How to hire a web architect

Web architect hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring web architects in the United States:

There are a total of 154,995 web architects in the US, and there are currently 233,882 job openings in this field.
The median cost to hire a web architect is $1,633.
Small businesses spend $1,105 per web architect on training each year, while large companies spend $658.
It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
It takes approximately 12 weeks for a new employee to reach full productivity levels.
HR departments typically allocate 15% of their budget towards recruitment efforts.
San Francisco, CA, has the highest demand for web architects, with 3 job openings.

How to hire a web architect, step by step

To hire a web architect, you should create an ideal candidate profile, determine a budget, and post and promote your job. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to hire a web architect:

Here's a step-by-step web architect hiring guide:

Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
Step 3: Make a budget
Step 4: Write a web architect job description
Step 5: Post your job
Step 6: Interview candidates
Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new web architect
Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a web architect do?

A web architect specializes in designing and developing web applications and solutions. Among their duties include meeting with clients to identify their needs and preferences, conceptualizing plans and framework, generating codes and other materials, creating test structures to eliminate bugs, maintaining extensive records, and establishing security measures and policies. They may also provide technical support and guidance to staff during the projects. Moreover, a web architect typically works in a team setting, which requires an active communication line for a smooth and efficient workflow.

Learn more about the specifics of what a web architect does

Post a web architect job for free, promote it for a fee

Identify your hiring needs

Before you post your web architect job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a web architect for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

Determine employee vs contractor status

Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

Hiring the perfect web architect also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

Here's a comparison of web architect salaries for various roles:

Type of Web Architect	Description	Hourly rate
Web Architect	Web developers design and create websites. They are responsible for the look of the site... Show more	$40-70
Software Developer	A software developer is responsible for designing application systems to support the user and business' needs. Duties of a software developer include testing software codes, performing diagnostic programs and troubleshooting, interpreting system data and establishing efficient parameters, and ensuring the compatibility of the systems... Show more	$32-54
Lead Software Developer	A lead software developer is responsible for creating and designing software applications and systems to support business functions and client requirements. Lead software developers analyze specifications to build efficient applications, conduct multiple quality testing, and enhance the user's interface... Show more	$41-72

Create an ideal candidate profile
Common skills:
- User Interface
- WebSphere
- Java
- Architecture
- Web Application
- JavaScript
- Database
- CSS
- C++
- Infrastructure
- HTML
- API
- JSON
- UI
Check all skills
Responsibilities:
- Manage several active critical projects at once and lead a team of Java/J2EE developers, consultants and testers.
- Manage UI designer; help to develop look-and-feel.
- Manage a team of 4 backend and UI developers.
- Manage high transaction databases including all database objects, triggers, procedures, user rights and functions.
- Modify existing XSLT's for translation of XML data to HTML pages.
- Design and develop socket-based client / server applications using Java, XML and SQL.
More web architect duties

Make a budget

Including a salary range in your web architect job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A web architect can vary based on:

Location. For example, web architects' average salary in hawaii is 35% less than in idaho.
Seniority. Entry-level web architects 42% less than senior-level web architects.
Certifications. A web architect with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a web architect's salary.

Average web architect salary

$112,335yearly

$54.01 hourly rate

Entry-level web architect salary

$85,000 yearly salary

Updated December 15, 2025

Average web architect salary by state

Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
1	California	$141,153	$68
2	Massachusetts	$123,351	$59
3	Washington	$120,609	$58
4	Arizona	$116,372	$56
5	Colorado	$112,829	$54
6	Virginia	$110,732	$53
7	New York	$110,225	$53
8	Ohio	$109,488	$53
9	Michigan	$106,740	$51
10	Minnesota	$105,960	$51
11	Texas	$105,422	$51
12	Georgia	$104,573	$50
13	New Jersey	$104,146	$50
14	Illinois	$103,247	$50
15	Alabama	$102,865	$49
16	North Carolina	$102,851	$49
17	Kansas	$102,846	$49
18	South Carolina	$100,731	$48
19	Tennessee	$95,883	$46
20	Florida	$94,358	$45

Average web architect salary by company

Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
1	Apple	$151,173	$72.68	406
2	Walmart	$137,111	$65.92	272
3	ServiceNow	$136,342	$65.55	143
4	Citi	$135,481	$65.14	12
5	Adobe	$130,381	$62.68	49
6	TIBCO Software	$129,962	$62.48
7	Citrix	$129,316	$62.17
8	Mouser Electronics	$128,956	$62.00
9	WorldQuant	$126,945	$61.03	4
10	Allied Telesis	$125,666	$60.42
11	Forrester	$125,585	$60.38
12	Hitachi Vantara	$125,374	$60.28	1
13	Digital Realty	$124,927	$60.06	3
14	Arrow Electronics	$124,268	$59.74	10
15	Best Buy	$124,247	$59.73	1
16	Avnet	$123,377	$59.32	1
17	Agilent Technologies	$123,126	$59.20	4
18	OpenLogix	$122,963	$59.12	6
19	Mannatech	$121,507	$58.42
20	ICONMA	$121,477	$58.40	7

