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The differences between advisory project managers and contract project managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become an advisory project manager, becoming a contract project manager takes usually requires 6-8 years. Additionally, an advisory project manager has an average salary of $138,810, which is higher than the $81,263 average annual salary of a contract project manager.
The top three skills for an advisory project manager include advisory services, client relationships and SAN. The most important skills for a contract project manager are project management, project scope, and contract project.
| Advisory Project Manager | Contract Project Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $138,810 | $81,263 |
| Hourly rate | $66.74 | $39.07 |
| Growth rate | - | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 123,568 | 159,765 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Average age | 44 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 8 |
An advisory project manager leads a team of advisers who help the project planning department. His/Her or her duties include performing business process analysis, ensuring that the engineering team delivers within the defined scope and timelines, and training team members on delivering high-quality solutions. The skills that an advisory project manager should possess to perform such duties include a keen eye for details and good leadership, conflict and resolution, and communication skills. The education requirements to qualify for the position include obtaining a college degree in business or finance.
A contract project manager is an executive professional who provides project management and business analysis to fill the needs of an organization. Contract project managers are required to monitor and inspect contract projects to maintain a high level of safety and quality traffic control in highly variable conditions. They assist contract project administration with the review of project progress reports. Contract project managers must also manage the relationship between clients and the organization while monitoring the progress of the project to ensure that it complies with the terms of the corporate contract.
Advisory project managers and contract project managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Advisory Project Manager | Contract Project Manager | |
| Average salary | $138,810 | $81,263 |
| Salary range | Between $106,000 And $180,000 | Between $53,000 And $124,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Idaho | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | White & Case | PRO Unlimited |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Health Care |
There are a few differences between an advisory project manager and a contract project manager in terms of educational background:
| Advisory Project Manager | Contract Project Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo |
Here are the differences between advisory project managers' and contract project managers' demographics:
| Advisory Project Manager | Contract Project Manager | |
| Average age | 44 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 69.4% Female, 30.6% | Male, 66.1% Female, 33.9% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 3.7% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 17.6% Asian, 2.8% White, 70.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 4% |