Designs the overall security structure of an organization's networks, applications and cloud systems, setting the controls other teams build. BLS does not publish separate figures for computer network architects; it counts them within computer network architect (SOC 15-1241), whose median pay is $134,050 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
- SOC 15-1241
- Computer and Mathematical
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Cybersecurity Architect in four numbers
- Median pay
- $134,050a year, or $64.45/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $80KTop 10% $203K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +7.7%Much faster than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+7.7%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +7.7% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 9,600181,800 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 2025181.8K
- Projected 2035195.8K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 181.8K Projected 2035 195.8K - Typical education
- Bachelor'sneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Less than high school5%
- Certificate15%
- Associate's15%
- Bachelor's55%
- Post-bacc certificate5%
- Master's5%
Highest education held by computer network architects Segment Value Less than high school 5% Certificate 15% Associate's 15% Bachelor's 55% Post-bacc certificate 5% Master's 5%
Also advertised as: Security Architect, Enterprise Security Architect, Information Security Architect, Zero Trust Architect.
Pay
How much do Computer Network Architects make?
Every cybersecurity architect in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$134,050
Middle half earn $104,620 to $168,200
- 10th
- $79,900
- 25th
- $104,620
- 75th
- $168,200
- 90th
- $202,680
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $79,900 |
| 25th | $104,620 |
| Median | $134,050 |
| 75th | $168,200 |
| 90th | $202,680 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $134,050
- Median hourly wage
- $64.45/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $139,580
- People employed
- 179,740
Versus all US occupations
At $134,050, Computer Network Architects earn 163% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $83,070 a year.
Versus computer and mathematical occupations
Inside the Computer and Mathematical group, where the middle occupation pays $116,580, this is 15% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $202,680 or more while the bottom 10% earn $79,900, a gap of 2.5×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 89% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Cost of living
Washington posts the highest raw median ($168,070), but once local prices are taken into account South Dakota leads at $173,154 in national-average dollars.
Pay by state
Which states pay Computer Network Architects the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Washington | $168,070 | $157,056 | 4,730 |
| 2New Jersey | $162,350 | $149,212 | 5,660 |
| 3Maryland | $159,460 | $151,926 | 5,860 |
| 4California | $158,870 | $143,488 | 14,870 |
| 5Massachusetts | $155,060 | $146,619 | 6,270 |
| 6South Dakota | $153,390 | $173,154 | 420 |
| 7Delaware | $148,390 | $148,675 | 760 |
| 8Connecticut | $143,890 | $138,877 | 1,570 |
| 9Virginia | $141,340 | $139,797 | 9,380 |
| 10New York | $140,390 | $130,086 | 9,800 |
Job outlook
Is Cybersecurity Architect a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Much faster than average. +7.7% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Computer Network Architects | +7.7% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Much faster than average
BLS projects employment of Computer Network Architects to change 7.7% over 2025–2035, roughly 2.2× the 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 14,100 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 9,600 openings are projected each year, 5.3% of the 181,800 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become a Cybersecurity Architect
This is a senior role. Most security architects have a bachelor's degree in computer science, cybersecurity or engineering and a decade or more of experience across networking, systems, security operations or security engineering. Breadth matters: architects need to understand identity, cloud, networks, applications and data.
ISC2's CISSP is close to a standard requirement, and its Information Systems Security Architecture Professional (ISSAP) concentration is designed for this role. Government and defense roles often follow the NICE Workforce Framework's security architecture work role. Most architects get there by moving from senior security engineer into design and governance responsibilities.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Bachelor's degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
5 years or more
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
None
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Medium preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as computer network architects.
- Bachelor's Degree55%
- Post-Secondary Certificate15%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree15%
- Less than a High School Diploma5%
- Post-Baccalaureate Certificate5%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's Degree | 55% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 15% |
| Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree | 15% |
| Less than a High School Diploma | 5% |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | 5% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Cybersecurity Architect do?
Cybersecurity architects decide how an organization's defenses fit together. Rather than responding to individual alerts, they design the structure: how users and devices prove who they are, how networks are segmented, where data is encrypted, which security tools are deployed and how they share information. Many organizations are moving to zero trust designs, which the architect plans and phases in.
They review proposed systems and vendor products for security risks, write standards and reference architectures, and help engineering teams solve hard security problems. Architects also translate between technical teams and executives, explaining risk in business terms and making the case for investment in specific controls.
