Cloud Architect Salary: Richmond, VA vs Austin, TX
BLS does not publish a separate estimate for Cloud Architects. The figures on this page are the BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates for Computer Occupations, All Other (15-1299), the closest published occupation.
Side-by-side comparison of wages and local price levels for Cloud Architects in Richmond, VA and Austin, TX, based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data and BEA regional price parities for 2024.
1Which City Pays More?
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Richmond, VA | Austin, TX | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $111,070 | $129,470▲ | -$18,400 |
| 25th Percentile | $81,990▲ | $81,580 | +$410 |
| 75th Percentile | $138,740 | $161,920▲ | -$23,180 |
| 90th Percentile | $164,760 | $199,380▲ | -$34,620 |
| Price Level (BEA 2024, US = 100) | 97.9 | 98.1 | -0.2 |
| Median at National-Average Prices | $113,501 | $132,023▲ | -$18,522 |
| Total Employment | 1,280 | 10,100 | -8,820 |
3Summary Analysis
On paper, Austin, TX pays $18,400 more (median: $111,070 vs $129,470). BEA's regional price parity is 97.9 in Richmond, VA and 98.1 in Austin, TX (United States = 100). At national-average prices the medians are $113,501 and $132,023, so Austin, TX comes out ahead once local prices are counted.
5Reading This Comparison
The $18,400 gap between the two medians is a gap in dollars, not in what those dollars buy. Dividing each median by its area's regional price parity restates it at national-average prices: $113,501 for Richmond and $132,023 for Austin, a difference of $18,522.
The price levels come from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, which describes them this way: “Regional price parities (RPPs) measure the differences in price levels across states and metropolitan areas for a given year and are expressed as a percentage of the overall national price level.” The figures used here are the all-items index for each whole metropolitan area (Richmond, VA; Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX) and cover prices only, not taxes.
BLS estimates 1,280 Cloud Architect jobs in the Richmond area and 10,100 in the Austin area. For broader context, see our Virginia overview and the full Cloud Architect city ranking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cloud Architect salary higher in Richmond, VA or Austin, TX?
Austin, TX has the higher median wage for Cloud Architects ($129,470 per year, against $111,070 in Richmond, VA; BLS OEWS May 2025). Restated at national-average prices using BEA regional price parities, the medians are $113,501 in Richmond, VA and $132,023 in Austin, TX.
How do prices compare between Richmond, VA and Austin, TX?
The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis puts the 2024 regional price parity at 97.9 for the Richmond, VA metropolitan area and 98.1 for the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX metropolitan area, where the United States is 100. That is 2.1% below the national level for Richmond, VA and 1.9% below the national level for Austin, TX.
Which city pays Cloud Architects more once local prices are counted?
Austin, TX: at national-average prices its median Cloud Architect wage is $132,023, against $113,501 for Richmond, VA. The adjustment divides each median by the area's BEA regional price parity and covers prices only, not taxes.