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Senior architect vs architectural consultant

The differences between senior architects and architectural consultants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a senior architect and an architectural consultant. Additionally, a senior architect has an average salary of $91,624, which is higher than the $72,886 average annual salary of an architectural consultant.

The top three skills for a senior architect include cloud, java and infrastructure. The most important skills for an architectural consultant are cloud, API, and java.

Senior architect vs architectural consultant overview

Senior ArchitectArchitectural Consultant
Yearly salary$91,624$72,886
Hourly rate$44.05$35.04
Growth rate3%3%
Number of jobs103,42843,113
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 69%Bachelor's Degree, 67%
Average age4545
Years of experience44

What does a senior architect do?

A Senior Architect performs design drafting and evaluates architectural or engineering plans regarding building construction or improvement projects. They review building plans and site design for aesthetics, environmental acceptability, and compliance with quality standards.

What does an architectural consultant do?

An architectural consultant is an individual who owns or works for an independent architecture or multidisciplinary design firm to develop innovative building design solutions. The essential skills that an architectural consultant should possess to accomplish his/her or her responsibilities include good creative ability and strong organizational, technical, and visualization skills. The education requirements for the job include possessing a college degree in architecture, business, or a related field.

Senior architect vs architectural consultant salary

Senior architects and architectural consultants have different pay scales, as shown below.

Senior ArchitectArchitectural Consultant
Average salary$91,624$72,886
Salary rangeBetween $58,000 And $143,000Between $40,000 And $129,000
Highest paying CityWashington, DCFranklin Town, MA
Highest paying stateHawaiiMassachusetts
Best paying companyRopes & GraySlalom
Best paying industry-Technology

Differences between senior architect and architectural consultant education

There are a few differences between a senior architect and an architectural consultant in terms of educational background:

Senior ArchitectArchitectural Consultant
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 69%Bachelor's Degree, 67%
Most common majorComputer ScienceArchitecture
Most common collegeCornell UniversityCornell University

Senior architect vs architectural consultant demographics

Here are the differences between senior architects' and architectural consultants' demographics:

Senior ArchitectArchitectural Consultant
Average age4545
Gender ratioMale, 89.0% Female, 11.0%Male, 78.4% Female, 21.6%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 2.3% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 11.9% Asian, 16.1% White, 65.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%Black or African American, 2.3% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 12.1% Asian, 16.4% White, 64.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage15%15%

Differences between senior architect and architectural consultant duties and responsibilities

Senior architect example responsibilities.

  • Manage software integration using middle-ware and other enterprise software such as CTI systems, workforce management systems, and ERP systems.
  • Develop several custom Java and Perl systems used to manage operations of critical systems.
  • Manage the development infrastructure, change control, configuration items and application security utilizing knowledge of information resource management.
  • Coordinate project management, solutions configuration, integration capabilities, and cloud computing functionality.
  • Design end to end CI/CD pipeline using Jenkins.
  • Develop apex triggers, classes and visualforce pages.
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Architectural consultant example responsibilities.

  • Lead technical projects utilizing SharePoint, ASP.NET, Javascript, and database technologies.
  • Experience in SDLC processes, and ability to manage application-relate projects from customer requirements definition to delivering application content solutions.
  • Used WPF and MVVM in the UI and ASP.NET WebAPI in the business layer.
  • Design and help develop ETL process using IBM DataStage to process large volumes of data.
  • Provide consulting services for residential additions, Revit BIM , 3D modeling, and art consultations.
  • Reviewed/Correct SSIS packages, store procedures, and reporting processes to comply with ETL industry best practices.
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Senior architect vs architectural consultant skills

Common senior architect skills
  • Cloud, 8%
  • Java, 6%
  • Infrastructure, 5%
  • Emerging Technologies, 5%
  • AWS, 5%
  • Digital Transformation, 5%
Common architectural consultant skills
  • Cloud, 11%
  • API, 5%
  • Java, 5%
  • Design Solutions, 4%
  • Business Problems, 4%
  • AWS, 4%

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