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The differences between principal developers and architects can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a principal developer and an architect. Additionally, a principal developer has an average salary of $126,772, which is higher than the $86,635 average annual salary of an architect.
The top three skills for a principal developer include java, apis and architecture. The most important skills for an architect are cloud, java, and infrastructure.
| Principal Developer | Architect | |
| Yearly salary | $126,772 | $86,635 |
| Hourly rate | $60.95 | $41.65 |
| Growth rate | 21% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 303,930 | 94,621 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Average age | 39 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
In the information technology industry, a principal developer is in charge of spearheading software and application development projects. It is their duty to perform extensive research and analysis, set objectives and guidelines, establish budgets and timelines, lead the planning and implementation stages, and develop strategies to optimize operations. They must also maintain an active communication line with staff to resolve issues should any arise. Moreover, as a principal developer, they must monitor the projects' workflow to ensure that everything runs smoothly and efficiently.
Architects are licensed professionals who specialize in art and science of design, building constructions, and structures. They play a vital role in the construction and not only responsible for the appearance but also the safety of users. They ensure that every structure is functional, safe, cost-effective, and suit the needs of the future occupants. They closely monitor the working progress to make sure that the project is built according to plan. Some architects are focused mainly on creating designs while some are exclusive in the production of building plans or "blueprints".
Principal developers and architects have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Principal Developer | Architect | |
| Average salary | $126,772 | $86,635 |
| Salary range | Between $96,000 And $166,000 | Between $54,000 And $137,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Meta | |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Technology |
There are a few differences between a principal developer and an architect in terms of educational background:
| Principal Developer | Architect | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Architecture |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Cornell University |
Here are the differences between principal developers' and architects' demographics:
| Principal Developer | Architect | |
| Average age | 39 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 80.3% Female, 19.7% | Male, 76.7% Female, 23.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.6% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 8.4% Asian, 29.8% White, 52.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 2.3% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 11.8% Asian, 16.0% White, 65.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 15% |