Systems Architecture Salary in the United States

How much does a Systems Architecture make in the United States?

As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for a Systems Architecture in the United States is $134,878 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $65.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $153,195
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $128,952 to $144,466
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $123,557
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View as table View as graph 25% $128,952 10% $123,557 90% $153,195 75% $144,466 $134,878 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Systems Architecture Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $144,466 $12,039 $2,778 $69
Average $134,878 $11,240 $2,594 $65
25th Percentile $128,952 $10,746 $2,480 $62
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Key Factors That Influence Systems Architecture Salaries

A Systems Architecture'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 Architecture Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Systems Architecture'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): $86,890
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $110,740
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $134,173
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $151,586
  • Expert (over 8 years): $139,973
Levels Salary
Business ... Level Systems Architecture$86,890
Business ... Level Systems Architecture$110,740
Systems A... Level Systems Architecture$134,173
Business ... Level Systems Architecture$151,586
Business ... Level Systems Architecture$139,973
$86,890 0 yr
$110,740 < 2 yrs
$134,173 2-4 yrs
$151,586 5-8 yrs
$139,973 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

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

  • District of Columbia: $149,337.
  • California: $148,770.
  • Massachusetts: $146,788.

Top Paying Cities for Systems Architectures

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: $170,122
  • San Francisco: $168,259
  • Oakland: $164,713

What Skills Can Increase a Systems Architecture's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 13.5% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • User Stories (Mentioned in 1.95% Job Postings): In software development and product management, a user story is an informal, natural language description of one or more features of a software system. User stories are often written from the perspective of an end user or user of a system. They are often recorded on index cards, on Post-it notes, or in project management software. Depending on the project, user stories may be written by various stakeholders including clients, users, managers or development team members. User stories are a type of boundary object. They facilitate sensemaking and communication; that is, they help software teams organize their understanding of the system and its context. User stories are often confused with system requirements. A requirement is a formal description of need; a user story is an informal description of a feature.
  • Salesforce (Mentioned in 1.64% Job Postings): Designing and maintaining a cloud-based software that provides customer relationship management (CRM) service for a better experience.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 13.5%
User Stories 1.95%
Salesforce 1.64%
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 Architecture's salary.
  • CRM: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Functional Requirements: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
  • Innovation: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
CRM
 $142,971
6%
Functional Requirements
 $138,924
3%
Innovation
 $138,924
3%
Verbal Communication
 $138,924
3%
Salesforce
 $138,924
3%
Oracle
 $138,924
3%
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Systems Architecture Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Systems Architecture 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 Biotechnology sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 10% above the average. In contrast, Systems Architecture positions in Transportation or Telecom typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Systems Architecture as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Systems Architecture

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Aerospace & Defense$148,366$71.010%
Biotechnology$148,366$71.010%
Business Services$148,366$71.010%
Chemicals$148,366$71.010%
Construction$148,366$71.010%

How Education impacts a Systems Architecture's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Systems Architectures 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 Systems Architecture with a Bachelor's Degree is between $124,021 and $130,107).

Systems Architecture Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Systems Architecture
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.1%
High School 4.1%
Associates 4.1%
Bachelors 48.9%
Masters 41.2%
Doctorate 1.6%
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Systems Architecture Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Systems Architecture'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.

  • Hourly
  • Monthly
  • Weekly
  • Yearly
  • Table View
Last Updated on July 01, 2026
$128,952
Average $134,878/year
$144,466
$10,746
Average $11,240/month
$12,039
$2,480
Average $2,594/week
$2,778
$62
Average $65/hour
$69
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $144,466 $12,039 $2,778 $69
Average $134,878 $11,240 $2,594 $65
25th Percentile $128,952 $10,746 $2,480 $62

Salaries of jobs related to Systems Architecture

Salary Trends for Systems Architecture

Salaries for a Systems Architecture can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $124,564 in 2023 to around $124,473 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Systems Architecture salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Systems Architecture Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$124,564
2024
$125,561
2025
$124,473
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $124,564
2024 $125,561
2025 $124,473
2026
View More
2027
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Most common benefits for Systems Architecture

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401(k)
Disability
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Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Systems Architecture

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FAQ about Systems Architecture

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Systems Architecture?

The Aerospace & Defense industry offers the highest average compensation for Systems Architecture 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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