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The differences between communications consultants and consultants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a communications consultant and a consultant. Additionally, a communications consultant has an average salary of $91,455, which is higher than the $78,912 average annual salary of a consultant.
The top three skills for a communications consultant include powerpoint, web content and project management. The most important skills for a consultant are customer service, strong analytical, and project management.
| Communications Consultant | Consultant | |
| Yearly salary | $91,455 | $78,912 |
| Hourly rate | $43.97 | $37.94 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 11% |
| Number of jobs | 29,942 | 171,733 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Average age | 42 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
Communications consultants are responsible for preparing media releases, whether through print, video, or email. They perform varied tasks that may include working on complete projects such as media analysis and branding, creating strategies to reinforced communication among clients and employees, and providing guidance and recommendations to a company's public relations team. Communications consultants may also conduct training on best practices for other employees. Some employers prefer someone with a bachelor's degree in communications, public relations or journalism, previous work experience in a related field, and excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Consultants are individuals who were tapped by a company or an organization to work on a specific activity, depending on their field of expertise. They act as guides for the organization in undertaking projects that are related to their field. Consultants would usually assist organizations in planning, often giving advice when the need arises. They would, at times, take the lead in activities that involve data gathering and interpretation of data gathering results so that they can provide solid recommendations on actions that the organization may undertake. They may also guide the organization in implementing any changes brought about by their consultancy and in evaluating the effectiveness of the changes.
Communications consultants and consultants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Communications Consultant | Consultant | |
| Average salary | $91,455 | $78,912 |
| Salary range | Between $63,000 And $130,000 | Between $58,000 And $107,000 |
| Highest paying City | Oakland, CA | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Dell | L.E.K. Consulting |
| Best paying industry | Utilities | Technology |
There are a few differences between a communications consultant and a consultant in terms of educational background:
| Communications Consultant | Consultant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Most common major | Communication | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between communications consultants' and consultants' demographics:
| Communications Consultant | Consultant | |
| Average age | 42 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 43.5% Female, 56.5% | Male, 58.4% Female, 41.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.4% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.2% Asian, 5.4% White, 66.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% | Black or African American, 7.8% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 8.7% Asian, 13.8% White, 65.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 12% |