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The differences between lead architects and senior programmers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a senior programmer has an average salary of $105,509, which is higher than the $104,687 average annual salary of a lead architect.
The top three skills for a lead architect include digital transformation, architecture and java. The most important skills for a senior programmer are macro, SAS, and database.
| Lead Architect | Senior Programmer | |
| Yearly salary | $104,687 | $105,509 |
| Hourly rate | $50.33 | $50.73 |
| Growth rate | 21% | -7% |
| Number of jobs | 266,541 | 209,882 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Average age | 44 | 47 |
| Years of experience | - | 8 |
A lead architect spearheads architectural operations while maintaining an active communication line with clients. They typically meet with clients to discuss the project's needs and specifications, agree on a budget, provide advice and recommendations, and negotiate contracts. They are also in charge of developing building designs, coordinating staff, devising plans, incorporating essential systems, and providing technical and guidance as needed. Moreover, as the lead architect of the project, they must enforce policies and regulations to maintain a smooth and efficient workflow.
A Senior Programmer develops operations solutions through guiding the development of program specifications and leading programmers. They develop, test, and implement IT solutions.
Lead architects and senior programmers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Lead Architect | Senior Programmer | |
| Average salary | $104,687 | $105,509 |
| Salary range | Between $78,000 And $139,000 | Between $78,000 And $141,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Cornerstone Research | |
| Best paying industry | Insurance | Pharmaceutical |
There are a few differences between a lead architect and a senior programmer in terms of educational background:
| Lead Architect | Senior Programmer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between lead architects' and senior programmers' demographics:
| Lead Architect | Senior Programmer | |
| Average age | 44 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 90.2% Female, 9.8% | Male, 81.0% Female, 19.0% |
| 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, 4.8% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 8.4% Asian, 19.2% White, 62.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |