Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between information architects and user experience designers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become an information architect, becoming a user experience designer takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, an information architect has an average salary of $121,945, which is higher than the $91,159 average annual salary of a user experience designer.
The top three skills for an information architect include java, data architecture and data models. The most important skills for a user experience designer are sketch, UI, and user research.
| Information Architect | User Experience Designer | |
| Yearly salary | $121,945 | $91,159 |
| Hourly rate | $58.63 | $43.83 |
| Growth rate | 21% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 135,563 | 52,582 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Average age | 39 | 38 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 12 |
An information architect specializes in designing and developing user-friendly visual imagery that aims to inform and convey messages. Their responsibilities involve utilizing CSS and HTML software, creating websites and layouts, coordinating with the creative and design teams, and developing strategies to produce an attractive and functional interface. They must also understand the needs of the clients or company, drafting designs for approval. Furthermore, as an information architect, it is essential to maintain an active line of communication with team members for a smooth and efficient workflow.
A User Experience (UX) designer is an individual who measures and optimizes applications to improve the experience of end-users. His/Her or her duties and responsibilities include considering a design's human-computer interaction element, defining interaction models, and working with creative directors and designers. The key skills for UX designers include strong mathematical and problem-solving skills and excellent information technology and programming skills. Having a bachelor's degree in a design or computing-related subject is an advantage to qualify for the UX designer position.
Information architects and user experience designers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Information Architect | User Experience Designer | |
| Average salary | $121,945 | $91,159 |
| Salary range | Between $87,000 And $170,000 | Between $65,000 And $127,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Bruno, CA |
| Highest paying state | Oregon | Washington |
| Best paying company | BitGo | |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Start-up |
There are a few differences between an information architect and a user experience designer in terms of educational background:
| Information Architect | User Experience Designer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Graphic Design |
| Most common college | - | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between information architects' and user experience designers' demographics:
| Information Architect | User Experience Designer | |
| Average age | 39 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 66.9% Female, 33.1% | Male, 59.6% Female, 40.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.7% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 8.4% Asian, 29.3% White, 52.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 3.4% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 10.6% Asian, 10.4% White, 70.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 13% |