According to IT Jobs Watch, the average data architect salary in England rose 14.7%, from £82,500 in 2024 to £94,637 by May 2025. This guide helps hiring managers understand current salary trends, to help you make competitive, informed, data-driven pay decisions to attract top data architecture talent.
What is the Average Salary for Data Architects in the UK?
The overall average data architect salary in the UK is £72,754 per year, according to credible sources. This average salary varies based on experience, job title, industry and company size.
Here’s a detailed breakdown, using recent salary data from renowned sources such as Morgan McKinley, Talent.com, IT Jobs Watch and Reed:
Category | Salary Range | Average Salary | Median Salary |
Entry-Level (0–2 years) | £50,000 – £65,000 | £57,000 | £56,000 |
Mid-Level (3–5 years) | £65,000 – £85,000 | £75,000 | £74,000 |
Senior (5+ years) | £85,000 – £120,000+ | £95,000 | £93,000 |
Startups | £55,000 – £80,000 | £67,500 | £66,000 |
Medium to Large Enterprises | £80,000 – £115,000 | £90,000 | £88,000 |
Financial Services | £85,000 – £120,000+ | £100,000 | £98,000 |
Technology & IT | £75,000 – £105,000 | £88,000 | £86,000 |
Public Sector | £65,000 – £85,000 | £73,000 | £72,000 |
Regional Differences in UK Data Architect Salaries
Data architect salaries in the UK vary significantly by region and are influenced by factors such as local demand, cost of living, and industry concentration. This table is a breakdown of average salaries across key regions:
Region | Average Salary (£) | Salary Range (£) |
London | £92,500 | £85,000 – £100,000 |
South East | £82,000 | £75,000 – £88,000 |
Midlands | £75,500 | £68,000 – £80,000 |
North West | £73,500 | £65,000 – £78,000 |
South West | £72,500 | £65,000 – £76,000 |
Scotland | £70,000 | £62,000 – £74,500 |
Wales | £69,000 | £60,000 – £72,000 |
Northern Ireland | £66,000 | £58,000 – £70,000 |
- London consistently stands out as the region with the highest salaries for data architects, averaging around £92,500. This is primarily due to London’s higher living costs, increased demand for specialised data talent and concentration of major enterprises.
- For roles in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, salaries decline further, reflecting the reduced living costs and relatively lower demand for specialised data architecture roles in these areas.
Overall, regional differences in salaries for data architects illustrate a clear relationship between compensation and living costs, business density and demand for specialist data skills.
How Does Remote Work Affect Data Architect Salaries?
With the rise of remote work, geographical location is becoming less of a factor for data architect salaries. Remote roles typically offer competitive salaries that align closer to major city standards, particularly London rates, to attract high-calibre talent irrespective of location.
However, some remote roles may still slightly undercut traditional London-based salaries due to the perceived benefit of remote flexibility. This creates an attractive balance for professionals prioritising lifestyle flexibility alongside compensation.
What is the Highest Salary for a Data Architect in the UK?
The highest salary for a data architect in the UK typically ranges from around £100,000 to over £140,000 per year, especially for senior or lead roles within larger, established organisations. Positions at the top end often average this range, especially when factoring in bonuses, equity and extensive benefits packages.
High-earning data architects typically bring proven experience in areas such as:
- Scalable data solutions
- Cloud architectures
- Big data frameworks
- Data lifecycles
- Data governance compliance
They will usually be in charge of shaping data strategies and managing large, cross-functional technical teams.
These roles require the following to excel:
- Technical proficiency
- Strategic insight
- Strong leadership skills
- Exceptional communication abilities
- Effective stakeholder management
- Ability to create and implement organisational data strategies
Senior Data Architect Salary Alternative Perks Include:
- Generous performance-related bonuses
- Equity or stock options
- Premium healthcare and comprehensive pension plans
- Significant training and professional development budgets
- Flexible working hours and options for hybrid or remote working
- Additional lifestyle perks like gym memberships, wellness programs and executive travel allowances
What Factors Influence a Data Architect Salary in the UK?
Data architect salaries are significantly shaped by several factors, ranging from the company’s scale and industry niche to the individual’s professional skill set and qualifications. Understanding these factors helps benchmark accurate salary expectations.
- Company Size: Established enterprises offer premium salaries due to their larger budgets and higher project complexities. In contrast, startups or smaller companies may offer modest base salaries but compensate through equity shares, bonuses and growth incentives.
- Industry Specialisation: Data architects in highly regulated sectors such as finance or healthcare command higher salaries due to stringent compliance standards, data security requirements, and the critical role data plays in these industries.
