Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between software programmers and software architects can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-8 years to become a software programmer, becoming a software architect takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a software architect has an average salary of $114,406, which is higher than the $71,612 average annual salary of a software programmer.
The top three skills for a software programmer include java, javascript and software development. The most important skills for a software architect are java, architecture, and cloud.
| Software Programmer | Software Architect | |
| Yearly salary | $71,612 | $114,406 |
| Hourly rate | $34.43 | $55.00 |
| Growth rate | -7% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 253,235 | 319,594 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Average age | 47 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 8 | 4 |
A software programmer is an information technology expert who specializes in programming software and generating codes, ensuring quality and efficiency. In a company setting, they typically perform research and analysis to understand and identify the projects' needs, develop and implement test structures, troubleshoot and resolve issues, write technical instructions, and provide technical support to staff as needed. Most of the time, a software programmer works in a team setting, which requires an active communication line for a smooth workflow.
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.
Software programmers and software architects have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Software Programmer | Software Architect | |
| Average salary | $71,612 | $114,406 |
| Salary range | Between $55,000 And $92,000 | Between $82,000 And $158,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | Panaya | Aspiration |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a software programmer and a software architect in terms of educational background:
| Software Programmer | Software Architect | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between software programmers' and software architects' demographics:
| Software Programmer | Software Architect | |
| Average age | 47 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 71.3% Female, 28.7% | Male, 93.8% Female, 6.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.1% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 7.2% Asian, 25.2% White, 58.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | 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% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 8% |