Despite economic downturns, software engineers have the option of following a technical or managerial career path, both of which pay well and offer strong job security. What transpires, though, is when do developers attain the highest rank (principal engineer or senior engineer)? A senior software engineer may choose a position with a somewhat more technical concentration, such as “Software Architect,” if they don’t wish to go into management.
The field of software architecture is developing and is also lucrative. They are responsible for managing a team of developers, overseeing software development projects, and making crucial choices about the company’s technological stack. It is a drastic change from being a worker to being a leader who is responsible for profits and losses and develops all-encompassing software creation plans.
What Does an Architect of Software Do?
Software architects are typically employed by major firms and agencies that produce software for other businesses. They construct specialized software solutions such as web services, user interfaces, code programmers, and databases. Software architects strive to provide effective and satisfying software solutions for users. They are also in charge of developing coding guidelines and templates for use by other software developers within their employer.
Software architects have a variety of responsibilities, including monitoring the most recent advancements in their industries and ensuring the software they are creating is cost-effective. They design and develop programs and then continuously debug them to make sure the software is operating properly.
A bachelor’s degree in computer science or a closely related discipline is required to start a career as a software architect, and having a master’s degree can improve your job prospects. Software architects need to be educated on a wide range of technologies, including JavaScript, HTML, JQuery, C++, .NET, and others, as well as a variety of operating systems, including Windows, iOS, and Linus.
Career Opportunities as a Software Architect
Senior Software Architect:
Senior software architects are in charge of developing new programs and software for technologically oriented enterprises. Their responsibilities include establishing the goals of the program, creating a method for implementation, and managing the development process. They check code created by subordinates to ensure that it functions properly and are always exploring new and cutting-edge approaches in software design.
A senior software architect with 1–4 years of experience can expect to make $900,000 in total compensation (including gratuities, bonuses, and overtime pay). A senior software architect with 5–9 years of experience may easily make $1,904,603 in total salary.
A senior software architect with 10–19 years of experience can expect to earn an average total salary of $2,503,539. Senior software architects may earn an average total remuneration of $3,123,290 over a 20-year career.
Technical Architect
The technical architect serves as a link between a company’s top management and the designers and developers who work on the information technology (IT) requirements of the business. The technical architect should anticipate, recognize, and develop a solution to address the IT demands. They also ensure that the solution is effective for all parties involved.
A technical architect is also extremely likely to focus on a particular aspect of an IT architecture, such as security. It’s interesting how technical architects enhance the user experience or make sure the internal digital infrastructure of a firm functions properly.
A bachelor’s degree is necessary to work as a technical architect, typically in computer science, computer engineering, information systems, or software development. Additionally, employers frequently choose candidates who hold specialist certifications in IBM Service Oriented Architecture Solution Designer, Sun Certification Enterprise Architect, Microsoft Certified Architect, and Open Group IT Architect.
A technical architect with under a year of experience may expect to make an average of $479,323 in total compensation (tips, bonuses, and overtime pay). Technical architects with 1–4 years of experience can expect to make an average of $1,034,138 in total income.
Solutions Architect
Solutions architects are in charge of developing, planning, and executing plans for a company. They support the development of new systems that the business requires and ought to pinpoint its current problems and long-term technical objectives.
Additionally, they are in charge of informing other departments on the implementation of new plans and objectives. Solution architects must have experience in business planning, coaching, management, or quality control. They may also be hired, in some instances, to mentor and instruct.
With gratuities, bonuses, and overtime pay included, the average annual salary for a solution architect with less than one year of experience is $499,480. The average annual salary for solution architects with 1–4 years of experience is $714,124. Solutions architects with 5 to 9 years of experience can expect to make an average of $1,475,555 in total salary. An experienced solutions architect with a solid 10–19 year career may expect to make an average total salary of $2,060,000.
What is the average salary for a software architect in India?
In India, a software architect makes an average annual salary of INR 21 lakh. The average total remuneration (tips, bonuses, and overtime pay) for software architects with less than a year of experience and a new job is 977,473. A software architect with 1–4 years of experience can expect to make an average of $1,168,548 in total salary.
The average total salary for software architects with between 5 and 9 years of experience is $1,770,945. A highly skilled software architect with 10–19 years of experience in this industry may earn an average total salary of $2,281,922. Individuals in their late and well-established profession with 20 years or more may earn an average total remuneration of $3,275,000.
Software Architect Salaries in India: Factors to Consider
The amount of experience a software architect has, their company, the place where they work, and their skill set are all aspects that might impact their income in India.
Experience
The income of a software architect might vary depending on the number of years of experience. While exceptionally experienced individuals in this business can make around 52% more than the average, new and unskilled professionals can earn about 55% less than that.
Location
An individual’s salary may be significantly impacted by where they work. The average salary for software architects in Bangalore, Karnataka, is around 12.9% more than the national average. Software architects in Pune, Maharashtra, make 2.5% more money than on average nationwide. The three cities with the lowest incomes are Mumbai, which offers a salary that is 6.7% below average; Noida, which gives a salary that is 5.7% below normal; and Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
Employer
The pay for software architects may vary depending on the firm they work for. Companies like Robert Bosch and SAP Labs India pay about 2,398,658 and 1,725,000, respectively. Software architects at Nokia, Inc. earn an average income of 2,822,321 euros. The lowest compensation is provided by Robert Bosch Engineering and Business Solutions Limited, at about $1,465,000. The salaries for software architects at Wipro Technologies Ltd. and UST Global Inc. are similarly on the lower end; they are paid around $1,500,000 and $1,529,639, respectively.
Skills
- The salary for a software architect might vary based on their skill set. The following are some of the most well-liked abilities that might increase your pay:
- Apache Kafka
- Agile Software Development
- Docker
- Big Data Analytics
- Mobile applications development
- Cloud Computing
- The Internet of Things (IoT)
- iOS
- Cascading Style Sheets (CSS)
- Scala
Conclusion
The field of software architecture is increasing quickly, which is driving up the demand for competent workers in India and making a career in this field lucrative. Possessing postgraduate-level degrees may enable you to advance professionally and possibly secure the desired job promotion.
Edited by Prakriti Arora
