Career Spotlights:
Azure Technical Architect
Whatever the Microsoft Cloud role, use our guide to benchmark your salary or contact rate, or to uncover what you should be paying employees in your team.
How much do Azure Architects make?
| First quartile | Median | Third quartile | Contract rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States ($) | 135,000 | 160,000 | 190,000 | 115-166 (p/h) |
| United Kingdom (£) | 60,000 | 90,000 | 120,000 | 548-850 (p/d) |
United States ($)
| First quartile | 135,000 |
|---|---|
| Median | 160,000 |
| Third quartile | 190,000 |
| Contract rate (p/h) | 115-166 (p/h) |
United Kingdom (£)
| First quartile | 60,000 |
|---|---|
| Median | 90,000 |
| Third quartile | 120,000 |
| Contract rate (p/d) | 548-850 (p/d) |
71%
of Azure Technical Architects are satisfied with their job, up from 40% in our last survey**
59%
of Azure Technical Architects are satisfied with their salary, up from 40% in our previous study
42 hours
Permanent Azure Technical Architects work an average of 42 hours per week
48 hours
Freelance Azure Cloud Engineers work an average of 48 hours per week
* Survey responses in the remainder of this chapter are indicative only due to a limited number of Azure Technical Architects participating in the survey.
** Comparisons to the survey data in our last study are indicative only due to a limited number of Azure Technical Architects participating.
What factors impact your earning potential as an Azure Technical Architect?
| Important | Neutral | Unimportant | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Years of technical experience with Microsoft products | 92% | 6% | 2% |
| Exposure to large projects | 88% | 8% | 4% |
| Years of experience in IT | 80% | 16% | 4% |
| Specific vertical industry experience | 69% | 20% | 10% |
| Microsoft certifications | 55% | 29% | 16% |
| Working with AI | 55% | 31% | 14% |
| College/University degree(s) | 31% | 33% | 37% |
Years of technical experience with Microsoft products
| Important | Neutral | Unimportant |
|---|---|---|
| 92% | 6% | 2% |
Exposure to large projects
| Important | Neutral | Unimportant |
|---|---|---|
| 88% | 8% | 4% |
Years of experience in IT
| Important | Neutral | Unimportant |
|---|---|---|
| 80% | 16% | 4% |
Specific vertical industry experience
| Important | Neutral | Unimportant |
|---|---|---|
| 69% | 20% | 10% |
Microsoft certifications
| Important | Neutral | Unimportant |
|---|---|---|
| 55% | 29% | 16% |
Working with AI
| Important | Neutral | Unimportant |
|---|---|---|
| 55% | 31% | 14% |
College/University degree(s)
| Important | Neutral | Unimportant |
|---|---|---|
| 31% | 33% | 37% |
United States ($)
| First quartile | 111,000 |
|---|---|
| Median | 160,000 |
| Third quartile | 200,000 |
| Contract rate (p/h) | 110-160 (p/h) |
United Kingdom (£)
| First quartile | 50,000 |
|---|---|
| Median | 65,000 |
| Third quartile | 110,000 |
| Contract rate (p/d) | 500-650 (p/d) |
What steps should you take to become an Azure Technical Architect?
Education
Nearly four-fifths (79%) of Azure Technical Architects hold at least a Bachelor’s degree. However, only 41% consider a degree to be important to work with Microsoft Cloud, while 31% believe a degree to be an important factor when it comes to increasing earning potential.
Certification
Almost two-thirds (65%) of Azure Technical Architects who took part in our survey are certified, and 56% of those have undergone certification renewal to maintain their Microsoft Certified status. Meanwhile, 78% (slightly down from 77%) of certified architects see certification as beneficial to a professional’s value.
The Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate certification is an ideal entry point for anyone aiming to pursue a career as an Azure Technical Architect. From there, a wide range of intermediate certifications are available, allowing you to specialize in areas of Azure that interest you most, from AI or security operations to databases or development.
