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The differences between architects and architectural consultants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both an architect and an architectural consultant. Additionally, an architect has an average salary of $86,635, which is higher than the $72,886 average annual salary of an architectural consultant.
The top three skills for an architect include cloud, java and infrastructure. The most important skills for an architectural consultant are cloud, API, and java.
| Architect | Architectural Consultant | |
| Yearly salary | $86,635 | $72,886 |
| Hourly rate | $41.65 | $35.04 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 94,621 | 43,113 |
| Job satisfaction | 3 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
Architects are licensed professionals who specialize in art and science of design, building constructions, and structures. They play a vital role in the construction and not only responsible for the appearance but also the safety of users. They ensure that every structure is functional, safe, cost-effective, and suit the needs of the future occupants. They closely monitor the working progress to make sure that the project is built according to plan. Some architects are focused mainly on creating designs while some are exclusive in the production of building plans or "blueprints".
An architectural consultant is an individual who owns or works for an independent architecture or multidisciplinary design firm to develop innovative building design solutions. The essential skills that an architectural consultant should possess to accomplish his/her or her responsibilities include good creative ability and strong organizational, technical, and visualization skills. The education requirements for the job include possessing a college degree in architecture, business, or a related field.
Architects and architectural consultants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Architect | Architectural Consultant | |
| Average salary | $86,635 | $72,886 |
| Salary range | Between $54,000 And $137,000 | Between $40,000 And $129,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Franklin Town, MA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Meta | Slalom |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between an architect and an architectural consultant in terms of educational background:
| Architect | Architectural Consultant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Most common major | Architecture | Architecture |
| Most common college | Cornell University | Cornell University |
Here are the differences between architects' and architectural consultants' demographics:
| Architect | Architectural Consultant | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 76.7% Female, 23.3% | Male, 78.4% Female, 21.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 2.3% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 11.8% Asian, 16.0% White, 65.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 2.3% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 12.1% Asian, 16.4% White, 64.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 15% | 15% |