I am currently preparing for the Solutions Architect exam and wanted to know what the realistic looks like for someone with about three years of IT experience. Does the pay scale vary significantly if I work in a tech hub like San Francisco compared to remote roles? I am looking for recent data to help negotiate my upcoming performance review.
3 answers
Earning your certification can definitely provide a major leverage point during negotiations. From what I have seen in the industry over the last year, a mid-level architect can expect a base ranging from $125,000 to $155,000. In major tech hubs like San Francisco or Seattle, these figures often lean toward the higher end or even exceed $170,000 when you factor in total compensation like stocks and bonuses. Remote roles are staying competitive, usually hovering around the $140,000 mark. It really validates your skills to employers.
Are you planning to go for the Associate level or the Professional one first? I’ve heard the professional tier adds a much bigger bump to the than the entry-level ones do. Comment: Most people start with the Associate level to build a foundation. While the Professional cert is prestigious, the Associate level alone can still push your earnings up by 20% if you have the right project experience to back it up.
The is quite high right now. I moved from a general sysadmin role to cloud and saw my pay jump by nearly $30,000 immediately after passing.
That is a fantastic jump, Thomas! It proves that the market really values specialized cloud knowledge over traditional infrastructure roles.
Most people start with the Associate level to build a foundation. While the Professional cert is prestigious, the Associate level alone can still push your earnings up by 20% if you have the right project experience to back it up.