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The differences between principal software engineers and solutions architects can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a principal software engineer has an average salary of $134,230, which is higher than the $116,327 average annual salary of a solutions architect.
The top three skills for a principal software engineer include java, python and software development. The most important skills for a solutions architect are cloud, java, and AWS.
| Principal Software Engineer | Solutions Architect | |
| Yearly salary | $134,230 | $116,327 |
| Hourly rate | $64.53 | $55.93 |
| Growth rate | 21% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 345,893 | 107,754 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4.5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Average age | 39 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 4 | - |
A Principal Software Engineer is responsible for the technical aspects of an organization's projects. They diagnose, document, and troubleshoot systems to resolve problems identified through testing, as well as implement strategies to improve integration and efficiency.
A solutions architect specializes in creating and implementing software systems that improve business operations and resolve network issues. They are primarily responsible for conducting research and analysis to assess the business's needs, develop specific designs for the company, provide solutions should there be any system issues, and keep company officials informed with all changes and updates. Furthermore, a solutions architect must lead and encourage development teams, stay up to date with the newest trends to continue innovations within the systems, and implement its policies and guidelines.
Principal software engineers and solutions architects have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Principal Software Engineer | Solutions Architect | |
| Average salary | $134,230 | $116,327 |
| Salary range | Between $98,000 And $182,000 | Between $87,000 And $154,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | California |
| Best paying company | Airbnb | |
| Best paying industry | Retail | Retail |
There are a few differences between a principal software engineer and a solutions architect in terms of educational background:
| Principal Software Engineer | Solutions Architect | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | California State University - Long Beach | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between principal software engineers' and solutions architects' demographics:
| Principal Software Engineer | Solutions Architect | |
| Average age | 39 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 87.5% Female, 12.5% | Male, 86.6% Female, 13.4% |
| Race ratio | Black 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, 6.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 8.8% Asian, 12.0% White, 67.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 11% |