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How to hire a security architect: 64 companies are hiring now

What you compete with, counted from today’s 90 open security architect postings: who is hiring, where, what they pay and how long postings stay up. Then six steps, each with a free template or tool.

Companies hiring now
64
Open postings
90
Median advertised pay
$203K
Remote
18%
Half are open for over
65 days

What you compete with

Companies hiring this work now64: Elastic (6), GuidePoint Security (5), Axonius (3), Accenture Federal Services (3), Snowflake (3), Kraken (2)
Countries named most🇺🇸United States (37), 🇬🇧United Kingdom (8), 🇮🇱Israel (5), 🇨🇦Canada (4), 🇵🇹Portugal (3)
Pay advertised$164K – $250K for the middle half; median $203K (28 postings with a yearly US-dollar range)
Postings that state pay42%
Where the work is doneRemote 18% · hybrid 11% · on site or not stated 71%
Experience askedMedian 6 years
Benefits named mostParental leave (22%), Equity (10%), Learning budget (4%), Relocation support (2%)
How long postings stay upHalf of today’s open postings have been up more than 65 days

Counted from the 90 open postings for this work on Nov 15, 2026, read from employers’ own careers pages and recounted on every update.

Which role do you need?

Close to security architect work, and often confused with it. Pick by the work you need done, then the guide for that role:

RoleOpen postingsMedian advertised payGuide
Security architect90$203Kthis page
Cybersecurity2,165$199KHow to hire
Security engineer1,648$204KHow to hire
Security analyst and incident response538$172KHow to hire
Penetration tester178$202KHow to hire
Security compliance (GRC)366$173KHow to hire

Six steps to hire a security architect

  1. Set the pay range first. Today’s 28 security architect postings that state a yearly US-dollar range offer $164K to $250K for the middle half. Three quarters of them offer more than the lower figure. 42% of the postings state pay; in several US states and EU countries the law requires it. See security architect pay in detail.
  2. Write the description. Start from the security architect job description template, then check it with the job description checker: the pay, the place of work and the must-haves should be clear before the second paragraph.
  3. Decide where the person can work. 18% of today’s security architect postings are remote and 11% hybrid. If yours is remote, name the countries or time zones; “remote” alone brings applications you cannot accept.
  4. Post it where people look. Post the job free on this site, add it to your own careers page and send it to people you know who do this work.
  5. Screen for the work, not the titles. Ask each candidate to describe a result from similar work, with a number. Score every candidate on the same points with the interview scorecard; the security architect interview questions show what good candidates prepare for.
  6. Decide quickly. Half of today’s open security architect postings have been up more than 65 days: a candidate who waits for your answer may be talking to other employers meanwhile. Tell every candidate when you will decide, and keep to it.

A take-home task for a security architect

  • Use a real, anonymised task from your own work: the kind of problem the person will meet in the first month.
  • Keep it to two or three hours, say so, and pay for anything longer.
  • Ask for three things: the result, how they got there, and one recommendation or next step.
  • Score every answer on the same points: correctness, clarity and judgement.
  • Talk it through in the next interview: how they explain their choices tells as much as the result.
  • Not sure yet? A short paid trial project or a contract-to-hire term lets both sides check the fit.

Questions about hiring security architects

How much does it cost to hire a security architect?
The pay is the largest part: today’s security architect postings that state a yearly US-dollar range advertise a median of $203K. Add advertising, agency fees if you use one and the hours your team spends interviewing; the cost per hire calculator on this site adds them up. Posting on this site is free.
How long does it take to hire a security architect?
Half of today’s open security architect postings have been up more than 65 days. A posting can close before the person starts, so plan for a few weeks more.
Where can I find security architects?
64 companies are hiring security architects on this site today. Post your job here free, on your own careers page and in communities where security architects meet; the table on this page lists the countries named most in today’s postings.
Should I hire a freelance security architect or a full-time one?
3% of today’s security architect postings are contract roles. Freelance suits a defined project with an end date; full-time suits ongoing work and anything that needs knowledge of your business. A paid trial project or a contract-to-hire term lets both sides check the fit first.
How much does a freelance security architect cost per hour?
Few postings for this work state an hourly rate. The median yearly pay divided by 2,080 hours is about $98 an hour; contractors usually charge more, since they pay their own taxes, holidays and insurance.

Everything about security architect work

See also: security architect job description template · 90 open security architect jobs · cost per hire calculator · all hiring guides