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Lead software architect vs senior software engineer

The differences between lead software architects and senior software engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a lead software architect and a senior software engineer. Additionally, a lead software architect has an average salary of $123,577, which is higher than the $114,494 average annual salary of a senior software engineer.

The top three skills for a lead software architect include java, C++ and software development. The most important skills for a senior software engineer are java, python, and javascript.

Lead software architect vs senior software engineer overview

Lead Software ArchitectSenior Software Engineer
Yearly salary$123,577$114,494
Hourly rate$59.41$55.05
Growth rate21%21%
Number of jobs307,926338,989
Job satisfaction-3
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 66%Bachelor's Degree, 69%
Average age3939
Years of experience44

Lead software architect vs senior software engineer salary

Lead software architects and senior software engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Lead Software ArchitectSenior Software Engineer
Average salary$123,577$114,494
Salary rangeBetween $89,000 And $170,000Between $86,000 And $151,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaCalifornia
Best paying companyThe Walt Disney CompanyThe Citadel
Best paying industryRetailRetail

Differences between lead software architect and senior software engineer education

There are a few differences between a lead software architect and a senior software engineer in terms of educational background:

Lead Software ArchitectSenior Software Engineer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 66%Bachelor's Degree, 69%
Most common majorComputer ScienceComputer Science
Most common collegeMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyMassachusetts Institute of Technology

Lead software architect vs senior software engineer demographics

Here are the differences between lead software architects' and senior software engineers' demographics:

Lead Software ArchitectSenior Software Engineer
Average age3939
Gender ratioMale, 95.6% Female, 4.4%Male, 81.4% Female, 18.6%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 4.4% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.2% Asian, 29.9% White, 52.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%Black or African American, 4.6% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.4% Asian, 31.8% White, 50.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage8%8%

Differences between lead software architect and senior software engineer duties and responsibilities

Lead software architect example responsibilities.

  • Manage technical infrastructure including but not limit to AWS images and instances, deployment procedures and tools, and monitoring.
  • Participate in the creation and review of UI and coding standards while leading code reviews.
  • Practice agile, scrum methodology with short release cycles.
  • Design and develop windows form in VB.NET for share brokers.
  • Embed Linux development and customization of kernel for system control of burst messaging.
  • Provide overall technical direction and standards for the scrum teams working on the project.
  • Show more

Senior software engineer example responsibilities.

  • Work with Microsoft TFS to manage work items and source control.
  • Lead team in development of a custom reservoir simulation data mining and visualization tool.
  • Used and written maven scripts to manage dependencies and to build and deploy the application locally and in DEV environments.
  • Develop Unix scripts for cross cap system integration system, enhance the existing Unix scripts to achieve better performance and throughput.
  • Configure and manage Debian Linux kernel security and networking components.
  • Collaborate with project manager in tracking and managing project development process following SDLC and RBPM methodologies.
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Lead software architect vs senior software engineer skills

Common lead software architect skills
  • Java, 9%
  • C++, 8%
  • Software Development, 7%
  • Windows, 6%
  • Linux, 6%
  • OS, 4%
Common senior software engineer skills
  • Java, 13%
  • Python, 6%
  • JavaScript, 5%
  • Architecture, 5%
  • Database, 4%
  • GIT, 3%

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