Technology
How to become a Solutions Architect
From cloud or software engineer: every step, how long it takes, and the credential it earns.
- Time to get there
- 3–6 years
- Typical pay
- $135k–$190k
- Starting from
- Cloud or software engineer
Pay is an estimate of typical US entry-level pay for this role and varies by state, employer and shift. The timeline assumes you are starting from cloud or software engineer and includes any licence or programme legally required, not just course length.
See solutions architect jobs open nowThe route
Build depth as an engineer first
Architects who cannot build lose the room. Several years hands-on is the entry price.
Get certified at professional level
AWS or Azure architect certifications, which assume real deployment experience.
Course that covers thisAWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate Practice ExamsUdemy · around $19.99AWS Certified Solutions Architect
Learn to write and present
The deliverable is a decision document and a whiteboard session, not code.
Take an architect or pre-sales role
Customer-facing architecture pays well and involves travel.
- Browse jobs now
Destination
Solutions Architect
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