Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between software designers and architectural designers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a software designer, becoming an architectural designer takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a software designer has an average salary of $107,449, which is higher than the $59,122 average annual salary of an architectural designer.
The top three skills for a software designer include python, java and software development. The most important skills for an architectural designer are sketch, sketchup, and BIM.
| Software Designer | Architectural Designer | |
| Yearly salary | $107,449 | $59,122 |
| Hourly rate | $51.66 | $28.42 |
| Growth rate | 21% | -3% |
| Number of jobs | 313,443 | 54,358 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Average age | 39 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 12 |
Software designers transform customers' requirements into services. They analyze customers' needs, conduct negotiations, and create designs based on that data. They typically work with teams of programmers. They are also responsible for creating project documentation.
An Architectural Designer is specialized in planning and designing structures/urban landscapes. They ensure that company policies and standards are maintained when providing services to clients.
Software designers and architectural designers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Software Designer | Architectural Designer | |
| Average salary | $107,449 | $59,122 |
| Salary range | Between $80,000 And $144,000 | Between $45,000 And $77,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | California | Vermont |
| Best paying company | Globant | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Professional |
There are a few differences between a software designer and an architectural designer in terms of educational background:
| Software Designer | Architectural Designer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Architecture |
| Most common college | Harvard University | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between software designers' and architectural designers' demographics:
| Software Designer | Architectural Designer | |
| Average age | 39 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 80.0% Female, 20.0% | Male, 70.1% Female, 29.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.6% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 8.4% Asian, 29.8% White, 52.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 3.1% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 11.7% Asian, 7.0% White, 72.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 6% |