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Job outlook for senior data architects in the United States
Senior data architect job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected senior data architect job growth rate is 5% from 2018-2028.
About 8,400 new jobs for senior data architects are projected over the next decade.
Senior data architect salaries have increased 10% for senior data architects in the last 5 years.
There are over 22,007 senior data architects currently employed in the United States.
There are 150,336 active senior data architect job openings in the US.
The average senior data architect salary is $120,247.
Are senior data architect jobs in demand?
Senior data architect job and salary trends over time
Senior data architect jobs over time
Senior data architect job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 22,007 | 0.01% |
| 2020 | 28,554 | 0.01% |
| 2019 | 33,657 | 0.01% |
| 2018 | 19,867 | 0.01% |
| 2017 | 19,696 | 0.01% |
Average senior data architect salary over time
Senior data architect salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $120,247 | $57.81 | +3.4% |
| 2024 | $116,284 | $55.91 | +2.3% |
| 2023 | $113,652 | $54.64 | +2.0% |
| 2022 | $111,436 | $53.57 | +2.3% |
| 2021 | $108,918 | $52.36 | +1.5% |
Senior data architect jobs by state
Most common states for senior data architects
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 748 | 108% |
| 2 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 2,289 | 33% |
| 3 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 239 | 32% |
| 4 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 1,654 | 27% |
| 5 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 348 | 26% |
| 6 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 271 | 26% |
| 7 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 2,092 | 25% |
| 8 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 774 | 25% |
| 9 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 878 | 24% |
| 10 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 2,932 | 23% |
| 11 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 1,307 | 23% |
| 12 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 241 | 23% |
| 13 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 2,015 | 22% |
| 14 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 1,249 | 22% |
| 15 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 902 | 22% |
| 16 | Alaska | 739,795 | 166 | 22% |
| 17 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 2,176 | 21% |
| 18 | Georgia | 10,429,379 | 2,168 | 21% |
| 19 | Delaware | 961,939 | 198 | 21% |
| 20 | Vermont | 623,657 | 131 | 21% |
Most common cities for senior data architects
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Annapolis | 4 | 10% | $114,280 |
| 2 | Tallahassee | 9 | 5% | $103,919 |
| 3 | Hartford | 5 | 4% | $116,436 |
| 4 | Springfield | 5 | 4% | $105,868 |
| 5 | Atlanta | 13 | 3% | $103,107 |
| 6 | Des Moines | 7 | 3% | $100,936 |
| 7 | Boston | 15 | 2% | $117,111 |
| 8 | Tampa | 6 | 2% | $104,536 |
| 9 | Montgomery | 5 | 2% | $93,013 |
| 10 | Washington | 8 | 1% | $115,845 |
| 11 | Indianapolis | 6 | 1% | $96,299 |
| 12 | Miami | 6 | 1% | $102,065 |
| 13 | Sacramento | 6 | 1% | $146,102 |
| 14 | Denver | 5 | 1% | $101,553 |
| 15 | Detroit | 5 | 1% | $103,218 |
| 16 | Jacksonville | 5 | 1% | $103,154 |
| 17 | Chicago | 10 | 0% | $107,847 |
| 18 | Phoenix | 8 | 0% | $119,600 |
Senior Data Architect job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of senior data architect experts
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Missouri University of Science and Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
University of Florida
City College of New York of the City University of New York, The
Montclair State University
University of Missouri - St Louis
University of Rhode Island
Morgan State University
Nazareth College of Rochester
Lafayette College
University of Nevada - Las Vegas
SUNY at Buffalo
University of Oregon
What will help Senior Data Architects increase their earning potential?
Yipeng Yang: Enhance problem-solving ability. Keep learning and improving new skills in your field.
What Senior Data Architect skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Joseph Spivey: I think technology, especially artificial intelligence, provide increasingly important tools. Mathematics graduates will need to understand how to use technology in all kinds of new ways to improve their output and efficiency. Math graduates will need to be able to identify the best technological tools for a given task and critically interpret the output. As with most technological tools, people will be best served by using technology to augment, rather than replace, their efforts.
What will help Senior Data Architects increase their earning potential?
Joseph Spivey: My first piece of advice is to recognize that you have achieved something hard and worthwhile by completing a mathematics major. There are not many people on this planet who have the knowledge and skills that you have developed! By completing a math major, you have proven that you have excellent critical thinking and problem-solving skills, and these abilities and confidence in your abilities will pay off. I also think it’s worthwhile to identify a mentor early on who can help guide you to be successful.
