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The differences between software architects and software developers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a software architect and a software developer. Additionally, a software architect has an average salary of $114,406, which is higher than the $87,521 average annual salary of a software developer.
The top three skills for a software architect include java, architecture and cloud. The most important skills for a software developer are java, python, and C++.
| Software Architect | Software Developer | |
| Yearly salary | $114,406 | $87,521 |
| Hourly rate | $55.00 | $42.08 |
| Growth rate | 21% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 319,594 | 294,329 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A Software Architect develops new programs for a variety of technological devices for businesses, computer games, mobile networks, and/or operating systems. They ensure architectural integrity and consistency across the entire product and work closely with executives to explain the benefits of the software.
A software developer is responsible for designing application systems to support the user and business' needs. Duties of a software developer include testing software codes, performing diagnostic programs and troubleshooting, interpreting system data and establishing efficient parameters, and ensuring the compatibility of the systems. A software developer must have an excellent knowledge of computer programs and programming languages to understand its complexities, especially on detecting system defects and malfunctions. A software developer must have strong attention to detail, communication, and decision-making skills to coordinate with the team and also work independently under minimal supervision.
Software architects and software developers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Software Architect | Software Developer | |
| Average salary | $114,406 | $87,521 |
| Salary range | Between $82,000 And $158,000 | Between $67,000 And $113,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Aspiration | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Finance |
There are a few differences between a software architect and a software developer in terms of educational background:
| Software Architect | Software Developer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Harvard University | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between software architects' and software developers' demographics:
| Software Architect | Software Developer | |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 93.8% Female, 6.2% | Male, 79.3% Female, 20.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.3% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.1% Asian, 30.0% White, 52.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 4.5% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.2% Asian, 29.9% White, 52.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |