Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between solutions architects and systems architects can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a solutions architect has an average salary of $116,327, which is higher than the $103,764 average annual salary of a systems architect.
The top three skills for a solutions architect include cloud, java and AWS. The most important skills for a systems architect are cloud, java, and python.
| Solutions Architect | Systems Architect | |
| Yearly salary | $116,327 | $103,764 |
| Hourly rate | $55.93 | $49.89 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 107,754 | 232,582 |
| Job satisfaction | 4.5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
A solutions architect specializes in creating and implementing software systems that improve business operations and resolve network issues. They are primarily responsible for conducting research and analysis to assess the business's needs, develop specific designs for the company, provide solutions should there be any system issues, and keep company officials informed with all changes and updates. Furthermore, a solutions architect must lead and encourage development teams, stay up to date with the newest trends to continue innovations within the systems, and implement its policies and guidelines.
A systems architect specializes in designing and developing computer networks and systems for company operations. Typically, their responsibilities revolve around conducting research and analysis to identify a company's needs, devising strategies to reach particular goals, improving existing systems, and implementing solutions for optimal processes. A systems architect must also monitor the progress of all implementations, prepare progress reports and presentations, provide technical support as needed, and train new workforce members, all while adhering to the company's policies and regulations, including vision and mission.
Solutions architects and systems architects have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Solutions Architect | Systems Architect | |
| Average salary | $116,327 | $103,764 |
| Salary range | Between $87,000 And $154,000 | Between $76,000 And $141,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Cupertino, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Airbnb | Airbnb |
| Best paying industry | Retail | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a solutions architect and a systems architect in terms of educational background:
| Solutions Architect | Systems Architect | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between solutions architects' and systems architects' demographics:
| Solutions Architect | Systems Architect | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 86.6% Female, 13.4% | Male, 90.2% Female, 9.8% |
| 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, 6.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 8.8% Asian, 12.0% White, 67.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |