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The differences between technical consultants 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 $89,290 average annual salary of a technical consultant.
The top three skills for a technical consultant include java, database and customer service. The most important skills for a solutions architect are cloud, java, and AWS.
| Technical Consultant | Solutions Architect | |
| Yearly salary | $89,290 | $116,327 |
| Hourly rate | $42.93 | $55.93 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 173,374 | 107,754 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4.5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Average age | 43 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 6 | - |
A technical consultant is an individual who provides technical support and performs troubleshooting functions for the company's product or application. A consultant should be highly knowledgeable about the product or application so that he/she can assist users and clients with whatever issues they may be facing. A bachelor's degree is required to work as a technical consultant, particularly a degree in Computer Science or Engineering. Also, a consultant should conduct training sessions and therefore, must possess excellent communication skills.
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.
Technical consultants and solutions architects have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Technical Consultant | Solutions Architect | |
| Average salary | $89,290 | $116,327 |
| Salary range | Between $67,000 And $118,000 | Between $87,000 And $154,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman | Airbnb |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Retail |
There are a few differences between a technical consultant and a solutions architect in terms of educational background:
| Technical Consultant | Solutions Architect | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | 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 technical consultants' and solutions architects' demographics:
| Technical Consultant | Solutions Architect | |
| Average age | 43 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 79.1% Female, 20.9% | Male, 86.6% Female, 13.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.2% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.2% Asian, 15.3% White, 58.1% 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% |