A $50k/year novice programmer can be promoted to a $60k/year
programmer.  A programmer can be promoted to a $75k/year lead
programmer.  A lead to a $100k/year architect.  What happens next?

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Clarification of Question by orangepeel-ga on 10 Jul 2006 13:43 PDT

What I mean is... is there a promotion beyond architect?  Where does
an architect go when he's ready to get promoted again?

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Request for Question Clarification by tutuzdad-ga on 10 Jul 2006 14:17 PDT

Once promoted, an architect typically becomes a Senior Programming
Architect, and then Project Manger if those positions exists within
his business. Does this answer your question about the normal
heirachy?

tutuzdad-ga

Manger heirarchy is something I don't know about, but "architect" is a
profession requiring training and credentials, not just a title in the
firm's structure, regardless of what titles the firm uses.
A person could not be simply promoted to architect.  The lead
programmer would have to have credentials as an architect before he
was promoted, and he would probably have had them as a mere
programmer.  He would still be just an architect if he were promoted
to a position of higher responsibility, call it "senior architect" or
whatever.

It depends on the firm.  These days the right thinking and progressive
firms have recognized that many technically gifted people don't have a
desire to enter the management chain.  For instance, Microsoft has a
progression that terminates at "Distinguished Engineer", which has the
compensation equivelant that of a vice president.  In more traditional
firms, you will be shuffled off into project management or some other
similar role.  These are vital positions, but they are different
positions, requiring different talents.

frankcorrao-ga is correct.  The path described in the question is
hardly standard and whatever path there may be beyond architect is
even less standard.  There may or may not be a non-management path
beyond architect.  There might be titles like "Chief Engineer,"
"Principal Engineer," "Chief Technical Officer," or "Fellow."  Apple
Computer, IBM, and Sun Microsystems have Fellows, for example.  And
some companies just call everybody "Member of Technical Staff."