A top-level technical adviser who designs complex cloud and software systems for a company's largest customers and shapes the vendor's products. Levels.fyi (Amazon company page) puts typical pay at $439,000 a year (2026). BLS does not publish separate figures for computer systems engineers/architects; it counts them within computer systems engineers/architect (SOC 15-1299), whose median pay is $116,580 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
- SOC 15-1299
- Computer and Mathematical
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Principal Solutions Architect in four numbers
- Median pay
- $116,580a year, or $56.05/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $56KTop 10% $188K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +5.1%Faster than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+5.1%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +5.1% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 27,000471,200 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 2025471.2K
- Projected 2035495.3K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 471.2K Projected 2035 495.3K - Typical education
- Bachelor'sneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Certificate40.9%
- Some college4.6%
- Associate's27.3%
- Bachelor's22.7%
- Master's4.6%
Highest education held by computer systems engineers/architects Segment Value Certificate 40.9% Some college 4.6% Associate's 27.3% Bachelor's 22.7% Master's 4.6%
Also advertised as: Principal Solution Architect, Senior Principal Solutions Architect, Principal Cloud Architect, Principal Customer Solutions Architect.
Pay
How much do Computer Systems Engineers/Architects make?
Industry-reported pay
$439,000
Total compensation (base, bonus and stock) at the L7 Principal Solutions Architect level at Amazon, US, self-reported; one employer.
Source: Levels.fyi (Amazon company page), 2026 (estimate from several industry sources). This is not a BLS figure: BLS counts computer systems engineers/architects within computer systems engineers/architect, whose pay is shown below. Levels.fyi: Amazon Solution Architect Salaries · Levels.fyi: Solution Architect Salary in United States
Every principal solutions architect in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$116,580
Middle half earn $79,370 to $157,500
- 10th
- $55,940
- 25th
- $79,370
- 75th
- $157,500
- 90th
- $188,470
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $55,940 |
| 25th | $79,370 |
| Median | $116,580 |
| 75th | $157,500 |
| 90th | $188,470 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $116,580
- Median hourly wage
- $56.05/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $122,230
- People employed
- 435,370
Versus all US occupations
At $116,580, Computer Systems Engineers/Architects earn 129% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $65,600 a year.
Versus computer and mathematical occupations
The median is typical for the Computer and Mathematical group, where the middle occupation pays $116,580.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $188,470 or more while the bottom 10% earn $55,940, a gap of 3.4×. That is an unusually wide spread, which usually tracks specialisation, employer type and years of experience.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 82% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
District of Columbia pays the most at $156,590, and still leads at $142,483 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Computer Systems Engineers/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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1District of Columbia | $156,590 | $142,483 | 17,200 |
| 2Maryland | $144,680 | $137,844 | 19,060 |
| 3Colorado | $139,580 | $135,446 | 11,800 |
| 4Virginia | $139,030 | $137,512 | 17,000 |
| 5Delaware | $137,470 | $137,734 | 860 |
| 6California | $134,440 | $121,423 | 80,150 |
| 7Washington | $128,940 | $120,490 | 14,360 |
| 8Connecticut | $127,720 | $123,270 | 3,100 |
| 9New Mexico | $127,090 | $137,824 | 1,650 |
| 10Hawaii | $120,100 | $109,230 | 2,080 |
Job outlook
Is Principal Solutions Architect a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Faster than average. +5.1% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Computer Systems Engineers/Architects | +5.1% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Faster than average
BLS projects employment of Computer Systems Engineers/Architects to change 5.1% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 24,200 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 27,000 openings are projected each year, 5.7% of the 471,200 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become a Principal Solutions Architect
Most principal solutions architects hold a bachelor's degree in computer science, engineering or information systems and have many years of experience as software engineers, systems engineers or architects. Professional cloud certifications, such as the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional, are common and often expected.
The usual path runs from engineer to solutions architect to senior architect, with promotion based on influence over large customer deals and technical outcomes. Strong communication and the ability to explain tradeoffs to both engineers and executives are essential. Some people join directly from senior engineering roles at customer companies.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Bachelor's degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
None
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Some 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 systems engineers/architects.
- Post-Secondary Certificate40.9%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree27.3%
- Bachelor's Degree22.7%
- Some College Courses4.6%
- Master's Degree4.6%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 40.9% |
| Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree | 27.3% |
| Bachelor's Degree | 22.7% |
| Some College Courses | 4.6% |
| Master's Degree | 4.6% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Principal Solutions Architect do?
Principal solutions architects are the most senior customer-facing architects at cloud providers, software vendors and consulting firms. They work with a vendor's largest or most strategic customers to design how those customers will build on the vendor's technology: migrating data centers to the cloud, building AI platforms, or redesigning systems for scale and security.
