Cloud Architect Salary: Washington, DC vs San Francisco, CA
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 Washington, DC and San Francisco, CA, based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data and BEA regional price parities for 2024.
1Which City Pays More?
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Washington, DC | San Francisco, CA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $156,640 | $161,700▲ | -$5,060 |
| 25th Percentile | $126,160▲ | $102,340 | +$23,820 |
| 75th Percentile | $175,720 | $206,460▲ | -$30,740 |
| 90th Percentile | $203,390 | $255,390▲ | -$52,000 |
| Price Level (BEA 2024, US = 100) | 108.9 | 115.6 | -6.7 |
| Median at National-Average Prices | $143,860▲ | $139,863 | +$3,997 |
3Summary Analysis
On paper, San Francisco, CA pays $5,060 more (median: $156,640 vs $161,700). BEA's regional price parity is 108.9 in Washington, DC and 115.6 in San Francisco, CA (United States = 100). At national-average prices the medians are $143,860 and $139,863, so Washington, DC comes out ahead once local prices are counted.
5Reading This Comparison
The $5,060 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: $143,860 for Washington and $139,863 for San Francisco, a difference of $3,997.
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 (Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA) and cover prices only, not taxes.
For broader context, see our District of Columbia overview and the full Cloud Architect city ranking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cloud Architect salary higher in Washington, DC or San Francisco, CA?
San Francisco, CA has the higher median wage for Cloud Architects ($161,700 per year, against $156,640 in Washington, DC; BLS OEWS May 2025). Restated at national-average prices using BEA regional price parities, the medians are $143,860 in Washington, DC and $139,863 in San Francisco, CA.
How do prices compare between Washington, DC and San Francisco, CA?
The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis puts the 2024 regional price parity at 108.9 for the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metropolitan area and 115.6 for the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metropolitan area, where the United States is 100. That is 8.9% above the national level for Washington, DC and 15.6% above the national level for San Francisco, CA.
Which city pays Cloud Architects more once local prices are counted?
Washington, DC: at national-average prices its median Cloud Architect wage is $143,860, against $139,863 for San Francisco, CA. The adjustment divides each median by the area's BEA regional price parity and covers prices only, not taxes.