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The differences between business consultants and business analysts can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a business consultant and a business analyst. Additionally, a business consultant has an average salary of $87,214, which is higher than the $74,431 average annual salary of a business analyst.
The top three skills for a business consultant include data analysis, project management and strong analytical. The most important skills for a business analyst are project management, data analysis, and business analysis.
| Business Consultant | Business Analyst | |
| Yearly salary | $87,214 | $74,431 |
| Hourly rate | $41.93 | $35.78 |
| Growth rate | 11% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 128,033 | 170,514 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A business consultant is an individual who works directly with business owners on developing a business plan and identifying their marketing needs. Business consultants offer business owners a wide range of services, such as supplementing existing staff, provide expertise in a specific market, and influencing other people. To increase revenue in business, business consultants should have experience success with the previous business owners. Business consultants must also have a bachelor's degree in business management and received years of field training.
Business analysts are employees who are responsible for interpreting business data and coming up with business solutions. They are well-versed in whatever business the company is in, and they have strong business acumen. They collect data related to the business and then interpret and analyze the data. Business analysts should be able to conduct different levels of analyses and must also be able to create a sound study. Once the analysis is done, they provide recommendations or strategic direction to decision-makers that will help the business become sustainable and grow.
Business consultants and business analysts have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Business Consultant | Business Analyst | |
| Average salary | $87,214 | $74,431 |
| Salary range | Between $64,000 And $117,000 | Between $53,000 And $103,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Mountain View, CA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Washington |
| Best paying company | ZS | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Finance |
There are a few differences between a business consultant and a business analyst in terms of educational background:
| Business Consultant | Business Analyst | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between business consultants' and business analysts' demographics:
| Business Consultant | Business Analyst | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 62.8% Female, 37.2% | Male, 53.9% Female, 46.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.0% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 8.9% Asian, 13.4% White, 65.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | 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% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 11% |