For those advancing in Azure architecture roles, the pinnacle certification is the Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert.
Top Microsoft certifications held by Azure Technical Architects
| Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert | 28% |
| Microsoft Certified: Dynamics 365: Finance and Operations Apps Solution Architect Expert | 19% |
| Microsoft Certified: Power Platform Fundamentals | 16% |
| Microsoft Certified: Power Platform Solution Architect Expert | 16% |
Paths that lead to becoming an Azure Technical Architect
As with many Azure roles, becoming an Azure Technical Architect is not a direct journey. That said, Azure Architects often have deep experience in cloud solutions design, which requires a combination of technical and strategic skills.
The common roles that often lead to this path include, but are not limited to:
Systems Engineer: Experience with infrastructure management, server configuration, and virtualization makes you well-suited to a Technical Architect role
Azure Administrator: Administrators with hands-on experience in managing Azure environments are well-prepared to design and architect solutions
IT Support Executive: Exposure to various IT systems and troubleshooting skills are useful for designing robust Azure architectures
Azure/Software Developer: Experience in cloud application architecture and Azure services offers a strong technical foundation for developers looking towards an architect role
Systems Engineers, Azure Administrators, and IT Support Executives can transition to Azure Technical Architect roles, especially with experience in designing and deploying cloud solutions and strong Azure-specific skills. Other paths are also possible, especially when bolstered by specific experience and relevant credentials.
What skills and experience should Azure Technical Architects have?
- Expertise in Azure app-related services including ASP.NET, .NET Core, Web APIs, Azure Functions, Service Bus, Event Grid, SQL Server, and Azure SQL Database
- In-depth knowledge of Azure infrastructure, products, and services
- Familiarity with operating systems like Linux, Unix, and Windows
- Strong understanding of networking principles such as TCP/IP, IP addresses, HTTP, and DNS
- Experience with cloud functionalities like virtualization and storage
- Familiarity with cloud concepts such as microservices and containerization
- Proficient in Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA)
- High-level knowledge of core security concepts
- Working knowledge of programming and scripting languages, such as PowerShell, Bash, .NET, Java, JSON, PHP, Perl, Python, and Ruby on Rails
- Understanding of cloud governance practices, particularly cost management
- Knowledge of DevOps tools and methodologies
- Skilled in gathering requirements, creating specifications, and converting business needs into technical solutions
- Ability to communicate complex technical concepts effectively to stakeholders at all levels
- Strong time and project management skills, including developing production and migration schedules
Solution Architect or Technical Architect or Enterprise Architect?
If you’re considering a career as an Azure Architect, there are multiple paths to choose from. The two most popular architect roles in the Azure ecosystem are Technical Architect and Solution Architect.
Although both roles require a strong understanding of Azure services, a Technical Architect typically focuses more on the hands-on work, including coding and system configuration. Meanwhile, a Solution Architect acts as the intermediary between the stakeholders and the technical team, ensuring that business requirements are met through technology solutions.
A Solution Architect’s role often involves analyzing project needs and developing the optimal approach using Azure solutions. They then collaborate with the Technical Architect, who is responsible for implementing the solution, setting best practices, and ensuring the configuration aligns with the project’s objectives.
Simply put: the Solution Architect designs, and the Technical Architect builds and executes.
Technical Architect roles are best suited for those who enjoy delving into the technical details of a system. On the other hand, Solution Architects excel with strong communication, problem-solving abilities, and experience in stakeholder management.
A third architect role you may encounter is the Enterprise Architect. Larger organizations often have more levels within their architecture team, offering more opportunities than smaller businesses or partner organizations. An Enterprise Architect is a senior-level position focused on aligning IT strategy with business objectives. They are responsible for selecting technology investments, planning the integration of new systems, and ensuring the overall IT environment effectively supports the company’s goals.
Since the Enterprise Architect role is typically more strategic and less hands-on than the other architect positions, individuals often transition into this role from backgrounds in project or program management. It requires a broad perspective and strong business and planning expertise.