Day-to-day tasks
- Design enterprise security architectures and reference models
- Plan zero trust and network segmentation strategies
- Review new systems and vendor products for security risk
- Write security standards and design patterns
- Select and integrate security tools
- Advise engineering teams on secure designs
- Brief executives on security risk and investment
- Align controls with frameworks such as NIST CSF
Typical tasks, researched by NueCareer from the sources below.
Working conditions and hours
Cybersecurity architects work at large enterprises, banks, healthcare systems, government agencies, defense contractors and consultancies. The work is desk-based and meeting-heavy, reviewing designs and advising teams. Hybrid arrangements are common; government and defense roles may require on-site work and a security clearance.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayIndoors, in a climate-controlled space, every day.
Outdoors in all weather
NeverEvery day
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeSeated for more than half the working day.
Standing
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayDealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lot
Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Critical Thinking4.1
- Reading Comprehension4.0
- Active Listening3.8
- Writing3.6
- Speaking3.5
- Active Learning3.3
- Monitoring3.1
- Mathematics3.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Critical Thinking | 4.1 |
| Reading Comprehension | 4.0 |
| Active Listening | 3.8 |
| Writing | 3.6 |
| Speaking | 3.5 |
| Active Learning | 3.3 |
| Monitoring | 3.1 |
| Mathematics | 3.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Complex Problem Solving3.9
- Programming3.9
- Systems Evaluation3.9
- Judgment and Decision Making3.8
- Systems Analysis3.8
- Coordination3.5
- Quality Control Analysis3.3
- Technology Design3.1
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.9 |
| Programming | 3.9 |
| Systems Evaluation | 3.9 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.8 |
| Systems Analysis | 3.8 |
| Coordination | 3.5 |
| Quality Control Analysis | 3.3 |
| Technology Design | 3.1 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Analytical or scientific software · in demand
- Application server software · in demand
- Business intelligence and data analysis software · in demand
- Cloud-based management software · in demand
- Computer aided design CAD software · in demand
- Configuration management software · in demand
- Content workflow software · in demand
- Data base management system software · in demand
- Data base reporting software · in demand
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Development environment software · in demand
- Document management software · in demand
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Cybersecurity Architect?
NueCareer estimate (Holland code ICE) built on O*NET's Computer Network Architect profile, scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Cybersecurity Architect |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 4 |
| Investigative | 6 |
| Artistic | 2 |
| Social | 2 |
| Enterprising | 4 |
| Conventional | 5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
- Investigative5.5
- Conventional5.2
- Realistic4.0
- Enterprising3.7
- Artistic2.3
- Social2.2
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Cybersecurity Architect
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More computer and mathematical careers
Median annual pay, with computer network architects highlighted
- Software Developer$135,980
- Cybersecurity Architect$134,050
- Actuary$130,000
- Data Scientist$120,230
- Business Intelligence Analyst$120,230
- Database Administrator$104,620
- Web Designer$104,000
- Computer Programmer$100,390
- Web Developer$92,650
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Software Developer | $135,980 |
| Cybersecurity Architect | $134,050 |
| Actuary | $130,000 |
| Data Scientist | $120,230 |
| Business Intelligence Analyst | $120,230 |
| Database Administrator | $104,620 |
| Web Designer | $104,000 |
| Computer Programmer | $100,390 |
| Web Developer | $92,650 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Cybersecurity Architect appears on
Questions
Cybersecurity Architect: frequently asked questions
How much do Computer Network Architects make?
BLS does not publish a separate wage for computer network architects. It counts them within computer network architect, whose median pay is $134,050 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of that occupation earn between $104,620 and $168,200, and the top 10% earn $202,680 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Cybersecurity Architect?
Yes. BLS reports a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education for Computer Network Architects, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as medium preparation. Employers typically expect 5 years or more of related work experience first. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 55.0% hold bachelor's degree.
Is Cybersecurity Architect a growing career?
Yes, strongly. Employment is projected to grow 7.7% over 2025–2035, more than double the 3.5% projected for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 9,600 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Cybersecurity Architect do?
Cybersecurity architects decide how an organization's defenses fit together. A typical task: design enterprise security architectures and reference models. Employers most often ask for Analytical or scientific software, Application server software, Business intelligence and data analysis software.
Which states pay Computer Network Architects the most?
The highest state medians for Computer Network Architects are Washington ($168,070), New Jersey ($162,350), Maryland ($159,460) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Adjusted for local prices using BEA Regional Price Parities, South Dakota moves to the top at $173,154.
What personality type suits a Cybersecurity Architect?
O*NET scores Computer Network Architects highest on the Investigative, Conventional and Realistic interest areas, so the work mixes investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ISTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.