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The differences between advanced software engineers and software architects can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both an advanced software engineer and a software architect. Additionally, a software architect has an average salary of $114,406, which is higher than the $101,121 average annual salary of an advanced software engineer.
The top three skills for an advanced software engineer include java, python and linux. The most important skills for a software architect are java, architecture, and cloud.
| Advanced Software Engineer | Software Architect | |
| Yearly salary | $101,121 | $114,406 |
| Hourly rate | $48.62 | $55.00 |
| Growth rate | 21% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 263,252 | 319,594 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
An advanced software engineer plans, designs, and develops software according to customers' requirements. They work with a company's IT branch. A software engineer's responsibility is to ensure that an application, software, or program is free from bugs, has a user-friendly user interface, and performs what it is programmed to do. They are also responsible for updates and troubleshooting after software is released.
A Software Architect develops new programs for a variety of technological devices for businesses, computer games, mobile networks, and/or operating systems. They ensure architectural integrity and consistency across the entire product and work closely with executives to explain the benefits of the software.
Advanced software engineers and software architects have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Advanced Software Engineer | Software Architect | |
| Average salary | $101,121 | $114,406 |
| Salary range | Between $80,000 And $126,000 | Between $82,000 And $158,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | JPMorgan Chase & Co. | Aspiration |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Health Care |
There are a few differences between an advanced software engineer and a software architect in terms of educational background:
| Advanced Software Engineer | Software Architect | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between advanced software engineers' and software architects' demographics:
| Advanced Software Engineer | Software Architect | |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 76.7% Female, 23.3% | Male, 93.8% Female, 6.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.5% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 8.3% Asian, 31.4% White, 50.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 4.3% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.1% Asian, 30.0% White, 52.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |