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The differences between systems architects and systems developers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a systems architect has an average salary of $103,764, which is higher than the $97,230 average annual salary of a systems developer.
The top three skills for a systems architect include cloud, java and python. The most important skills for a systems developer are java, python, and C++.
| Systems Architect | Systems Developer | |
| Yearly salary | $103,764 | $97,230 |
| Hourly rate | $49.89 | $46.75 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 232,582 | 322,419 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Average age | 44 | 43 |
| Years of experience | - | 6 |
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 Systems Developer is responsible for designing and creating software applications and server programs to support business requirements and client specifications. System Developers run multiple diagnostic tests to the systems to ensure performance and stability and revise scripts for optimization as needed. They also evaluate and improve existing networks, develop infrastructure, and set configuration. A Systems Developer must have excellent communication and technical skills, as well as a strong command of programming languages and system codes to identify network structures and operating systems.
Systems architects and systems developers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Systems Architect | Systems Developer | |
| Average salary | $103,764 | $97,230 |
| Salary range | Between $76,000 And $141,000 | Between $73,000 And $129,000 |
| Highest paying City | Cupertino, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Airbnb | Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Hospitality |
There are a few differences between a systems architect and a systems developer in terms of educational background:
| Systems Architect | Systems Developer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between systems architects' and systems developers' demographics:
| Systems Architect | Systems Developer | |
| Average age | 44 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 90.2% Female, 9.8% | Male, 76.5% Female, 23.5% |
| 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, 10.0% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 10.9% Asian, 16.6% White, 57.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 8% |