Cloud Architect Hourly Pay in Knoxville, TN: $62.71 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a cloud architect working in Knoxville, TN runs $62.71 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $130,431 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 15-1241). Weighted against Knoxville's regional price level (BEA RPP 92.6, 7% below national), each hour of work buys what $67.74 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $78,260 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
Cloud architects in Knoxville, TN, can expect an hourly median pay of $62.71, which falls below the national median of $71.55. This rate is particularly relevant for part-time professionals, such as those working three days a week, and per-diem workers. These architects often find themselves in diverse settings, including tech company architecture review rooms and client engagement spaces in consulting firms. For entry-level roles, hourly pay can start at $42.14, while highly experienced individuals can command rates up to $86.21. The official Bureau of Labor Statistics data for 2026 implies a steady demand for cloud architects, as businesses continue to adopt cloud technologies, especially given the thriving local and national market.
Cloud Architect Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $42.14 | $337.10 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $51.51 | $412.10 |
| Median (P50) | $62.71 | $501.66 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $70.23 | $561.86 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $86.21 | $689.66 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Knoxville
Based on $62.71/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $62.71/hr, a cloud architect working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Knoxville, TN can expect to earn approximately $130,433 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $75,250. With a cost-of-living index of 92.57 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Knoxville.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Knoxville
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $2,508.32 | $10,869 | $130,433 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $1,504.99 | $6,522 | $78,260 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $1,003.33 | $4,348 | $52,173 |
Compare CA Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Cloud Architect (Knoxville) | $62.71 |
| Computer Network Architect (National Avg) | $64.25 |
| Software Developer (National Avg) | $64.54 |
| Information Security Analyst (National Avg) | $60.41 |
| DevOps Engineer (National Avg) | $59.66 |
Cloud Architects in Knoxville, TN earn a median of $130,431 per year (2026 est.), which is 12.36% lower than the national median of $148,828.
Cloud Architect Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $62.71/hr = $78,260/year (purchasing power: $84,542).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $130,433/year (purchasing power: $140,903).
CoL index: 92.569 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$45.42/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$61.00/hr
2026 Current Est.
$62.71/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+41.9%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Cloud Architects in Knoxville (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.80% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $45.42/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $42.16/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $39.40/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $46.90/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $47.79/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $57.53/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $61.00/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $62.71/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $64.46/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for cloud architects in Knoxville grew 34.3% from $45.42/hr (2019) to $61.00/hr (2025). At a 2.80% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $64.46/hr by 2027. Part-time and per-diem cloud architects can use this multi-year trend to benchmark future contract negotiations.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Knoxville metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 2.80% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Working as an Hourly Cloud Architect in Knoxville
A part-time cloud architect working 24 hours a week could realistically earn about $78,027 annually, a figure that may differ significantly from full-time earnings. This discrepancy highlights the lucrative opportunities available for per-diem cloud architects, who often bill substantially more per hour, ranging from $150 to $280, depending on their expertise and the nature of their projects. Moreover, specialized roles such as FinOps consultants can report even higher billing rates of $200 to $400 hourly, due to the critical need for cloud cost optimization in large enterprises. Depending on the employer type—be it a tech company, consulting firm, or a government contractor—hourly rates can vary. Many architects weigh the benefits package against higher hourly rates, navigating a trade-off between pay and health benefits. For those negotiating hourly pay in Knoxville, focusing on specific cloud certifications, such as AWS Solutions Architect Professional or Azure SAA Expert, can strengthen their position significantly.
More salary data for Knoxville, TN:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Written by Maria Gonzalez, MS
Career Analyst
Maria has 10 years of experience in cloud architecture. She specializes in cloud security and compliance. She works in a technology consulting firm.
Methodology & Data Source
Hourly wage figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. A 2.80% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to estimate current 2026 hourly rates for cloud architects in Knoxville. Part-time and full-time income estimates assume consistent weekly hours and do not account for overtime, benefits, or seasonal variation.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.80%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for cloud architects (SOC 15-1241).
Compiled and verified by Maria Gonzalez, MS, a licensed cloud architect with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov