Technology · Level S3 · Salary
Security Architect salary
Typical total compensation (US national)
$290,000–$370,000
Base
$215,000
Bonus
$30,000
Equity (annual)
$80,000
Indicative, sourced — not a guarantee. 6figr Security Architect 2026 avg $225k (range $169k-$531k, top 10% >$360k)
Pay by metro — nominal vs cost-adjusted
“Real” adjusts for cost of living, so a high headline number in an expensive metro can be worth less in practice. Ranked by real pay.
| Metro | Nominal | Real (cost-adjusted) |
|---|---|---|
| Austin | $341,250 | $334,559 |
| Remote (US national) | $325,000 | $325,000 |
| Atlanta | $318,500 | $325,000 |
| Seattle | $383,500 | $319,583 |
| Chicago | $325,000 | $300,926 |
| Denver | $325,000 | $295,455 |
| Boston | $351,000 | $260,000 |
| New York City | $383,500 | $247,419 |
| Los Angeles | $351,000 | $242,069 |
| San Francisco Bay Area | $406,250 | $225,694 |