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Software Architect
San Diego
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Software Architect Salary and Equity in San Diego 2026

How much does a Software Architect expect to make at San Diego-based startups? The average expected salary for Software Architects in San Diego-based startups is 231k per year, with a range from 119k to 286k. These amounts were gathered from Wellfound self-reported data and represent the median salary range. The salary range for Software Architects in San Diego startups varies depending on factors such as industry, experience, skills, and startup stage.

231.3k

Average Salary

3 years

Average years of experience

Hiring data hero image

Salary

By quarter
The average salary for a Software Architect in San Diego is $231,250, which is 102.8% higher than the average San Diego startup salary of$114,042. Software Architect salaries in San Diego are based on exclusive Wellfound data. All data is updated on a weekly basis. Factors that may influence salary include: years of experience, title, size of company, skill-set, and industry.

Top of market

$274,125/yr

Range $240k - $286k

Average

$231,250/yr

Range $138k - $263k

Below Average

$190,875/yr

Range $119k - $263k


Industries

The highest average salary a Software Architect in San Diego can get in Aerial Robotics , that is $262,500. This pay is 11.4% higher than the average Software Architect salary in San Diego, which is $235,600. The highest-paying industries in 2023 are: Aerial Robotics (avg $262,500 per year), Software Engineering (avg $262,500 per year), Artificial Intelligence (avg $262,500 per year).

Tech Stack

The highest average salary a Software Architect in San Diego can get with Python, that is $118,500. This pay is 3.9% higher than the average salary in San Diego startups, which is $114,042. Salary range for specific skills will vary based on the supply and demand in the current market.
The top-paying Software Architect skills in San Diego of 2026 are:
  • 1. Python

    $118.5k

  • 2. Machine Learning

    $118.5k

  • 3. SQL

    $118.5k

  • 4. Splunk

    $118.5k

  • 5. Docker

    $118.5k

  • 6. AWS

    $118.5k

  • 7. Kubernetes

    $118.5k

  • 8. Prometheus

    $118.5k

  • 9. Amazon ECS

    $118.5k


Years of experience

Below Average

Average

Top of Market

The highest average salary a Software Architect in San Diego can get with 4-6 years of experience, that is $118,500. This pay is 3.9% higher than the average salary in San Diego startups, which is $114,042. The salary range varies with years of experience and depends on other factors such as skill set, size of company, and industry.