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The differences between principals, architectural firms and architectural designers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a principal, architectural firm, becoming an architectural designer takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a principal, architectural firm has an average salary of $120,913, which is higher than the $59,122 average annual salary of an architectural designer.
The top three skills for a principal, architectural firm include business development, enterprise architecture and as-built drawings. The most important skills for an architectural designer are sketch, sketchup, and BIM.
| Principal, Architectural Firm | Architectural Designer | |
| Yearly salary | $120,913 | $59,122 |
| Hourly rate | $58.13 | $28.42 |
| Growth rate | 3% | -3% |
| Number of jobs | 42,091 | 54,358 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 12 |
Principals, architectural firms and architectural designers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Principal, Architectural Firm | Architectural Designer | |
| Average salary | $120,913 | $59,122 |
| Salary range | Between $73,000 And $197,000 | Between $45,000 And $77,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | - | Vermont |
| Best paying company | - | Apple |
| Best paying industry | - | Professional |
There are a few differences between a principal, architectural firm and an architectural designer in terms of educational background:
| Principal, Architectural Firm | Architectural Designer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Most common major | Architecture | Architecture |
| Most common college | University of Southern California | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between principals, architectural firms' and architectural designers' demographics:
| Principal, Architectural Firm | Architectural Designer | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 85.8% Female, 14.2% | Male, 70.1% Female, 29.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 2.3% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 12.0% Asian, 16.3% White, 65.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 3.1% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 11.7% Asian, 7.0% White, 72.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 15% | 6% |