AWS Solutions Architect vs AWS Developer [Key Differences]

Why do we need to differentiate between the jobs of AWS Developer and AWS Solutions Architect? We are aware that technology is a dynamic industry. And yes, we are aware that AWS feature updates are both thrilling and overwhelming because they are like a tsunami of new services. What remains unchanged? The demand for people to enter the workforce with solid skills—and maintain those abilities over time—is growing. 

In light of this, this essay will compare and contrast the fundamentals of the two well-known career pathways available inside the Amazon ecosystem: AWS Developer vs AWS Solutions Architect. If you are new to the profession, you may not understand how the two career pathways differ from one another or which is best for you. We will make it clear.

Now, is choosing between these two really that difficult? Of course, it is! You may have many questions if this is your first time looking into Amazon AWS certification. Here you can get the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate course and know more.

Who are the AWS Architects and AWS Developers?

• AWS Architects: AWS Architects are strategic thinkers designing secure and scalable cloud architectures, selecting the most appropriate AWS services based on project requirements.
• AWS Developers: AWS Developers are builders who translate the architect's vision into reality by writing code, integrating AWS services into applications, and deploying them on the AWS platform.

AWS Solutions Architect vs AWS Developer [Head-to-Head Comparison]

The detailed distinctions between AWS Developer and AWS Architect certifications will be covered in the discussion that follows. The talk would center on significant factors rather than the distinction between the exam requirements for AWS Solutions Architect Associate and AWS Developer. The table to explain you better about AWS solution architect vs AWS developer:

Parameter	AWS Developer	AWS Solutions Architect
1. Certifications	One certification: Associate	Two certifications: Associate and Professional
2. Exam	130 minutes, multiple-choice questions	Professional – 180 minutes, multiple-choice questions Associate – 130 minutes, multiple-choice questions
3. Fee	$150 USD	Professional – $300 USD Associate – $150 USD
4. Salary	$92,000 to $158,000	$75,000 to $190,000
5. Demand	High	High, but fewer architect jobs per company, though this is a valuable cert for DevOps.
6. Roles and Responsibilities	Design, planning, and implementation of cloud solutions	Building and deploying applications on AWS

AWS Solutions Architect vs Developer Associate: Detailed Comparison

It can be difficult to decide where to start if you are unfamiliar with the cloud or the AWS ecosystem, you can get help AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate course, and despite their names, these qualifications will not be enough to help you land a job as a developer or solution architect.

The good news is that the abilities you acquire as you study for the examinations may enable you to pursue a number of different professional choices. The even better news is that we give you access to all the AWS training you need to be successful.

So here you will know more about AWS solutions architect vs developer:

1. AWS Developer vs AWS Solutions Architect: Exam 

The following are the exam's objectives for AWS Cloud Developer (DVA-C01):

Best practices for building on Amazon Web Services are given a lot of attention. This topic automatically piqued my interest because I felt it to be a little more relevant to my everyday work. The Serverless computing topic is covered in-depth on the AWS Developer test because AWS wants developers to adopt it.

Lambda, DynamoDB, Step Functions, X-Ray, API Gateway, ECS, CloudFront, SQS, SNS, and Kinesis are the services that are being highlighted. If you look at exam materials from 2018 or before, you will see that earlier editions of the exam probed deeper into EC2. This is no longer the case. It focuses on serverless computing. I am not claiming that EC2 will not come up on your test. It will. However, concentrate your efforts on serverless services.

Exam Details

You do not require prior coding experience; however, it may be helpful.

Here is an illustration: Every few minutes, your web application uploads a 10GB file to an S3 bucket, and you want to reduce the amount of time it takes for each upload to finish. How do you accomplish this? What are the best methods I might employ to utilize the most cutting-edge AWS technology if I were to introduce AWS to my business?

Or how would I go about developing my applications in a cloud environment if I were building my own business from the bottom up? This test is appropriate for you if any of these statements applies to you. Use the Multipart upload API is the response. The solution to this question, as well as others like it, can be discovered in a variety of methods. It is possible to learn about S3 buckets by experience, reading the API documentation, or taking an online course.

Exam Details

If you may infer from the objectives, the main focus of this certification is creating the best architecture for your systems. Services including EC2, VPC, ECS, Elastic Load Balancers, CloudWatch, EFS, EBS, FSx, and CI/CD tools are given a lot of attention.

This qualification is intended for individuals who play a variety of solutions architect roles. Your ability to create secure, reliable, and AWS-compatible architectures will be put to the test in the exam.

There will be many scenario-based questions. Consider the following scenario: You are employed by a sizable aerospace engineering company, and you require your NoSQL database to be highly scalable and capable of accommodating regular schema changes. What AWS service ought to you utilise? 

You can still use the knowledge gained from this certification if you work as a developer or in another non-solutions architect role. I found the notions to be of utmost value as a developer. Additionally, this gives me the self-assurance I need to immediately transition into a technical lead or solutions architect type role in the future.

2. AWS Developer vs AWS Solutions Architect: Prerequisites

At least one high-level programming language in-depth understanding. Understanding of the fundamental AWS architecture best practises, such as the application lifecycle management, the AWS Shared Responsibility Model, and the usage of containers in the development process.  

Without meeting any qualifications, you can acquire any AWS Certification. Nevertheless, AWS offers suggestions for knowledge and experience that are in line with the subject matter and level of expertise for each certification.  