Writing a web architect job description
A web architect job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a web architect job description:
Web architect job description example
Santa Clara Valley (Cupertino),California,United States

Software and Services

+ Experience architecting large-scale applications

+ Familiarity with modern web front-end technologies React preferred (e.g. Angular, Vue.js)

+ Proven understanding of HTML and CSS

+ Strong object-oriented design techniques and reusable component design

+ Strong analysis, problem solving, and troubleshooting skills

+ Strong verbal and written communications skills

**Description**

As a lead developer on our team, you are responsible for driving towards sound implementation and timely delivery. You are good at managing development projects that span multiple functional teams with demanding deadlines. You are able to overcome technical challenges daily. In addition to crafting efficient designs, you recognize the importance of architectural design and iterative feedback. Quality is number one in your mind, and you make sure to write thorough unit and integration tests. Your close partnership with QA ensures the top quality of our product.

**Education & Experience**

BS in Computer Science or equivalent

**Additional Requirements**

+ - You will join a hands-on development team that fosters creativity and generates novel solutions to deliver engineering excellence.

+ - We partner with a variety of cross and multi-functional team members from a diverse array of groups across the company

+ - Are deeply accountable for your work? Your passion for product ownership and track record of product development will prove critical to your success on our team.

+ - You have excellent judgment and integrity with the ability to make timely and sound decisions

+ - Ability to stay focused and prioritize your workload while achieving exceptional quality

+ - You are upbeat, adaptable, and results oriented with a positive demeanor

+ - You bring passion and dedication to your job and are committed to our vision and supporting the developer community

**Apple Footer**

Apple is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to inclusion and diversity. We take affirmative action to ensure equal opportunity for all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, Veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics. Learn more about your EEO rights as an applicant (Opens in a new window) .

Apple will not discriminate or retaliate against applicants who inquire about, disclose, or discuss their compensation or that of other applicants. United States Department of Labor. Learn more (Opens in a new window) .

Apple is required to comply with a COVID-19 vaccination mandate issued by the New York City Department of Health. We will verify the vaccination status of all New York City team members who are working at an Apple Store, office, or partner store in New York City. New York City Department of Health Learn more (Opens in a new window) .

Apple will consider for employment all qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with applicable law. If you're applying for a position in San Francisco, review the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance guidelines (opens in a new window) applicable in your area.

Apple participates in the E-Verify program in certain locations as required by law. Learn more about the E-Verify program (Opens in a new window) .

Apple is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to applicants with physical and mental disabilities. Apple is a drug-free workplace. Reasonable Accommodation and Drug Free Workplace policy Learn more (Opens in a new window) .
Post your job
There are various strategies that you can use to find the right web architect for your business:
- Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
- Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
- Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
- Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.
Post your job online:
- Post your web architect job on Zippia to find and attract quality web architect candidates.
- Use niche websites such as dribbble, authentic jobs, working not working, coroflot.
- Post a job on free websites.
Interview candidates
Your first interview with web architect candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.
You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.
Sometimes, it's not enough to interview web architect candidates, so you can ask them to do a test project. If you are not a technical person and don't know what a test project should be, you can use these websites:
- TestDome
- CodeSignal
- Testlify
- BarRaiser
- Coderbyte
The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.
Send a job offer and onboard your new web architect
Once you've decided on a perfect web architect candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.
It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.
To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.
Go through the hiring process checklist
- Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
- Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
- Define job responsibilities and requirements
- Establish budget and timeline
- Determine hiring decision makers for the role
- Write job description
- Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
- Promote the job internally
- Process applications through applicant tracking system
- Review resumes and cover letters
- Shortlist candidates for screening
- Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
- Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
- Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
- Conduct background checks on top candidates
- Check references of top candidates
- Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
- Extend offer to top candidate(s)
- Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
- Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
- Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
- Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
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How much does it cost to hire a web architect?

Before you start to hire web architects, it pays to consider both the one-off costs like recruitment, job promotion, and onboarding, as well as the ongoing costs of an employee's salary and benefits. While most companies that hire web architects pay close attention to the initial cost of hiring, ongoing costs are much more significant in the long run.

You can expect to pay around $112,335 per year for a web architect, as this is the median yearly salary nationally. This can vary depending on what state or city you're hiring in. If you're hiring for contract work or on a per-project basis, hourly rates for web architects in the US typically range between $40 and $70 an hour.

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Updated December 15, 2025

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How to hire a web architect