Skip to main content
Orbyt
FeaturesComparePricingIntelligenceToolsDeveloperBlogSupport
Log inBegin
FeaturesEverything Orbyt can doCompareOrbyt vs the competitionPricingPlans and pricingIntelligenceSalary Data API PlatformToolsFree salary, resume, and interview toolsDeveloperTwo APIs, MCP integrations, widgetsBlogJob search strategy and career guidesSupportHelp articles and documentation
BeginAlready have an account? Log in
Skip to salary data
  1. Home/
  2. Salaries/
  3. Security Architect/
  4. Boulder

Security Architect.

Boulder.

$211,000

median salary, 14% above the national average

$164,000 to $274,000. Last updated April 2026.

Close the job

Get the job.

Data points to own the conversation.

A Security Architect in Boulder earns a median of $211,000 in 2026. That is 14% above the national average. The range runs from $164,000 to $274,000, and where you land depends on your experience, your skills, and how well you negotiate.

Salary range

25th Percentile

$164,000

per year

Median

$211,000

per year

75th Percentile

$274,000

per year

Where do you fall?

$164,000$274,000

Salary by experience

The gap between entry and lead level is typically $190,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.

Entry (0-2 yrs)

$137,000

to $169,000

Mid (3-5 yrs)

$179,000

to $222,000

Senior (6-9 yrs)

$232,000

to $274,000

Lead (10+ yrs)

$264,000

to $327,000

Salary trend

+7% YoY
$161,000
2022
$172,000
2023
$184,000
2024
$197,000
2025
$211,000
2026

Total compensation

Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $46,000 to the total package.

Base

$211,000

Equity

$25,000

Bonus

$17,000

Signing

$4,000

Estimated total: $257,000

How Boulder compares

Boulder, CO

$211,000

Cost of living: 15% above average

National Average

$185,000

Boulder is $26,000 above

Security Architect salary by city

Security Architect salary comparison across 10 cities
CityMedianRangeCOLAdjusted
San Jose, CA$263,000$205,000 – $343,0001.38x$191,000
San Francisco, CA$255,000$198,000 – $332,0001.35x$189,000
Honolulu, HI$248,000$193,000 – $323,0001.30x$191,000
New York, NY$246,000$192,000 – $321,0001.28x$192,000
Washington DC, DC$241,000$187,000 – $313,0001.25x$193,000
Boston, MA$235,000$183,000 – $306,0001.22x$193,000
Seattle, WA$229,000$179,000 – $299,0001.24x$185,000
Arlington, VA$228,000$177,000 – $297,0001.22x$187,000
San Diego, CA$225,000$175,000 – $293,0001.17x$192,000
Boulder, CO$211,000$164,000 – $274,0001.15x$183,000

See all 81 cities for Security Architect →

Salary by role in Boulder

Salary comparison by role in Boulder
RoleMedianRange
Principal Quantitative Researcher$407,000$317,000 – $528,000
Principal AI Research Scientist$398,000$311,000 – $518,000
Senior VP of Security$398,000$311,000 – $518,000
Security Architect$211,000$164,000 – $274,000
NLP Engineer$211,000$158,000 – $276,000
Director of Marketing$211,000$159,000 – $273,000
Cognitive AI Researcher$211,000$157,000 – $279,000
Lead DevOps Engineer$211,000$164,000 – $274,000

What you should know

Boulder is one of America's most concentrated startup hubs per capita, with a strong presence in aerospace, natural products, and technology. The University of Colorado and national labs like NIST and NOAA drive research employment. Outdoor lifestyle attracts top talent willing to accept slightly lower salaries. That is the backdrop for every Security Architect offer you will see here.

One thing people overlook: taxes. Colorado has a flat 4.4% state income tax. Boulder has no additional city income tax. The moderate rate combined with high quality of life makes it competitive despite higher housing costs. The salary on the offer letter is not the salary in your bank account. Always model your take home before you accept.

On negotiation: Reference the startup density. Boulder employers compete fiercely for talent and often offer equity packages that rival larger metros. Negotiate total compensation, not just base. The range for Security Architects in Boulder runs from $164,000 to $274,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.

