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Principal, architectural firm vs principal architect

The differences between principals, architectural firms and principal architects can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a principal architect has an average salary of $133,276, which is higher than the $120,913 average annual salary of a principal, architectural firm.

The top three skills for a principal, architectural firm include business development, enterprise architecture and as-built drawings. The most important skills for a principal architect are cloud, infrastructure, and emerging technologies.

Principal, architectural firm vs principal architect overview

Principal, Architectural FirmPrincipal Architect
Yearly salary$120,913$133,276
Hourly rate$58.13$64.08
Growth rate3%3%
Number of jobs42,091118,908
Job satisfaction-4
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 65%Bachelor's Degree, 67%
Average age4544
Years of experience4-

Principal, architectural firm vs principal architect salary

Principals, architectural firms and principal architects have different pay scales, as shown below.

Principal, Architectural FirmPrincipal Architect
Average salary$120,913$133,276
Salary rangeBetween $73,000 And $197,000Between $97,000 And $181,000
Highest paying City-San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state-California
Best paying company-Google
Best paying industry-Technology

Differences between principal, architectural firm and principal architect education

There are a few differences between a principal, architectural firm and a principal architect in terms of educational background:

Principal, Architectural FirmPrincipal Architect
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 65%Bachelor's Degree, 67%
Most common majorArchitectureArchitecture
Most common collegeUniversity of Southern CaliforniaMassachusetts Institute of Technology

Principal, architectural firm vs principal architect demographics

Here are the differences between principals, architectural firms' and principal architects' demographics:

Principal, Architectural FirmPrincipal Architect
Average age4544
Gender ratioMale, 85.8% Female, 14.2%Male, 89.3% Female, 10.7%
Race ratioBlack 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, 6.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 8.8% Asian, 12.0% White, 67.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage15%11%

Differences between principal, architectural firm and principal architect duties and responsibilities

Principal, architectural firm example responsibilities.

  • Create several Perl scripts to automate the installation and configuration of Sysedge agents on the servers.
  • Lead the development of BIM modeling content for the architecture team as a direct report to the executive and lead architects.
  • Respond to RFP's, prepare bid proposals and estimates for AE consulting services.
  • Prepare and administer construction documents MEP and blue prints using computer assist draw software and other computer applications.
  • Organize presentations for AIA competition projects.
  • Edit and render high quality video animation to provide the story frame-by-frame of modeling and surroundings.

Principal architect example responsibilities.

  • Manage and review Hadoop log files.
  • Manage integrated ERP projects for manufacturing plants
  • Design and implement a Java base reverse proxy that manage application routes.
  • Lead architecture development for a CRM web collaboration product and a CRM multi-media/multi-channel integration product.
  • Manage offshore engineering team, overcoming challenges including technical, resource planning & motivation, communication, and infrastructure.
  • Design and develop the rich desktop web client using ExtJS, a JavaScript framework with an extensive library of UI components.
  • Show more

Principal, architectural firm vs principal architect skills

Common principal, architectural firm skills
  • Business Development, 75%
  • Enterprise Architecture, 12%
  • As-Built Drawings, 3%
  • RFP, 3%
  • Master Planning, 2%
  • Autocad, 2%
Common principal architect skills
  • Cloud, 8%
  • Infrastructure, 7%
  • Emerging Technologies, 6%
  • Java, 5%
  • AWS, 5%
  • Python, 4%

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