, SC $156,091

Jamestown, NY $156,008

Davenport, IA $156,008

Tucson, AZ $155,926

Saint Petersburg, FL $155,828

Tampa, FL $155,795

Evansville, IN $155,696

Port Arthur, TX $155,696

Bradenton, FL $155,630

Santa Fe, NM $155,334

Orlando, FL $155,039

Clearwater, FL $154,989

Canton, OH $154,644

La Crosse, WI $154,644

Albuquerque, NM $154,545

Newport News, VA $154,529

High Point, NC $154,480

Ogden, UT $154,414

Corpus Christi, TX $154,282

Norfolk, VA $154,184

Laramie, WY $154,184

Rock Island, IL $154,085

Saginaw, MI $154,052

Jacksonville, FL $154,036

Salisbury, NC $154,003

Boise, ID $153,970

Moline, IL $153,888

Fort Myers, FL $153,839

Memphis, TN $153,806

Tulsa, OK $153,724

Waterloo, IA $153,625

Spartanburg, SC $153,461

Lincoln, NE $153,378

Fort Wayne, IN $153,345

Provo, UT $153,329

Cedar Falls, IA $153,132

San Antonio, TX $153,066

Greensboro, NC $153,000

South Bend, IN $152,984

Savannah, GA $152,803

Muskegon, MI $152,737

Birmingham, AL $152,721

Winston Salem, NC $152,640

Lake Charles, LA $152,244

Anderson, IN $152,211

Lexington, KY $152,162

Augusta, GA $152,113

Greenville, SC $152,113

Lima, OH $151,981

Wichita, KS $151,965

Tuscaloosa, AL $151,965

Columbia, SC $151,817

Springfield, OH $151,784

Asheville, NC $151,521

Bloomington, IN $151,406

Knoxville, TN $150,814

Shreveport, LA $150,798

Wilmington, NC $150,584

Roanoke, VA $150,584

Topeka, KS $150,288

Frankfort, KY $150,270

Oklahoma City, OK $150,157

Chillicothe, OH $150,091

Longview, TX $150,074

Melbourne, FL $150,058

Sioux Falls, SD $149,795

Mobile, AL $149,779

Terre Haute, IN $149,713

Altoona, PA $149,614

Amarillo, TX $149,499

Killeen, TX $149,450

Fayetteville, AR $149,318

Chattanooga, TN $149,269

Sioux City, IA $149,121

Idaho Falls, ID $149,088

Lynchburg, VA $148,957

Gainesville, FL $148,743

Portsmouth, OH $148,661

Little Rock, AR $148,628

Lafayette, LA $148,562

Youngstown, OH $148,562

Daytona Beach, FL $148,464

Clarksville, TN $148,447

Pensacola, FL $148,431

Temple, TX $148,419

Hopkinsville, KY $147,938

Erie, PA $147,905

Florence, SC $147,839

Charleston, WV $147,576

Great Falls, MT $147,494

Macon, GA $147,264

Tallahassee, FL $147,247

Fayetteville, NC $147,214

Waco, TX $147,181

Helena, MT $147,066

Pine Bluff, AR $147,004

Vincennes, IN $146,803

Lubbock, TX $146,738

Alamogordo, NM $146,639

Twin Falls, ID $146,491

Rapid City, SD $146,442

Jackson, MS $146,146

Huntington, WV $146,134

Greenville, MS $146,129

Parkersburg, WV $145,962

Montgomery, AL $145,932

Wichita Falls, TX $145,768

Springfield, MO $145,768

Biloxi, MS $145,686

Monroe, LA $145,521

Johnstown, PA $145,406

Sumter, SC $145,340

Columbus, GA $145,324

Pascagoula, MS $145,012

Abilene, TX $145,012

Kingsport, TN $144,584

Albany, GA $144,584

Gulfport, MS $144,535

Alexandria, LA $143,993

Fort Smith, AR $143,582

El Paso, TX $143,138

Las Cruces, NM $142,398

Harlingen, TX $141,981

Pocatello, ID $141,954

Florence, AL $141,741

Brownsville, TX $141,708

Mcallen, TX $141,363

Dothan, AL $141,132

Columbus, MS $140,156

Altus, OK $139,390

Lawton, OK $139,078

Pierre, SD $138,486

What Skills Can Increase a Computer Systems Architect'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.

See More Skills

Skills	Demand Percentage
Leadership	5.34%
Software Development	2.75%
Python	1.44%

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 Computer Systems Architect'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	$174,238	6%
Systems Architecture	$172,594	5%
Commitment	$170,950	4%
Microservices	$169,306	3%
Enterprise Architecture	$169,306	3%
AWS	$169,306	3%

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Computer Systems Architect Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

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

The top paying industries for a Computer Systems Architect

Industry Sector	Average Annual Salary	Average Hourly Rate	Pay vs.Avg
Aerospace & Defense	$180,813	$87.0	10%
Energy & Utilities	$180,813	$87.0	10%
Financial Services	$180,813	$87.0	10%
Pharmaceuticals	$180,813	$87.0	10%
Software & Networking	$180,813	$87.0	10%

How Education impacts a Computer Systems Architect's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Computer Systems Architects 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 Computer Systems Architect with a Bachelor's Degree is between $166,206 and $173,760).

Computer Systems Architect Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Computer Systems Architect

No Diploma 2.6%

High School 11.9%

Associates 6.7%

Bachelors 49.5%

Masters 27.3%

Doctorate 2.1%

view as table

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

Computer Systems Architect Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Computer Systems 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 July 01, 2026

$152,470

Average $164,375/year

$173,027

$12,706

Average $13,698/month

$14,419

$2,932

Average $3,161/week

$3,327

$73

Average $79/hour

$83

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$173,027	$14,419	$3,327	$83
Average	$164,375	$13,698	$3,161	$79
25th Percentile	$152,470	$12,706	$2,932	$73

Salaries of jobs related to Computer Systems Architect

Salary Trends for Computer Systems Architect

Salaries for a Computer Systems Architect can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $166,161 in 2023 to around $165,389 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Computer Systems Architect salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Computer Systems Architect Over Time

2022

$???

2023

$166,161

2024

$166,595

2025

$165,389

2026

$???

2027

$???

Year	Average Annual Salary
2022	View More
2023	$166,161
2024	$166,595
2025	$165,389
2026	View More
2027	View More

Most common benefits for Computer Systems Architect

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Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

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