Solutions Architect Salary UK 2026: What the Data Shows

Understanding the solutions architect salary landscape in the UK is essential whether you're negotiating a new role, benchmarking your current pay, or planning a career move. This article draws on the latest official data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, alongside reputable sources such as Glassdoor and live job adverts from NHS England, to give you a clear picture of typical pay, regional differences, and seniority levels.

ONS ASHE: The Official Benchmark

The ONS groups solutions architects under the occupation code "IT business analysts, architects and systems designers." While not exclusively solutions architects, this is the closest official category. According to the 2025 provisional data (published in 2026), the median annual salary for all employees in this group is £59,593, with a mean of £66,303. For full-time employees only, the median rises slightly to £60,288.

On an hourly basis, the median rate is £31.07 for all employees (excluding overtime) and £31.14 for full-time workers. These figures are useful for converting between annual and hourly pay, but remember that actual contracted hours vary. A standard UK full-time week is often 37.5 or 40 hours; the ONS hourly figures are based on total paid hours including overtime.

Regional Variations: London Leads, Scotland Trails

Geography plays a major role in solutions architect pay. The ONS provides median figures for 11 GB regions, with London topping the list at £73,857 – about 24% above the UK median. The South East follows at £67,902, and the South West at £66,327. At the lower end, Scotland has a median of £47,701, the North East £49,429, and Wales £49,827.

If you're considering a move or remote work, these regional benchmarks are a starting point. Some employers apply a London weighting or regional allowance on top of base salary, which can significantly affect take-home pay.

Seniority and Experience: From Mid-Level to Principal

While ONS data covers all experience levels, other sources give a finer-grained view. Glassdoor's self-reported salary data (based on 1,652 submissions) shows a median solutions architect salary of £80,158, with a typical range from £63,995 (25th percentile) to £102,208 (75th percentile). Top earners at the 90th percentile report up to £129,862. These figures likely reflect a mix of senior roles and London-based positions.

A concrete example of senior-level pay comes from NHS England, which advertised a Senior Solution Architect role in April 2026 with a salary of £95,404 to £109,930 per annum. This includes a 20% Recruitment and Retention Premium (RRP) and is exclusive of London Weighting. Such roles often require deep technical expertise, stakeholder management, and experience in large-scale systems.

Converting Hourly to Annual: A Quick Guide

To convert an hourly rate to an annual salary, multiply by the number of hours worked per week and then by 52 weeks. The most common assumptions in the UK are:

• 37.5 hours/week: annual = hourly × 37.5 × 52 (1,950 hours)
• 40 hours/week: annual = hourly × 40 × 52 (2,080 hours)

For example, the ONS median hourly rate of £31.07 at 37.5 hours gives approximately £60,587 per year, close to the reported full-time median. Always check your contract for your exact contracted hours, as using the wrong denominator will throw off your calculation.

Use our Hourly to Salary tool to run your own conversions, or browse our salary data for more occupation benchmarks.

London Weighting and Other Allowances

London weighting is an additional payment to offset higher living costs in the capital. In the NHS England advert, the salary range is exclusive of London Weighting, meaning a candidate based in London would receive extra on top. Private sector employers may also offer a London allowance or a higher base salary for London-based roles.

When comparing job offers, always clarify whether the quoted figure includes London weighting, a recruitment premium, or other allowances. The ONS London median of £73,857 already reflects market rates, but individual offers may vary.

Caveats and Considerations

• Grouped occupation: ONS data covers a broad category; your actual role may differ.
• Self-reported data: Glassdoor figures are submitted by employees and may skew higher or lower depending on who responds.
• Overtime and bonuses: The ONS hourly rate excludes overtime; many solutions architects receive bonuses or profit share that are not captured in base salary.
• Contract vs. permanent: Contract rates are often higher to cover NI and pension costs; this article focuses on permanent employment.

Summary

The solutions architect salary in the UK ranges from around £49,000 in lower-paid regions to over £100,000 for senior roles in London or specialist sectors. The ONS median of £59,593 provides a solid baseline, while Glassdoor and live adverts show the upper end. When negotiating, consider location, experience, and any additional allowances.

For more insights, explore our salary articles covering other IT roles and UK pay trends.