What general advice would you give to a Senior Data Architect?
Dr. Michael Zhang: In the coming years, turning data into insights and driving business innovation and success is the new compass.
Dr. Steven Van Dessel Ph.D. Assoc. AIA
Associate Professor, Director Architectural Engineering ProgramWorcester Polytechnic Institute
Architectural Engineering
What will help Senior Data Architects increase their earning potential?
Dr. Steven Van Dessel Ph.D. Assoc. AIA: Starting salary is something they can/should consider – but it is often better for recent graduates to understand the growth potential with a particular employer/firm and understand what other benefits exist. We tell them to ask questions about the typical promotion steps within an organization, for example. Students that have taken the FE exam should highlight that – and ask questions in the interview about what mentoring there is within a firm to take the PE exam – it shows a positive level of professional attitude. Our students work for architects, engineering consultancy, contractors, etc. I think Bankrate listed AE as the most rewarding degree a few years ago – and one of the items listed was the diversity of office and fieldwork that makes employment enjoyable (i.e. not stuck in their office all week)
What general advice would you give to a Senior Data Architect?
Rebecca Dolgas: 2. The ability to implement VR, AR, and AI capabilities. Clients are coming to expect photorealistic renderings and to be able to walk through their space virtually. Having the skill set to implement these tools will be crucial in keeping clients informed and pleased with your work.
What Senior Data Architect skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Rebecca Dolgas: 3. Be aware of your strengths and don't be afraid to negotiate. If you have multi-faceted skillsets make sure they are known. For example if you do well maintaining your own social media make a point that you would like to assist with marketing in a smaller firm. A great Marywood specific example is how closely interiors and architecture learn together. Being able to have a collaborative spirit and bring both disciplines together can be invaluable. If you can show your interdisciplinary skill set, it will make you more valuable and thus able to negotiate for a better salary.
Heath Pickerill PhD
Assistant Teaching ProfessorMissouri University of Science and Technology
Architectural Engineering
What will help Senior Data Architects increase their earning potential?
Heath Pickerill PhD: By boosting your resume through participation in professional organizations and design teams within the field, as well as diverse work experience with on-the-job training through internships and co-ops.
What general advice would you give to a Senior Data Architect?
Paul Pettigrew AIA, NCARB, MIT M.Arch ʼ88: I think it’s a great time to be an architect. When numbers like close to 40% of the earth’s global carbon emissions are related to buildings being torn down, buildings being built, and operation of buildings, there’s no doubt that architects will be key players in future efforts to sustain the long term health of planet earth.
What general advice would you give to a Senior Data Architect?
Martin Gold FAIA: The most widespread complaint from people in the field is that it consumes ones attention, requires long hours, and relative to other professions, such as medicine, law, accounting, or engineering, the pay is lower on a per hour basis. On the other hand, architecture is more of an art than other professions and offers opportunities for creative people to have prosperous careers. The famous French architect Le Corbusier would say, architecture is a way of life.
Prof. Marta Bengoa Calvo
Full Professor of EconomicsCity College of New York of the City University of New York, The
Economics
What will help Senior Data Architects increase their earning potential?
Prof. Marta Bengoa Calvo: For soft skills: Critical thinking is always and will be always needed, attention to detail, know how to be a team player and empathetic. For hard skills: be able to manage projects in a timely manner, and always helps to have data management and analytic skills, quantitative skills.
What Senior Data Architect skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Louis Rocconi Ph.D.: With the advent of AI and the growing use of other technologies in education, the ability to utilize these new tools effectively and ethically will be critical. Questions such as “How can AI tools be used in a practical and ethical way to enhance the work evaluators do?” will become more crucial in the next few years. I also think data analysis skills and the ability to interpret results for a wide variety of audiences will continue to be paramount for future success in the field.
What will help Senior Data Architects increase their earning potential?
Dr. Sunhyung Lee: Pursue advanced education or specialized certifications to enhance your qualifications and increase your market value to employers.
What general advice would you give to a Senior Data Architect?
Ambrose Kidd III: Critical thinking skills will always be a priority, and the advancement of AI tools will only make that more so. Beyond that, I think the most in demand skills are ability to interdisciplinary work, particularly bioinformatics.
What Senior Data Architect skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Ambrose Kidd III: Having a broad skill set and being prepared to learn on the job. The highest salaries will be for those that get their foot in the door and then demonstrate critical thinking and leadership skills.
Ms. Jacqueline Kelley Esq.
Adjunct ProfessorUniversity of Rhode Island
Public Administration
What will help Senior Data Architects increase their earning potential?
