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The differences between information technology architects and information technology directors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an information technology director has an average salary of $138,906, which is higher than the $116,007 average annual salary of an information technology architect.
The top three skills for an information technology architect include cloud, java and emerging technologies. The most important skills for an information technology director are customer service, project management, and cloud.
| Information Technology Architect | Information Technology Director | |
| Yearly salary | $116,007 | $138,906 |
| Hourly rate | $55.77 | $66.78 |
| Growth rate | 16% | 16% |
| Number of jobs | 156,730 | 87,765 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Average age | 44 | 47 |
| Years of experience | - | 8 |
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 (IT) Director is an individual responsible for the management, strategy, and execution of an organization's IT infrastructure. He/She supervises a team of workers while working with the organization's management and external vendors and advisors. Aside from managing workers, an IT director should possess problem-solving skills and an aptitude for organizational thinking. An IT director must also identify new market opportunities and should lead an effort to improve the organization's IT process.
Information technology architects and information technology directors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Information Technology Architect | Information Technology Director | |
| Average salary | $116,007 | $138,906 |
| Salary range | Between $88,000 And $152,000 | Between $97,000 And $197,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Mayo Clinic | The Tipping Point |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Technology |
There are a few differences between an information technology architect and an information technology director in terms of educational background:
| Information Technology Architect | Information Technology Director | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Carnegie Mellon University |
Here are the differences between information technology architects' and information technology directors' demographics:
| Information Technology Architect | Information Technology Director | |
| Average age | 44 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 87.4% Female, 12.6% | Male, 88.1% Female, 11.9% |
| 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, 6.6% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 9.9% Asian, 12.7% White, 65.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |