What Does an Enterprise Architect Do? 2026 Career Guide

Key takeaways

• An enterprise architect maintains an organization’s information technology (IT) networks and services, ensuring they align with its overall strategy and leading them in their digital transformation efforts.

• Enterprise architect jobs require a combination of workplace skills, like communication and collaboration, and technical skills, such as graphical representation, modeling, cloud computing, and system integration.

• An enterprise architect is a professional who works in the IT department in various industries and oversees upgrading enterprise services, evaluating organizational technology, and managing architecture design, while potentially also managing a team to improve information technology (IT) infrastructure.

To become an enterprise architect, you’ll likely need to earn a degree, build a solid skill set, and gain field experience. Continue reading and explore the path to becoming an enterprise architect, including requirements, training needs, available certifications, and earning potential.

To begin building cloud technology knowledge and skills, enroll in the AWS Cloud Technology Consultant Professional Certificate. This nine-course, beginner-level series takes an average of four months to complete and offers you an opportunity to learn how to connect business goals and technical solutions while gaining a better understanding of cloud-based infrastructure solutions and developing skills such as teamwork, identity and access management, software architecture, and general model architecture.

What is an enterprise architect?

As an enterprise architect, you’ll maintain an organization’s information technology (IT) networks and services and ensure they align with its overall strategy, in addition to overseeing and leading them in digital transformation. In this increasingly important role, you’ll oversee, improve, and upgrade enterprise services, software, and hardware.

In addition to those critical functions, you’ll remain knowledgeable about the latest trends and technologies, ensuring the organization invests in the right technology. You’ll also monitor for software, services, and hardware that may help improve the organization’s processes and present these options to stakeholders. You may use artificial intelligence to aid you in real-time decisions, and creating faster models and analysis

What does an enterprise architect do?

As an enterprise architect, you’ll work heavily with enterprise data, but your job will also include working in the cloud and with SQL. On top of these technical responsibilities, you’ll also encounter business-focused tasks, such as strategizing, meeting business visions and goals, cost analysis and reduction, and more.

Enterprise architect tasks and responsibilities

Working as an enterprise architect will require completing many tasks and handling various responsibilities, including strategic planning, technology evaluation, architecture design and governance, risk management, stakeholder communication, and preparing organizations for changes. These may vary by organization, but some everyday tasks include:

• Coordinating a team and delegating responsibilities

• Improving a company's IT infrastructure

• Assess and improve company-wide aspects like organizational structure and processes.

• Testing software

• Developing and coordinating enterprise architecture

• Understanding a business's initiatives and IT strategies with it

Is AI replacing architects?

AI is not replacing enterprise architects; however, like many other positions, AI is creating shifts in the work and offering tools to help increase effectiveness. For example, the role of an enterprise architect now requires considering AI as a significant architectural element, including mapping out where the organization will host AI capabilities, how it will train its models, and who will oversee its governance. Additionally, AI-powered tools streamline enterprise architects’ tasks, enabling you to optimize workflow automation, identify and use AI-driven data insights, and support solution modeling and documentation.

Where does an enterprise architect work?

An enterprise architect works in the IT department in various industries, often in the office or in server rooms. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the leading sectors employing computer network architects, including enterprise architects, and the percentage working in each include the following [1]:

• Computer systems design and related services: 25 percent

• Finance and insurance: 11 percent

• Telecommunications: 9 percent

• Management of companies and enterprises: 9 percent

• Administrative support services: 6 percent

What skills do you need to work as an enterprise architect?

To work as an enterprise architect, you must develop a broad range of skills, including system integration, data architecture, and cybersecurity. Some additional essential technical skills to develop to help you become a successful enterprise architect include:

• Cloud computing

• Amazon Web Services (AWS)

• Modeling

• Graphical representation

• Enterprise applications

You’ll also need fine-tuned workplace skills, such as analytical thinking, organizational skills, negotiation, and communication.

How much does an enterprise architect make?

According to Glassdoor’s enterprise architect salary data, the median total pay for enterprise architects in the US is $210,000 [2]. This figure includes base salary and additional pay, which may represent profit-sharing, commissions, or bonuses.

How to become an enterprise architect

To become an enterprise architect, you will need a combination of education (typically a bachelor’s or master’s degree), experience, and skills, which include strong communication and collaboration capabilities. You must develop a solid understanding of how business and IT processes intersect and align, and cultivate leadership skills as you work to empower others. Consider the following guidance as you plan your path to becoming an enterprise architect.

1. Earn your degree.

Organizations typically look for enterprise architects with at least a bachelor’s degree in a related field, including computer science, business, or data science. According to Zippia, 67.2 percent of people with this job title hold a bachelor’s degree, 23.3 percent have a master's, and 5 percent have an associate degree [3].

2. Gain experience.

Once you’ve gotten the necessary education, it’s time to earn experience in related fields before you’re ready to slip into an enterprise architect role. Organizations typically seek a candidate with five to seven years of related experience. Enterprise architects often get their start in the software side as developers, software engineers, or programmers, but some also start as systems analysts or lower-level architects.

3. Consider certifications or coursework.

Earning a certification validates your enterprise architect skills and demonstrates your competency with relevant tools, frameworks, and best practices. Additionally, proving your competency as an enterprise architect through certifications can significantly enhance your job prospects and lead to increased compensation over time. Consider the following certifications that may help you excel in an enterprise architect role:

• AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Professional

• Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)

• Pega Certified System Architect (CSA)

• ServiceNow Certified System Administrator (CSA)

• EACOE Enterprise Architect

• ITIL v5 Foundation

• ITIL v5 Master

• Red Hat Certified Architect

• Salesforce Certified Technical Architect (CTA)

• The Open Group Architecture Framework (TOGAF)

Read more:Your Guide to AWS Certification

Learn more with our free IT and career resources.

Stay updated on the latest career trends, emerging technologies, and in-demand skills with our LinkedIn newsletter,Career Chat. Then, check out some of our other free resources:

• Take the quiz:Career Test: What Career is Right for Me Quiz?

• Watch on YouTube:Exploring IT Career Paths: Your Guide to a Rewarding Tech Future

• Plan your learning pathway:How to Start Learning Software Development: A Custom Course Guide

Accelerate your career growth with a Coursera Plus subscription. When you enroll in either the monthly or annual option, you’ll get access to over 10,000 courses.