Ms. Jacqueline Kelley Esq.: Offer to learn different skills and continue to take courses to gain new knowledge and certifications.
Dr. Jacqueline Holland EdD, CFCS
Associate ProfessorMorgan State University
Family And Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences
What will help Senior Data Architects increase their earning potential?
Dr. Jacqueline Holland EdD, CFCS: In the next 3-5 years, skills such as data analysis, digital literacy, and adaptability will become more important and prevalent in the field.
Dr. Heather Lewis
Nazareth College of Rochester
Mathematics
What general advice would you give to a Senior Data Architect?
Dr. Heather Lewis: While some students do look for jobs directly related to mathematics, most of our students have found that their mathematics background is appealing to employers even outside of mathematics. With a background in math, you can do anything: this is so general that it can feel unhelpful, but in our experience it's surprisingly accurate. Math provides you with a skillset that is valuable in almost any career, and employers know this. Lean into problem solving and reasoning, look for something you find interesting, and see how those skills apply to that job. Math graduates tend to be very adaptable.
What Senior Data Architect skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Amy Guisinger: I think that skills related to data analysis are going to be more important in the years to come. As collecting data is getting easier and less costly for firms, companies are looking for people who know how to use the data appropriately. Poor data collection methods and inaccurate models will lead to bad business decisions. These mistakes can be avoided by hiring employees with skills in data analytics and modeling.
What Senior Data Architect skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Grant Mosey Ph.D.: I would advise architecture students to be as flexible as possible. While NAAB accredited schools award 6,000 to 7,000 professional degrees per year, NCARB states that fewer than 3,500 architects reach licensure each year. This suggests that many of those educated as architects are actually finding work in allied subjects. I know of many graduates who are set to become architects who end up becoming real estate professionals, construction professionals, policy-makers, academics, and more. Even for those dead set on architectural practice, these opportunities in adjacent fields can open doors to more design-focused practice.
What will help Senior Data Architects increase their earning potential?
Grant Mosey Ph.D.: Familiarity with Building Information Modeling software like Revit is already all but a requirement to find professional work. Increasingly, firms are also looking for those who are capable of using visual programming like Grasshopper or Dynamo not only to generate forms but to optimize their workflow. In addition to those, professionals should familiarize themselves with modeling programs including SketchUp and Rhino and visualization platforms like VRay, Enscape, and Twin Motion. Soft skills like being personable and being able to present ideas extemporaneously will never go out of style.
What Senior Data Architect skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Elaine Chow AIA, RA, NCARB: Architecture licensure will help maximize salary potential, as well as pursuing other certifications such as LEED, CPHC, WELL, etc. Be your own advocate and request regular/annual reviews that allow you to highlight accomplishments and value you bring to your employer. If specialization appeals to you, there are opportunities to market yourself as an expert in a specific subject area.
What Senior Data Architect skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Darek Nalle: Attain credentials, focus on completing tasks efficiently, and communicate effectively to build relationships.
What will help Senior Data Architects increase their earning potential?
Dr. Darek Nalle: Seek out a mentor. Join alumni associations and professional societies for networking. Volunteer in the local community.
What Senior Data Architect skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
John Clark Ph.D., CFA, CFP®: In the next 3-5 years, I think the finance industry will see a number of opportunities develop for tech savvy graduates. In many areas, incorporating data analytics and understanding how to handle big data will become an important skill. Banks and insurance companies will continue to develop tools for underwriting and credit analysis. Investment firms will begin to utilize the tools of big data to provide clients greater customization at lower costs. Corporations will desire these skills to provide better data for decision making and to help deliver better outcomes for their customers.
What will help Senior Data Architects increase their earning potential?
John Clark Ph.D., CFA, CFP®: The job market for entry level jobs in finance has become increasingly competitive in the last year or two. Students or recent graduates need to position their resumes in a way that gets them noticed. Over the last year, many large companies have dramatically increased the use of AI to filter candidates. As a result, it is important for candidates to position their resumes to defeat the AI screener and increase the chances of being passed to a human. The best way to do this is to acquire and communicate competencies that the AI might deem worthy of further investigation. A great way to do this is by taking advantage of industry certifications. Certifications in technical tools like Excel, Python, R, Power BI, and SQL are available from a number of sources. Industry badges, credentials and progress towards Professional Certification can also garner some attention. Things like passing Level 1 of the CFA or perhaps completing certificate programs like the CFA Institute's certificates in ESG, Private Equity, or Data Analytics are good ways to get the attention of potential employers.