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The differences between chief architects and systems architects can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a chief architect has an average salary of $168,836, which is higher than the $103,764 average annual salary of a systems architect.
The top three skills for a chief architect include cloud, infrastructure and digital transformation. The most important skills for a systems architect are cloud, java, and python.
| Chief Architect | Systems Architect | |
| Yearly salary | $168,836 | $103,764 |
| Hourly rate | $81.17 | $49.89 |
| Growth rate | 21% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 98,518 | 232,582 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
Chief architects are C-level executives in information technology (IT) who look at IT functions that may be centralized for seamless collaboration. They are also called enterprise architects who design and manage the software release team base on the scrum/agile development methodologies. Their job involves systems analysis, and they project plan in transitioning the Internet operation of MCI to wireless and cable platforms. Also, they offer a disaster recovery solution for a virtual or physical server to a data center in the cloud.
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.
Chief architects and systems architects have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Chief Architect | Systems Architect | |
| Average salary | $168,836 | $103,764 |
| Salary range | Between $111,000 And $255,000 | Between $76,000 And $141,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Cupertino, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | Zscaler | Airbnb |
| Best paying industry | Retail | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a chief architect and a systems architect in terms of educational background:
| Chief Architect | Systems Architect | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between chief architects' and systems architects' demographics:
| Chief Architect | Systems Architect | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 92.7% Female, 7.3% | Male, 90.2% Female, 9.8% |
| Race ratio | 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% | 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 | 11% | 11% |