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The differences between senior information technology architects and senior information technology specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a senior information technology architect has an average salary of $120,393, which is higher than the $103,478 average annual salary of a senior information technology specialist.
The top three skills for a senior information technology architect include cloud, java and enterprise architecture. The most important skills for a senior information technology specialist are customer service, database, and technical support.
| Senior Information Technology Architect | Senior Information Technology Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $120,393 | $103,478 |
| Hourly rate | $57.88 | $49.75 |
| Growth rate | 16% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 149,538 | 111,996 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Average age | 44 | 42 |
| Years of experience | - | 2 |
Senior information technology (IT) architects are IT professionals who manage other IT experts in organizing and managing the security, communication, and related technological components within an organization. These architects are required to design creative solutions that can resolve issues with the Identity Finder system that can enable accurate reporting. They must coordinate the IT architectural review process to provide oversight and guidance for the new system implementation. Senior IT architects must also evaluate new technologies and methodologies that may help in developing management processes.
A senior information technology specialist is responsible for handling technology systems and network issues, ensuring the efficiency and optimal performance of the database by configuration and improving network infrastructures. Senior information technology specialists also design computer systems and applications to support business functions and operations, depending on the requirements and budget limitations. They create resolution reports for reference and recommend strategic techniques to prevent the reoccurrence of defects and malfunctions. A senior information technology specialist must have excellent communication and technical skills, especially in responding to the end-users' inquiries and concerns about the servers.
Senior information technology architects and senior information technology specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Information Technology Architect | Senior Information Technology Specialist | |
| Average salary | $120,393 | $103,478 |
| Salary range | Between $94,000 And $154,000 | Between $78,000 And $136,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Idaho | California |
| Best paying company | Sungard Availability Services | Ropes & Gray |
| Best paying industry | Insurance | Energy |
There are a few differences between a senior information technology architect and a senior information technology specialist in terms of educational background:
| Senior Information Technology Architect | Senior Information Technology Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between senior information technology architects' and senior information technology specialists' demographics:
| Senior Information Technology Architect | Senior Information Technology Specialist | |
| Average age | 44 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 91.6% Female, 8.4% | Male, 81.4% Female, 18.6% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 12.1% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 14.4% Asian, 14.1% White, 53.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |