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The differences between systems analysts and solutions 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 $75,383 average annual salary of a systems analyst.
The top three skills for a systems analyst include customer service, project management and troubleshoot. The most important skills for a solutions architect are cloud, java, and AWS.
| Systems Analyst | Solutions Architect | |
| Yearly salary | $75,383 | $116,327 |
| Hourly rate | $36.24 | $55.93 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 141,289 | 107,754 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4.5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Average age | 43 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 6 | - |
A systems analyst is responsible for monitoring the effectiveness of technology systems and analyzing its efficiency for business operations and clients' needs. Systems analysts create specific modifications to operating systems and help design solutions and processes. Other tasks include managing the system's workflow, diagnosing and detecting malfunctions, performing troubleshooting, and assisting clients' with their concerns. A systems analyst must have excellent command with programming languages and the knowledge with the technology industry to understand systems' complexities and processes.
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.
Systems analysts and solutions architects have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Systems Analyst | Solutions Architect | |
| Average salary | $75,383 | $116,327 |
| Salary range | Between $58,000 And $96,000 | Between $87,000 And $154,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | The Citadel | Airbnb |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Retail |
There are a few differences between a systems analyst and a solutions architect in terms of educational background:
| Systems Analyst | Solutions Architect | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between systems analysts' and solutions architects' demographics:
| Systems Analyst | Solutions Architect | |
| Average age | 43 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 69.4% Female, 30.6% | Male, 86.6% Female, 13.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.7% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.4% Asian, 14.4% White, 58.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | 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 | 8% | 11% |