Cloud Architect Salary: Your 2025 Guide

Cloud architects are among the highest-paid tech professionals due to the growing demand for cloud computing expertise. The average annual salary for cloud architects in 2025 is approximately $145,771 [1]. 

What is a cloud architect?

A cloud architect is responsible for designing, managing, and monitoring the cloud architecture for a company or organization. You will review cloud architecture to suggest how it can run more efficiently. Additionally, you can develop plans and implement your suggestions to update the existing cloud architecture. Some cloud architects are responsible for security protection for cloud computing assets by identifying threats or finding solutions for security issues.

Cloud architects need a variety of skills for a position in the field. You’ll need to be proficient in computing languages such as Python and JavaScript and understand cloud computing platforms, including AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud.

Cloud architects can work in a collaborative environment, so workplace skills such as communication and team management are also essential.

Explore the factors that can contribute to your salary when you become a cloud architect.

How much does a cloud architect make?

The estimated annual salary for cloud architects can vary, with job listing sites showing the average annual pay for cloud architects ranging from $128,418 to $147,236 as of February 2025. The annual cloud architect salaries provided by a range of salary comparison websites include [1,2,3,4]:

Factors that affect cloud architect salary

Factors affecting cloud architect salary include your previous experience, where you live, the demand for cloud architect positions, the cost of living in a particular area, and other factors. Depending on your interests or specialties, you will earn more in some industry sectors than others.

Consider the following factors when evaluating how much you could earn as a cloud architect:

Experience

Your prior experience working as a cloud architect can boost your salary, as more years in the position generally lead to higher annual earnings.

Take a look at the estimated average salaries you can expect based on your previous years of experience [1]:

• 0–1 year: $106,930

• 1–3 years: $112,955

• 4–6 years: $125,276

• 7–9 years: $133,341

• 10–14 years: $144,389

• 15+ years: $158,029

Location

Where you live can impact your salary as a cloud architect due to the cost of living, demand for work in the area, and other regional factors.

The five top-paying states for a cloud architect are as follows [5]:

• Alaska: $158,565

• Massachusetts: $160,799

• New York: $161,081

• District of Columbia: $166,380

• Washington: $166,759

Industry

Cloud architects in specific industries earn higher incomes compared to those in others. These five industries offer the highest average annual salaries for cloud architects [1]:

• Information technology: $159,321

• Telecommunications: $174,959

• Financial services: $176,682

• Management and consulting: $159,880

• Human resources and staffing: $164,781

Education

It’s important to consider your education level when pursuing a career as a cloud architect. A higher degree could potentially boost your salary. Cloud architects should have a bachelor’s or graduate degree in a related field, such as computer science, computer engineering, information systems, or a related field.

The annual salaries for someone entering the workforce without previous experience as a cloud architect include [3]:

• Bachelor’s degree: $125,371

• Master’s degree: $125,910

• Doctorate: $126,270

Certifications

An employer may prefer or require you to have cloud architect certifications. As a result, it’s crucial to consider certifications to boost your earning potential.

For example, an AWS Certified Solutions Architect certification confirms your proficiency in AWS Services, including databases, security, monitoring, and networking. You can also pick up a Google Professional Cloud Architect certification, which covers designing and managing cloud solution architecture, operations reliability, and security and compliance issues. Cloud security certifications are also available to boost your knowledge of cloud architecture.

Below are some of the top-paying certifications for cloud-related technology, based on annual salary data in an information technology skills and salary survey conducted by Skillsoft [6]:

• Google Cloud—Associate Cloud Engineer: $146,533

• AWS Certified Solutions Architect—Associate: $155,597

• CCSP—Certified Cloud Security Professional: $171,524

• Nutanix Certified Professional Multicloud Infrastructure (NCP-MCI): $175,409

• Google Cloud Professional Cloud Architect: $190,204

Job outlook for cloud architects

Jobs working with computers are expected to increase faster than the national average. All computer occupations are likely to grow by 13 percent from 2023 to 2033—much faster than the average growth for all occupations in the US [7].

Related job titles

Positions related to the cloud architecture field can help you gain additional experience. Alternatively, if becoming a cloud architect isn’t your ideal path, you can explore opportunities that better align with your interests.

For instance, a computer network architect designs data communications networks. Your work in this position could include cloud infrastructure networks. You can create plans for data communications networks, upgrade network hardware and software, or recommend and implement updates to make a network run more efficiently. Computer network architects earn a base annual salary of $130,390, and the field is expected to grow 13 percent from 2023 to 2033, much faster than the national average [8].

A database administrator or architect creates and organizes systems for data storage. You might build new databases, back up and restore data, or maintain databases. Database administrators and database architects make an annual base salary of $123,100, with positions expected to grow at a faster-than-average 9 percent from 2023 to 2033 [9].

Getting started on your cloud architect journey with Coursera

Building on your existing skills and learning more about cloud architecture could be a step toward a range of rewarding cloud architect jobs. Earning Professional Certificates can further elevate your portfolio expertise while boosting your earning potential. If you’re interested in starting your journey as a cloud architect or updating your skills to bolster your salary potentially, consider the options below.

You can learn how to use Microsoft Azure with the Microsoft Cloud Support Associate Professional Certificate on Coursera. The course can help you to understand cloud support, explore data backup and cloud computing, and learn how to diagnose and manage cloud computing issues.

Additionally, you can try the AWS Cloud Solutions Architect Professional Certificate on Coursera. The program covers AWS services that can help you make decisions related to storage, databases, networking, monitoring, and security issues for AWS services.