How much does an enterprise architect make?

Salary knowledge is power: Let’s explore data points on salaries for enterprise architects
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Enterprise architects play an important role in today's IT organization: The role requires not only technical chops but also flexibility. Often the enterprise architect is responsible for connecting the dots as to how a new technology or process could help multiple parts of an organization. That means curiosity, plus communication and diplomacy skills, also prove important. The highest-paid enterprise architects have a track record on those fronts.

How about those salaries? Whether you’re looking for a pay raise, a promotion, or looking for a new job entirely, recruiters recommend researching salary ranges before you begin negotiating. 

Enterprise architect salaries

Here are some data points exploring what an enterprise architect makes right now:

The national average base pay for an Enterprise Architect in United States is $139,433, according to Glassdoor.com’s Know Your Worth salary calculator, which can help you gauge the competitiveness of your current or potential pay, using your title, region, and experience level. That doesn’t include the average $18,143 in cash that workers reported earning from bonuses, commissions, and profit sharing, etc. These estimates are based on salaries submitted to Glassdoor by 1,219 employees with the enterprise architect title. 

The enterprise architect salary range starts at $120,723 for those with less than a year of experience, along with an average additional cash compensation of $16,244. For people with 15 or more years of experience, those who shared their salaries with Glassdoor.com reported earning an average of $165,651, with an additional cash compensation of $20,811. 

If you're trying to nudge your salary toward the top of that range, you can consider adding certifications or changing vertical industries, to boost your earning potential. Read also: 15 IT certifications worth watching.

You may also consider a new geography: The CompTIA Tech Town Index 2018 shows that taking into account cost of living, job opportunity, and career growth can unearth some interesting options, like #12 Des Moines, Iowa in the “Silicon Prairie,” #14 Madison, Wisconsin for its rocketing career opportunities, and #16 Baltimore, Maryland, a growing cybersecurity center. The top two picks? Charlotte and Raleigh, North Carolina. Read the full article: 10 cities with the best IT salaries.

Looking for more data? Check out our related article on where to research IT salaries: What are the best places to check IT salaries online? 

[ Job hunters: Arm yourself with winning tactics and relevant data from IT leaders, recruiters, and other experts. Get our free eBook: IT job searching in 2019: A practical guide. ]

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