Cloud Infrastructure Architects: How to Become One
If you were to ask a group of cloud infrastructure architects about how they arrived at their current job, there's a good chance you would get several different answers about the paths and steps that each person took.
That said, there are still ways that you can develop a baseline understanding of the preparation that is necessary to become one.
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has gathered data to provide you with insight into the type of education that's commonly required for cloud infrastructure architects to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of cloud infrastructure architects expect candidates to have. In the end, this information will help you create an education or professional development plan that aligns with your career aspirations.
Keep reading to learn more about career steps for cloud infrastructure architects.
What Education & Experience is Needed for Cloud Infrastructure Architects?
Do cloud infrastructure architects need a degree? What kind of experience do cloud infrastructure architects typically need? Thanks to data sourced from Lightcast™ from real job postings, we can get some clarity on those questions, as well as the level of education that is commonly required for cloud infrastructure architects to secure jobs.
Education Level Required in Job Postings for Cloud Infrastructure Architects
Jobs Postings for Cloud Infrastructure Architects By Education
- Bachelor's degree: 62,568 (46%)
- No Education Listed: 35,515 (26%)
- Master's degree: 22,180 (16%)
- High School or GED: 11,633 (9%)
- Ph.D. or professional degree: 4,419 (3%)
A bachelor's degree is the level of education sought the most by employers of cloud infrastructure architects. According to job data, a bachelor's degree was required for 46% of positions. In 26% of job listings no education level was listed and in 16% of postings a master's degree was required.
Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Cloud Infrastructure Architects
Jobs Postings for Cloud Infrastructure Architects By Experience
- 0-1 Years: 6,618 (9%)
- 2-3 Years: 17,819 (24%)
- 4-6 Years: 23,467 (31%)
- 7-9 Years: 12,519 (17%)
- 10+ Years: 14,198 (19%)
While the amount of required experience will vary based on the responsibility and seniority of the position, an aggregate view of job posting data can help paint a picture of the experience level sought for most job openings for cloud infrastructure architects. In 31% of job postings for Cloud Infrastructure Architects, employers were looking for candidates with 4-6 years of experience. In 24% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience, while 10+ years of experience was sought in 19% of job postings for cloud infrastructure architects.
What Kind of Degree Do Cloud Infrastructure Architects Need?
So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for cloud infrastructure architects, but what type of education or degree will help prepare you for a career in the field?
According to occupational data obtained through Lightcast,™ there are 20 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective cloud infrastructure architects, and in 2023 a total of 219,690 of those programs were completed at institutions in the United States.
Check out the information below to learn more about the specific programs that should be considered by prospective cloud infrastructure architects.
Top Degree Programs for Cloud Infrastructure Architects
Top 5 Degree Programs for Cloud Infrastructure Architects (2023)
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Computer Science. | 72,432 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General. | 62,365 |
| Information Technology. | 35,591 |
| Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications. | 12,850 |
| Management Information Systems, General. | 10,110 |
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Computer Science. | 72,432 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General. | 62,365 |
| Information Technology. | 35,591 |
| Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications. | 12,850 |
| Management Information Systems, General. | 10,110 |
| Data Science, General. | 4,387 |
| Data Modeling/Warehousing and Database Administration. | 3,494 |
| Computer/Information Technology Services Administration and Management, Other. | 3,190 |
| Computer Systems Analysis/Analyst. | 2,835 |
| Medical Informatics. | 2,611 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, Other. | 2,301 |
| Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services, Other. | 2,000 |
| Data Processing and Data Processing Technology/Technician. | 1,927 |
| Computer Software and Media Applications, Other. | 1,762 |
| Cloud Computing. | 730 |
| Web/Multimedia Management and Webmaster. | 682 |
| Management Information Systems and Services, Other. | 318 |
| Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications, Other. | 72 |
| Data Science, Other. | 29 |
| Medical Illustration and Informatics, Other. | 4 |
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What Skills Do Cloud Infrastructure Architects Need?
Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by cloud infrastructure architects to secure a job?
A good way to understand this is to examine actual job postings for skills commonly sought by employers. Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for cloud infrastructure architects, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Cloud Infrastructure Architects
Based on 111,022 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Cloud Infrastructure Architects
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| SQL (Programming Language) | 28,142 | 25% |
| Data Management | 25,123 | 23% |
| Computer Science | 24,399 | 22% |
| Data Analysis | 24,001 | 22% |
| Project Management | 19,108 | 17% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Cloud Infrastructure Architects
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 49,096 | 44% |
| Management | 41,989 | 38% |
| Leadership | 29,659 | 27% |
| Operations | 25,601 | 23% |
| Problem Solving | 24,438 | 22% |
Based on 111,022 job postings related to cloud infrastructure architects, sql (programming language) was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 25% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for data management, computer science, data analysis, project management and data governance were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communication was the most desired skill found in job postings for cloud infrastructure architects, followed by management, leadership, operations, problem solving and research.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| SQL (Programming Language) | 28,142 | 25% |
| Data Management | 25,123 | 23% |
| Computer Science | 24,399 | 22% |
| Data Analysis | 24,001 | 22% |
| Project Management | 19,108 | 17% |
| Data Governance | 17,740 | 16% |
| Data Modeling | 17,271 | 16% |
| Data Warehousing | 17,190 | 15% |
| Data Quality | 17,166 | 15% |
| Python (Programming Language) | 16,087 | 14% |
| Data Architecture | 15,725 | 14% |
| Extract Transform Load (ETL) | 15,005 | 14% |
| Agile Methodology | 14,891 | 13% |
| Amazon Web Services | 13,789 | 12% |
| Microsoft Azure | 13,016 | 12% |
| Business Intelligence | 11,442 | 10% |
| Automation | 11,104 | 10% |
| Auditing | 11,072 | 10% |
| Workflow Management | 10,733 | 10% |
| Business Requirements | 9,717 | 9% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 49,096 | 44% |
| Management | 41,989 | 38% |
| Leadership | 29,659 | 27% |
| Operations | 25,601 | 23% |
| Problem Solving | 24,438 | 22% |
| Research | 18,865 | 17% |
| Planning | 18,854 | 17% |
| Writing | 17,905 | 16% |
| Detail Oriented | 17,649 | 16% |
| Customer Service | 16,204 | 15% |
| Microsoft Excel | 14,511 | 13% |
| Troubleshooting (Problem Solving) | 13,812 | 12% |
| Innovation | 13,551 | 12% |
| Presentations | 13,467 | 12% |
| Governance | 12,905 | 12% |
| Microsoft Office | 11,983 | 11% |
| Information Technology | 11,850 | 11% |
| Coordinating | 11,636 | 10% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 11,557 | 10% |
| Influencing Skills | 11,157 | 10% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information about cloud infrastructure architects? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for cloud infrastructure architects.
What do cloud infrastructure architects do?
How much do cloud infrastructure architects make?
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