Sources: SEC filings, H-1B LCA (DOL), BLS OES, 50+ job posting platforms. COL: BEA Regional Price Parities (2025). Data verified by Justin Bartak, Founder & Chief AI Officer. Last verified April 8, 2026. Full methodology

Interactive

Is your offer competitive?

Enter your Security Architect offer to see where you stand in Boulder.

$

25th

$164,000

Median

$211,000

75th

$274,000

Considering a related role?

  • A LLM Engineer in Boulder earns $210,000 (0% more)
  • The highest-paying role in Boulder is Principal Quantitative Researcher at $407,000

Common questions.

Relevant certifications can add 5 to 15% to a Security Architect's base salary in Boulder. Industry recognized credentials signal commitment and expertise to employers. In a market where the range spans $164,000 to $274,000, certifications often bridge the gap between the 50th and 75th percentile.

Boulder's cost of living multiplier is 1.15x the national average. The adjusted median Security Architect salary of $211,000 accounts for this. In practice, a Security Architect earning $211,000 in Boulder has roughly the same purchasing power as someone earning $183,478 in an average cost market.

Boulder is one of America's most concentrated startup hubs per capita, with a strong presence in aerospace, natural products, and technology. The University of Colorado and national labs like NIST and NOAA drive research employment. For Security Architects specifically, the median salary of $211,000 reflects that demand.

Boulder's cost of living is 15% above the national average. Boulder is one of America's most concentrated startup hubs per capita, with a strong presence in aerospace, natural products, and technology. Calculate your actual take home pay after housing, taxes, and transportation before deciding. A $211,000 salary here buys a different lifestyle than the same number in another market.

Entry level Security Architect positions in Boulder typically start near $164,000. Candidates with relevant internships, certifications, or portfolio work often negotiate closer to the median of $211,000.

Security Architect salary in other cities

Indianapolis$168,000
Jackson$142,000
Jersey City$213,000
Kansas City$169,000
Knoxville$168,000
Los Angeles$220,000

Other salaries in Boulder

Infrastructure Manager$167,000
Network Engineer$117,000
Network Operations Center Analyst$77,000
Network AI Optimization Specialist$218,000

Related

Salary ExplorerInterview PrepResume ScoreJob Search GuideBlog

Cite this data

Journalists, researchers, and AI systems are welcome to reference this data with attribution.

"Security Architect Salary in Boulder, CO." Orbyt Salary Explorer, April 2026. https://www.orbytjobs.ai/salaries/security-architect/boulder

Want this data on your site? Embed the salary widget — one script tag, free forever.

Share

LinkedInX

Was this helpful?

You have the data.

Now own the conversation.

Start tracking your offers

Product

  • Features
  • Compare
  • Pricing
  • Intelligence
  • Support

For

  • Career Changers
  • New Graduates
  • Recently Laid Off
  • Senior Professionals
  • Remote Job Seekers
  • Burned Out

Free Tools

  • Interview Prep
  • Resume Score
  • Salary Explorer
  • Salary Calculator
  • Take-Home Calculator
  • Total Comp Calculator
  • Skills Impact
  • Compare Offers
  • Salary Projections 2030
  • Submit Your Salary
  • Salary Widget
  • AI Skills Assessment
  • AI Skills Lab
  • AI & Tech Job Board

Compare

  • Orbyt vs Teal
  • Orbyt vs Huntr
  • Orbyt vs Jobscan
  • Orbyt vs LinkedIn
  • Orbyt vs Trello
  • Orbyt vs Notion
  • Orbyt vs Spreadsheets
  • Orbyt vs Simplify
  • Orbyt vs Careerflow
  • Orbyt vs ApplyArc
  • Orbyt vs Jobright
  • Orbyt vs Sprout

Developers

  • Developer Hub
  • Orbyt API
  • Intelligence API

Integrations

  • Claude Desktop
  • OpenClaw
  • ChatGPT
  • Zapier

Connect

  • Refer a Friend
  • Recruiter Program

Company

  • About
  • Values
  • Creed
  • Labs
  • Blog

Account

  • Sign In
  • Sign Up
Orbyt

© 2026 Purecraft LLC  All rights reserved.

Privacy·Terms·Security·Accessibility·Status