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Technical specialist vs technology architect

The differences between technical specialists and technology architects can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a technical specialist, becoming a technology architect takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a technology architect has an average salary of $108,837, which is higher than the $88,773 average annual salary of a technical specialist.

The top three skills for a technical specialist include customer service, technical support and patients. The most important skills for a technology architect are cloud, java, and apex.

Technical specialist vs technology architect overview

Technical SpecialistTechnology Architect
Yearly salary$88,773$108,837
Hourly rate$42.68$52.33
Growth rate10%3%
Number of jobs121,151131,229
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 57%Bachelor's Degree, 65%
Average age4245
Years of experience24

What does a technical specialist do?

The role of technical specialists is to provide technical support for applications and programs to staff members and customers within an organization. They train staff and customers on products and apps and offer advice on the best practices for utilizing technical programs and applications. They also design training materials to teach other staff members the most effective methods of using its technology. It is also their job to reduce company costs by looking for ways to improve productivity and lessen expenses.

What does a technology architect do?

A Technology Architect anticipates and indentifies the IT needs and problems of a company and designs efficient solutions to them. They are usually specialized in specific fields of an IT framework, such as security.

Technical specialist vs technology architect salary

Technical specialists and technology architects have different pay scales, as shown below.

Technical SpecialistTechnology Architect
Average salary$88,773$108,837
Salary rangeBetween $62,000 And $126,000Between $83,000 And $142,000
Highest paying CityWashington, DCSan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateDelawareAlaska
Best paying companyFinnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & DunnerMeta
Best paying industryTechnologyTelecommunication

Differences between technical specialist and technology architect education

There are a few differences between a technical specialist and a technology architect in terms of educational background:

Technical SpecialistTechnology Architect
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 57%Bachelor's Degree, 65%
Most common majorBusinessComputer Science
Most common collegeStanford UniversityCornell University

Technical specialist vs technology architect demographics

Here are the differences between technical specialists' and technology architects' demographics:

Technical SpecialistTechnology Architect
Average age4245
Gender ratioMale, 71.2% Female, 28.8%Male, 87.8% Female, 12.2%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.8% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.3% Asian, 12.5% White, 54.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Black or African American, 2.3% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 12.1% Asian, 16.3% White, 65.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage11%15%

Differences between technical specialist and technology architect duties and responsibilities

Technical specialist example responsibilities.

  • Install and manage LAN/WAN using TCP/IP protocol.
  • Manage the development of a customize ERP system for the client.
  • Design and manage studies for alternative API qualification for commercial products.
  • Lead and assist in troubleshooting problems and assure appropriate communication with physicians and patients.
  • Manage customer complaints and internal GMP audits for product manufacturing, coordinate FDA audits and recommend corrective actions.
  • Develop HTML, CSS, JavaScript for commercial websites.
  • Show more

Technology architect example responsibilities.

  • Design and manage the LDAP database which, are used by the various applications in the OpenLoop platform for authentication.
  • Lead a team of up to 7 developers for PeopleSoft CRM implementation project with responsibilities for design, development and deployment.
  • Manage the architecture road map of CSS, a private label version of PeopleSoft, used for large on-site payroll customers.
  • Manage updates using Informatica PowerCenter.
  • Create a flexible ETL integration framework utilizing BCP and SSIS to consolidate and automate redundant/repetitive processes.
  • Provide insight and manage all technology relate aspects with presentations and communications at Sr. management and CxO level.
  • Show more

Technical specialist vs technology architect skills

Common technical specialist skills
  • Customer Service, 13%
  • Technical Support, 6%
  • Patients, 6%
  • Project Management, 6%
  • Customer Satisfaction, 4%
  • C++, 4%
Common technology architect skills
  • Cloud, 9%
  • Java, 9%
  • Apex, 4%
  • Infrastructure, 4%
  • CRM, 3%
  • Emerging Technologies, 3%

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