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Senior architect vs junior architect

The differences between senior architects and junior 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 senior architect and a junior architect. Additionally, a senior architect has an average salary of $91,624, which is higher than the $60,719 average annual salary of a junior architect.

The top three skills for a senior architect include cloud, java and infrastructure. The most important skills for a junior architect are revit, schematic design, and design development.

Senior architect vs junior architect overview

Senior ArchitectJunior Architect
Yearly salary$91,624$60,719
Hourly rate$44.05$29.19
Growth rate3%3%
Number of jobs103,42885,359
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 69%Bachelor's Degree, 75%
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 a junior architect do?

A Junior Architect assists architects in the preparation of plans and specifications for the construction and/or alteration of buildings. They work under the supervision of an architect or lead designer.

Senior architect vs junior architect salary

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

Senior ArchitectJunior Architect
Average salary$91,624$60,719
Salary rangeBetween $58,000 And $143,000Between $45,000 And $81,000
Highest paying CityWashington, DCWashington, DC
Highest paying stateHawaiiRhode Island
Best paying companyRopes & GrayChubb
Best paying industry-Energy

Differences between senior architect and junior architect education

There are a few differences between a senior architect and a junior architect in terms of educational background:

Senior ArchitectJunior Architect
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 69%Bachelor's Degree, 75%
Most common majorComputer ScienceArchitecture
Most common collegeCornell UniversityCornell University

Senior architect vs junior architect demographics

Here are the differences between senior architects' and junior architects' demographics:

Senior ArchitectJunior Architect
Average age4545
Gender ratioMale, 89.0% Female, 11.0%Male, 54.7% Female, 45.3%
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, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 11.9% Asian, 16.1% White, 65.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage15%15%

Differences between senior architect and junior architect 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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Junior architect example responsibilities.

  • Accomplish the following projects as the job captain using Revit software from conceptual design to sets of construction documents.
  • Manage technical architects for development and support of existing and new terminal platforms to support Walmart mobile and batch application infrastructure.
  • Sketch design, municipal drawings, presentation drawings, elevations, co- ordination with consultants.
  • Assist the team with the design process starting from concept and sketch to final design project.
  • Participate in meetings with MEP consultants and contractors.
  • Design will support either in-house or cloud base services.
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Senior architect vs junior architect skills

Common senior architect skills
  • Cloud, 8%
  • Java, 6%
  • Infrastructure, 5%
  • Emerging Technologies, 5%
  • AWS, 5%
  • Digital Transformation, 5%
Common junior architect skills
  • Revit, 19%
  • Schematic Design, 6%
  • Design Development, 6%
  • Auto CAD, 5%
  • SketchUp, 5%
  • Construction Administration, 5%

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