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The differences between systems architects and software architects can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a software architect has an average salary of $114,406, which is higher than the $103,764 average annual salary of a systems architect.
The top three skills for a systems architect include cloud, java and python. The most important skills for a software architect are java, architecture, and cloud.
| Systems Architect | Software Architect | |
| Yearly salary | $103,764 | $114,406 |
| Hourly rate | $49.89 | $55.00 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 232,582 | 319,594 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Average age | 44 | 39 |
| Years of experience | - | 4 |
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.
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.
Systems architects and software architects have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Systems Architect | Software Architect | |
| Average salary | $103,764 | $114,406 |
| Salary range | Between $76,000 And $141,000 | Between $82,000 And $158,000 |
| Highest paying City | Cupertino, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Airbnb | Aspiration |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a systems architect and a software architect in terms of educational background:
| Systems Architect | Software Architect | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | 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 systems architects' and software architects' demographics:
| Systems Architect | Software Architect | |
| Average age | 44 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 90.2% Female, 9.8% | Male, 93.8% Female, 6.2% |
| 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, 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% |