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What is a software architect and how to become one
Software architects contribute to the creation of software, focusing on the design and usability aspects of computer applications. They are responsible for making sure software under construction meets technical standards, and see to correct coding and satisfactory use of tools and platforms within the software.
Working in this position, you will work alongside a team of IT professionals creating user-friendly and attractive software to make life and work easier for people using them. It will be your job to develop and implement project specifications, integrate new software with existing systems, and oversee the development of the technological aspects of the applications.
Candidates with a degree in computer science, software design, programming, or a related area will most probably be preferred by employers. Experience in software architecture might also be an expectation, but most importantly, you need to be confident and familiar with the use of specialized software and other tools that software designers work with. If you have the technical knowledge and analytical mind this position requires, you can make around $101,000 on average per year.
What general advice would you give to a software architect?
Frank McCown Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Harding University
Avg. Salary $114,406
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth rate 21%
Growth rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.17%
Asian 30.02%
Black or African American 4.33%
Hispanic or Latino 8.06%
Unknown 4.77%
White 52.65%
Genderfemale 6.24%
male 93.76%
Age - 38American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 38Stress level is moderate
7.1 - high
Complexity level is challenging
7 - challenging
Work life balance is good
6.4 - fair
Software architect career paths
Key steps to become a software architect
Explore software architect education requirements
Start to develop specific software architect skills
Skills Percentages Java 8.42% Architecture 8.33% Cloud 6.67% Software Development 5.91% Python 4.98% Complete relevant software architect training and internships
Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New software architects learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a software architect based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real software architect resumes.Research software architect duties and responsibilities
- Lead research and implementation of microservices, AngularJS, and other cutting edgetechnologies.
- Design and implement ASP.NET web site for support to manage and maintain customer and product information.
- Manage entire QA process from requirements documentation to final release testing.
- Convert python scripts written by Quants into C++ and c #code base.
Get software architect experience
Generally, it takes 2-4 years to become a software architect. The most common roles before becoming a software architect include senior software engineer, software engineer team lead and software developer.Prepare your software architect resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your software architect resume.
You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a software architect resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
Choose from 10+ customizable software architect resume templates
Build a professional software architect resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your software architect resume.
Apply for software architect jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a software architect job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How did you land your first software architect job
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Average software architect salary
The average software architect salary in the United States is $114,406 per year or $55 per hour. Software architect salaries range between $82,000 and $158,000 per year.
What am I worth?
How do software architects rate their job?
Software architect reviews
Problem solving and cutting edge technology - always learning and evolving my skill set
Still have to deal with people :)
Able to see ideation to fruition and achieve success together as a team.
If company is not supportive of new technology advancement.
I enjoyed working on creative problems that dealt with the user interface
I didn't like how technical it could become
Software architect FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025
