BLS SOC 15-1299 · Technology
Cloud Architect Salary
Cloud architects design and oversee an organization's cloud computing strategy, including cloud adoption plans, application design, and cloud management. They ensure scalability, security, and cost efficiency.
Data: BLS OEWS · 2026
National Median
$121,133
annual
25th Percentile
$93,272
annual
75th Percentile
$155,050
annual
90th Percentile
$193,813
annual
National Salary Distribution
P25: $93,272Median: $121,133P75: $155,050P90: $193,813
1
Top Paying Cities for Cloud Architect
Ranked by median annual salary
| # | City | Median |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $166,000 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $162,000 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $160,000 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $147,000 |
| 5 | Washington, DC | $144,000 |
| 6 | Los Angeles, CA | $143,000 |
| 7 | San Diego, CA | $138,000 |
| 8 | Austin, TX | $133,000 |
| 9 | Portland, OR | $133,000 |
| 10 | Denver, CO | $128,000 |
2
Best After Cost of Living
Salary adjusted for cost of living (US avg = $100k)
| # | City | COL-Adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pittsburgh, PA | $116,667 |
| 2 | Columbus, OH | $116,484 |
| 3 | Detroit, MI | $115,730 |
| 4 | Raleigh, NC | $115,534 |
| 5 | Indianapolis, IN | $114,444 |
| 6 | Chicago, IL | $114,019 |
| 7 | Houston, TX | $114,019 |
| 8 | Phoenix, AZ | $112,621 |
| 9 | Dallas, TX | $111,607 |
| 10 | Atlanta, GA | $110,185 |
3
Cloud Architect Salary — All Cities
All 30 metro areas, sorted by median salary
| City | P25 | Median | P75 | P90 | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | $127,820 | $166,000 | $212,480 | $265,600 | 41,600 |
| Seattle, WA | $124,740 | $162,000 | $207,360 | $259,200 | 46,400 |
| New York, NY | $123,200 | $160,000 | $204,800 | $256,000 | 54,400 |
| Boston, MA | $113,190 | $147,000 | $188,160 | $235,200 | 33,600 |
| Washington, DC | $110,880 | $144,000 | $184,320 | $230,400 | 36,000 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $110,110 | $143,000 | $183,040 | $228,800 | 38,400 |
| San Diego, CA | $106,260 | $138,000 | $176,640 | $220,800 | 19,200 |
| Austin, TX | $102,410 | $133,000 | $170,240 | $212,800 | 30,400 |
| Portland, OR | $102,410 | $133,000 | $170,240 | $212,800 | 16,000 |
| Denver, CO | $98,560 | $128,000 | $163,840 | $204,800 | 22,400 |
| Dallas, TX | $96,250 | $125,000 | $160,000 | $200,000 | 28,000 |
| Chicago, IL | $93,940 | $122,000 | $156,160 | $195,200 | 28,000 |
| Houston, TX | $93,940 | $122,000 | $156,160 | $195,200 | 22,400 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $92,400 | $120,000 | $153,600 | $192,000 | 17,600 |
| Atlanta, GA | $91,630 | $119,000 | $152,320 | $190,400 | 24,000 |
| Raleigh, NC | $91,630 | $119,000 | $152,320 | $190,400 | 17,600 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $89,320 | $116,000 | $148,480 | $185,600 | 20,000 |
| Miami, FL | $87,780 | $114,000 | $145,920 | $182,400 | 17,600 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $87,780 | $114,000 | $145,920 | $182,400 | 14,400 |
| Nashville, TN | $86,240 | $112,000 | $143,360 | $179,200 | 14,400 |
| Charlotte, NC | $83,930 | $109,000 | $139,520 | $174,400 | 16,000 |
| Richmond, VA | $83,930 | $109,000 | $139,520 | $174,400 | 11,200 |
| Columbus, OH | $81,620 | $106,000 | $135,680 | $169,600 | 12,800 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $80,850 | $105,000 | $134,400 | $168,000 | 11,200 |
| Detroit, MI | $79,310 | $103,000 | $131,840 | $164,800 | 12,000 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $79,310 | $103,000 | $131,840 | $164,800 | 12,000 |
| Louisville, KY | $73,150 | $95,000 | $121,600 | $152,000 | 8,000 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $71,610 | $93,000 | $119,040 | $148,800 | 7,200 |
| Memphis, TN | $69,300 | $90,000 | $115,200 | $144,000 | 6,400 |
| El Paso, TX | $64,680 | $84,000 | $107,520 | $134,400 | 4,800 |
Top Skills for Cloud Architect
AWSAzureGCPInfrastructure as CodeCost Optimization