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The differences between architects and solutions architects can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a solutions architect has an average salary of $116,327, which is higher than the $86,635 average annual salary of an architect.
The top three skills for an architect include cloud, java and infrastructure. The most important skills for a solutions architect are cloud, java, and AWS.
| Architect | Solutions Architect | |
| Yearly salary | $86,635 | $116,327 |
| Hourly rate | $41.65 | $55.93 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 94,621 | 107,754 |
| Job satisfaction | 3 | 4.5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Average age | 45 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 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".
A solutions architect specializes in creating and implementing software systems that improve business operations and resolve network issues. They are primarily responsible for conducting research and analysis to assess the business's needs, develop specific designs for the company, provide solutions should there be any system issues, and keep company officials informed with all changes and updates. Furthermore, a solutions architect must lead and encourage development teams, stay up to date with the newest trends to continue innovations within the systems, and implement its policies and guidelines.
Architects and solutions architects have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Architect | Solutions Architect | |
| Average salary | $86,635 | $116,327 |
| Salary range | Between $54,000 And $137,000 | Between $87,000 And $154,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | California |
| Best paying company | Meta | Airbnb |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Retail |
There are a few differences between an architect and a solutions architect in terms of educational background:
| Architect | Solutions Architect | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Most common major | Architecture | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Cornell University | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between architects' and solutions architects' demographics:
| Architect | Solutions Architect | |
| Average age | 45 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 76.7% Female, 23.3% | Male, 86.6% Female, 13.4% |
| 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, 6.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 8.8% Asian, 12.0% White, 67.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 15% | 11% |