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The differences between information technology architects and information technology consultants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an information technology architect has an average salary of $116,007, which is higher than the $84,790 average annual salary of an information technology consultant.
The top three skills for an information technology architect include cloud, java and emerging technologies. The most important skills for an information technology consultant are customer service, database, and project management.
| Information Technology Architect | Information Technology Consultant | |
| Yearly salary | $116,007 | $84,790 |
| Hourly rate | $55.77 | $40.76 |
| Growth rate | 16% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 156,730 | 142,475 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Average age | 44 | 43 |
| Years of experience | - | 6 |
An information technology architect is responsible for designing and creating new technology systems and optimizing the performance of existing ones. Information technology architects analyze the business needs and client requirements to identify system features and technology infrastructure according to budget limitations and timetables. They also consider the public demands and technology trends to ensure that the deliverables would reach the audience's interest to boost awareness and attract potential clients, generating more resources for revenues. An information technology architect should have excellent technical and project management skills, especially on implementing technology solutions and running diagnostic tests to measure systems compatibility.
An Information Technology Consultant, also known as IT Consultant, is responsible for sharing extensive knowledge of Information Technology by providing suggestions and solving issues within the company. Among the duties include installing and maintaining the necessary software and hardware, designing new procedures, overseeing all implementations, and ensuring that all systems are running smoothly, employing methods to secure databases, and providing essential instructions when needed. Furthermore, an Information Technology Consultant needs to coordinate and report to management or supervisors at all times.
Information technology architects and information technology consultants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Information Technology Architect | Information Technology Consultant | |
| Average salary | $116,007 | $84,790 |
| Salary range | Between $88,000 And $152,000 | Between $62,000 And $115,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | California | Washington |
| Best paying company | Mayo Clinic | California Resources |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Finance |
There are a few differences between an information technology architect and an information technology consultant in terms of educational background:
| Information Technology Architect | Information Technology Consultant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between information technology architects' and information technology consultants' demographics:
| Information Technology Architect | Information Technology Consultant | |
| Average age | 44 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 87.4% Female, 12.6% | Male, 83.4% Female, 16.6% |
| 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, 10.5% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.2% Asian, 14.5% White, 58.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 8% |