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The differences between architects and systems architects can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a systems architect has an average salary of $103,764, 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 systems architect are cloud, java, and python.
| Architect | Systems Architect | |
| Yearly salary | $86,635 | $103,764 |
| Hourly rate | $41.65 | $49.89 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 94,621 | 232,582 |
| Job satisfaction | 3 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| 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 systems architect specializes in designing and developing computer networks and systems for company operations. Typically, their responsibilities revolve around conducting research and analysis to identify a company's needs, devising strategies to reach particular goals, improving existing systems, and implementing solutions for optimal processes. A systems architect must also monitor the progress of all implementations, prepare progress reports and presentations, provide technical support as needed, and train new workforce members, all while adhering to the company's policies and regulations, including vision and mission.
Architects and systems architects have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Architect | Systems Architect | |
| Average salary | $86,635 | $103,764 |
| Salary range | Between $54,000 And $137,000 | Between $76,000 And $141,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Cupertino, CA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | California |
| Best paying company | Meta | Airbnb |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Automotive |
There are a few differences between an architect and a systems architect in terms of educational background:
| Architect | Systems Architect | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Most common major | Architecture | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Cornell University | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between architects' and systems architects' demographics:
| Architect | Systems Architect | |
| Average age | 45 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 76.7% Female, 23.3% | Male, 90.2% Female, 9.8% |
| 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% |