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The differences between enterprise architects and principal architects can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a principal architect has an average salary of $133,276, which is higher than the $118,506 average annual salary of an enterprise architect.
The top three skills for an enterprise architect include cloud, infrastructure and roadmap. The most important skills for a principal architect are cloud, infrastructure, and emerging technologies.
| Enterprise Architect | Principal Architect | |
| Yearly salary | $118,506 | $133,276 |
| Hourly rate | $56.97 | $64.08 |
| Growth rate | - | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 89,628 | 118,908 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
An enterprise architect is responsible for evaluating systems to develop business operations, ensuring efficiency and profit growth. They mostly establish architectural models according to business plans and existing systems, perform research and analysis, recommend changes in the information technology structures, and conduct skills assessment to determine the needs of employees. One may also spearhead training programs for new employees, coordinate with different departments, and suggest alternatives for cost reduction. Furthermore, as an enterprise architect, it is essential to implement the company's policies and regulations, including its vision and mission.
Principal Architects manage all design work at an architecture firm. They ensure that all work is of high professional quality and manage the activity of other design professionals.
Enterprise architects and principal architects have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Enterprise Architect | Principal Architect | |
| Average salary | $118,506 | $133,276 |
| Salary range | Between $86,000 And $162,000 | Between $97,000 And $181,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Jose, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Levi Strauss & Co. | |
| Best paying industry | Hospitality | Technology |
There are a few differences between an enterprise architect and a principal architect in terms of educational background:
| Enterprise Architect | Principal Architect | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Architecture |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between enterprise architects' and principal architects' demographics:
| Enterprise Architect | Principal Architect | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 87.7% Female, 12.3% | Male, 89.3% Female, 10.7% |
| 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% |