- Skills and Technical Expertise: High-value skills include advanced data modelling, expertise in cloud platforms, big data frameworks and mastery of data governance and compliance processes. Data architects with expertise in data quality, security, analytics and machine learning integration are particularly sought after, driving salaries upward.
- Professional Memberships: Membership in recognised professional bodies, such as the British Computer Society, the Chartered Institute for IT, can enhance credibility and potentially justify higher compensation. Such memberships indicate dedication to ongoing professional development and adherence to industry standards.
- Certifications and Qualifications: Formal qualifications significantly impact compensation. Certifications like ‘AWS Certified Data Analytics’ or ‘Microsoft Certified Azure Data Engineer’ provide strong evidence of proven expertise, which employers reward with higher salaries.
- Knowledge of Specific Software and Tools: Proficiency with specific, high-demand software tools strongly affects earning potential. Expertise in tools like Power BI, SAP Data Solutions, and Oracle Database management tools is especially valuable, as it directly correlates to higher salary brackets.
In summary, salary levels for data architects depend heavily on factors such as company size, industry sector, skill set depth, certifications, professional memberships and specialised tool knowledge. Recognising how each factor influences compensation helps data architects strategically navigate their careers towards higher earning potential.
How to Determine a Competitive Data Architect Salary
Determining a competitive salary for a data architect is vital to attracting top-tier talent while managing budgets effectively. Salary benchmarking ensures offers align with market realities, supporting strategic hiring decisions.
- Use Reliable Market Data: Consult trusted industry salary guides from sources like Glassdoor, Payscale, or Morgan McKinley. This provides a reliable baseline reflecting current market expectations and trends. Alternatively, work with a recruiter specialising in data like Live Digital to help set a market-aligned pay bracket and source the right talent.
- Consider Experience and Specialisation: Align your offer closely with the candidate’s expertise and niche skills. For instance, architects with advanced certifications in cloud or big data technologies usually command higher salaries.
- Balance Salary with Benefits and Incentives: If budgets restrict base salary flexibility, consider balancing total compensation with performance-based bonuses, equity, or comprehensive benefits packages. Top candidates often value equity options or structured bonuses alongside a competitive salary.
- Adjust for Region and Industry: Ensure your salary benchmarks reflect regional differences and industry standards. Salaries vary significantly between sectors such as finance, technology, or healthcare and across locations like London versus other UK regions.
- Regularly Update Salary Ranges: Market rates fluctuate due to industry trends and economic conditions. Regular updates help your organisation remain competitive and attractive to skilled professionals.
- Clearly Communicate Career Development Opportunities: Many top-tier candidates prioritise growth and professional development. Clearly outlining potential career paths and training opportunities can strengthen your offer without substantially increasing upfront costs.
Attracting Top Talent Without Exceeding Budget Constraints
- Offer clearly defined career progression plans to offset moderate initial salary offers.
- Enhance overall attractiveness through hybrid working options, flexible hours or professional memberships.
- Emphasise cultural fit and workplace environment, as these often attract candidates even when compensation is closely matched by competitors.
FAQs about Data Architect Salaries
Are data architects highly paid?
Yes, data architects are typically among the best-paid roles in technology. Their deep technical expertise and strategic responsibilities justify high salary brackets.
What companies tend to hire data architects?
Large enterprises, financial institutions, healthcare organisations, tech giants and consultancy firms commonly hire data architects, reflecting their reliance on structured and strategic data management.
Are data architects still in demand?
Absolutely. With increasing data complexity and growing emphasis on data governance, data architects continue to experience strong market demand across various industries.
What is the typical career path for a data architect?
The career path usually begins in roles such as data analyst or data engineer, progressing through senior data engineer roles and eventually into a dedicated data architect position, often culminating in senior or lead data architect roles. Some data architects will go on to become CTOs who earn significant salaries.
Who earns more, a data engineer or a data architect?
Data architects generally earn more than data engineers, reflecting the strategic nature and senior-level responsibilities associated with architecture roles compared to engineering. Learn more about data engineer salaries here.
Is it hard to become a data architect?
Becoming a data architect requires substantial experience, specialised technical skills and a strong understanding of strategic data management. It’s challenging but achievable with the right professional experience and targeted skill development.
Get Help Hiring for Your Next Data Architect
Struggling to secure top data architect talent? Live Digital’s data recruitment experts can help you secure talented data architects. We can help you craft competitive offers, leveraging our deep market insight and headhunting approach to swiftly connect you with ideal candidates. Contact us today to begin filling your critical data roles.