Domains Covered

• Deployment
• Security
• Development with AWS Services
• Refactoring 
• Monitoring and Troubleshooting 

3. AWS Architects and AWS Developers: Roles and Responsibilities 

AWS relies on architects to design cloud solutions and developers to build and deploy applications, with each role having distinct responsibilities. 

• AWS Solutions Architects design and implement cloud solutions, focusing on security, scalability, and cost optimization. They select appropriate AWS services and analyze costs.  
• AWS Developers build and deploy applications on AWS, writing code and integrating AWS services like APIs and SDKs. Both roles are essential for effective cloud solutions on AWS. 

4. AWS Certified Developer Associate vs Solutions Architect: Skills and Abilities Required

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An effective AWS architect should be able to create code in any of the programming languages that have an official AWS SDK, including Java, Python, C#, and others. In order to develop practical, logical solutions that will function as planned, it is essential to have a general understanding of programming. 

The duties of an AWS Developer can change depending on the organization's hiring priorities at the time. Some potential responsibilities include: 

1. Ensuring efficient development, testing, and design.  
2. Coding infrastructure using a tool like CloudFormation. 
3. Ongoing management of knowledge.
4. Creation of cost-conscious design.
5. Defining and capturing best practices and tactics for infrastructure upkeep and application deployment. 
6. Minimizing downtime during infrastructure migration. 
7. Putting a monitoring stack together. 
8. Putting service capacity planning concepts into practice.

5. AWS Certified Developer Associate vs Solutions Architect: Demand and Popularity

AWS Developer

The fact that cloud computing is unavoidable for IT professionals in 2024 is one of the key justifications for why AWS certifications are worthwhile. All industries are moving to the cloud as a result of revolutionary technologies like artificial intelligence and machine learning. According to Forbes, the majority of IT professionals think that the adoption of cloud computing is significantly influenced by these cutting-edge technology. 

AWS controls nearly a third of the IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service) market, which is another reason you should begin your cloud computing adventure with it. This surpasses the combined offerings of the following two suppliers, Google Cloud Platform and Microsoft Azure. In the coming years, AWS is poised to experience exponential growth if this pattern persists, which analysts predict it will. 

AWS Solution Architect

Because AWS provides such a wide range of services and capabilities, AWS architects are in high demand. The infrastructure and programmes that use AWS are designed and constructed by AWS architects. They collaborate with clients to develop unique solutions that are tailored to the unique requirements of their companies.

It is crucial to have a well-thought-out and efficient infrastructure in the modern world. This implies that you require experts who can assist you in creating and maintaining this infrastructure. The AWS Solution Architect is one such expert.

Amazon Web Services offers the AWS Solutions Architect Associate (ASA) credential. The certification equips people with the abilities and information needed to develop, implement, and maintain AWS solutions. 

6. AWS Solutions Architect vs Developer: Salary

In salary comparisons, the demand for AWS Solution Architect is high. 

• A Solution Architect makes an average salary of $150,000, according to Talent.com. The quantity of job posts reflects the high demand for Solution Architects. 
• Whereas the average salary of AWS Developer is $119,466 per year (Source: Glassdoor).

AWS Solutions Architect vs AWS Developer: What is Common?

Passed the AWS Developer exam? Consider the Solutions Architect exam next! There's significant overlap between the two, making it a smart follow-up. My own experience? Aced the Solutions Architect exam after the Developer one thanks to the shared knowledge base.

Here's why: both exams cover core AWS services like EC2, S3, RDS, and security fundamentals. A strong grasp of these underpins most of the exam questions. Understanding VPCs, security groups, and core security concepts is crucial for both as well.

This shared foundation opens doors beyond these two certifications. Once you have this knowledge, you can explore any AWS certification that piques your interest! Plus, studying for these exams can even give you a head start on Google Cloud or Azure certifications – many core cloud concepts overlap, even with different names.

How to Choose Between AWS Solutions Architect vs AWS Developer?

1. Factor In Career Goals

When we include career opportunities, the AWS solutions architect vs developer jobs depend on the candidate's interests and plans for professional development are also very important. It appears that the AWS Solutions Architect position might pay you more money. The AWS developer job role, on the other hand, can assist you in delving further into real-world applications using the AWS console.

2. Consider your Personality

If you're a quick learner who enjoys grasping complex systems, the AWS Solutions Architect path might be ideal.  This role focuses on designing secure and efficient solutions using best practices for AWS architecture. While hands-on development might be less frequent, it provides a strong foundation for anyone new to AWS.  The  AWS Solutions Architect Associate certification validates your expertise in this area.

The key lies in understanding your learning style. Are you someone who thrives on absorbing a broad range of knowledge? If so, the Solutions Architect path will equip you to design robust and cost-effective AWS architectures. This path is perfect for those who enjoy the challenge of understanding the bigger picture.

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Conclusion

In conclusion of difference between AWS solution architect and developer, I strongly advise taking both tests. Developers that are interested in learning about AWS from a developer's perspective should take AWS developers exam. The skills you learn in this training will lay the groundwork for you to build absolutely amazing things on AWS.

A comparison of the AWS Developer and AWS Architect credentials is necessary for someone just beginning their AWS journey. Compared to the AWS developer associate certification test, many applicants believe the AWS Solutions Architect Associate exam to be quite challenging.

AWS Developer vs AWS Solution Architect comparisons, however, only have one possible response: you will not find the "better" one. You can earn lucrative income packages by passing either certification exam. In order to select the test that is right for you, you must first list your requirements for seeking AWS certification.