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The differences between enterprise architects and software architects can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an enterprise architect has an average salary of $118,506, which is higher than the $114,406 average annual salary of a software architect.
The top three skills for an enterprise architect include cloud, infrastructure and roadmap. The most important skills for a software architect are java, architecture, and cloud.
| Enterprise Architect | Software Architect | |
| Yearly salary | $118,506 | $114,406 |
| Hourly rate | $56.97 | $55.00 |
| Growth rate | - | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 89,628 | 319,594 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Average age | 44 | 39 |
| Years of experience | - | 4 |
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.
A Software Architect develops new programs for a variety of technological devices for businesses, computer games, mobile networks, and/or operating systems. They ensure architectural integrity and consistency across the entire product and work closely with executives to explain the benefits of the software.
Enterprise architects and software architects have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Enterprise Architect | Software Architect | |
| Average salary | $118,506 | $114,406 |
| Salary range | Between $86,000 And $162,000 | Between $82,000 And $158,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Jose, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Levi Strauss & Co. | Aspiration |
| Best paying industry | Hospitality | Health Care |
There are a few differences between an enterprise architect and a software architect in terms of educational background:
| Enterprise Architect | Software Architect | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between enterprise architects' and software architects' demographics:
| Enterprise Architect | Software Architect | |
| Average age | 44 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 87.7% Female, 12.3% | Male, 93.8% Female, 6.2% |
| 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, 4.3% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.1% Asian, 30.0% White, 52.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 8% |