The job combines deep technical skill with influence. Principal architects lead design sessions with customer engineering teams, write reference architectures, build prototypes and help solve the hardest production problems. They also feed what they learn from customers back to product teams, publish technical content and speak at industry events. Many specialize in an area such as data, machine learning, security or networking.
Day-to-day tasks
- Design cloud and software architectures for strategic customers
- Lead technical workshops and design reviews with customer teams
- Build prototypes and proofs of concept for complex solutions
- Write reference architectures and technical guidance
- Help customers resolve critical production problems
- Relay customer needs to product and engineering teams
- Present at conferences and executive briefings
Typical tasks, researched by NueCareer from the sources below.
Working conditions and hours
Principal solutions architects work at cloud providers, enterprise software companies and technology consultancies. The work mixes remote collaboration with customer meetings, workshops and conferences, so travel is frequent. Schedules follow customer needs, and high-stakes migrations or outages can bring urgent work.
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 lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
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
- Reading Comprehension4.0
- Active Listening4.0
- Critical Thinking4.0
- Writing3.9
- Speaking3.9
- Active Learning3.6
- Monitoring3.5
- Mathematics3.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 4.0 |
| Active Listening | 4.0 |
| Critical Thinking | 4.0 |
| Writing | 3.9 |
| Speaking | 3.9 |
| Active Learning | 3.6 |
| Monitoring | 3.5 |
| Mathematics | 3.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Systems Analysis3.9
- Systems Evaluation3.9
- Complex Problem Solving3.8
- Operations Analysis3.8
- Programming3.5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.4
- Quality Control Analysis3.1
- Social Perceptiveness3.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Systems Analysis | 3.9 |
| Systems Evaluation | 3.9 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.8 |
| Operations Analysis | 3.8 |
| Programming | 3.5 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.4 |
| Quality Control Analysis | 3.1 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.0 |
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 data access and sharing 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
- Customer relationship management CRM 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
“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 Principal Solutions Architect?
NueCareer estimate (Holland code IEC) built on O*NET's Computer Systems Engineers/Architect profile, scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Principal Solutions Architect |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 4 |
| Investigative | 6 |
| Artistic | 2 |
| Social | 2 |
| Enterprising | 4 |
| Conventional | 6 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around organising, following procedures and working precisely with data, combined with investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data.
- Conventional5.8
- Investigative5.6
- Realistic4.1
- Enterprising3.7
- Social2.1
- Artistic1.9
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 Principal Solutions Architect
O*NET related occupations
- Computer and Mathematical
- Computer and Mathematical
- Computer and Mathematical
- Computer and Mathematical
- Computer and Mathematical
Network and Computer Systems Administrator
$99,130median a year
Most earn $63K to $155K
−4.1%Bachelor's - Computer and Mathematical
More computer and mathematical careers
Median annual pay, with computer systems engineers/architects highlighted
- Software Developer$135,980
- Actuary$130,000
- Data Scientist$120,230
- Business Intelligence Analyst$120,230
- Principal Solutions Architect$116,580
- Database Administrator$104,620
- Web Designer$104,000
- Computer Programmer$100,390
- Web Developer$92,650
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Software Developer | $135,980 |
| Actuary | $130,000 |
| Data Scientist | $120,230 |
| Business Intelligence Analyst | $120,230 |
| Principal Solutions Architect | $116,580 |
| Database Administrator | $104,620 |
| Web Designer | $104,000 |
| Computer Programmer | $100,390 |
| Web Developer | $92,650 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Principal Solutions Architect appears on
Questions
Principal Solutions Architect: frequently asked questions
How much do Computer Systems Engineers/Architects make?
Levels.fyi (Amazon company page) reports $439,000 (total compensation (base, bonus and stock) at the L7 Principal Solutions Architect level at Amazon, US, self-reported; one employer, 2026). BLS does not publish a separate wage for computer systems engineers/architects. It counts them within computer systems engineers/architect, whose median pay is $116,580 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of that occupation earn between $79,370 and $157,500, and the top 10% earn $188,470 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Principal Solutions Architect?
Yes. BLS reports a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education for Computer Systems Engineers/Architects, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as some preparation. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 40.9% hold post-secondary certificate.
Is Principal Solutions Architect a growing career?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 5.1% over 2025–2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 27,000 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Principal Solutions Architect do?
Principal solutions architects are the most senior customer-facing architects at cloud providers, software vendors and consulting firms. A typical task: design cloud and software architectures for strategic customers. Employers most often ask for Analytical or scientific software, Application server software, Business intelligence and data analysis software.
Which states pay Computer Systems Engineers/Architects the most?
The highest state medians for Computer Systems Engineers/Architects are District of Columbia ($156,590), Maryland ($144,680), Colorado ($139,580) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Principal Solutions Architect?
O*NET scores Computer Systems Engineers/Architects highest on the Conventional, Investigative and Realistic interest areas, so the work mixes organising, following procedures and working precisely with data with investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and 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.