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The differences between consultants in product development and developer/consultants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 8-10 years to become a consultant in product development, becoming a developer/consultant takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a consultant in product development has an average salary of $111,727, which is higher than the $98,508 average annual salary of a developer/consultant.
The top three skills for a consultant in product development include cycle management, business development and product development. The most important skills for a developer/consultant are java, project management, and javascript.
| Consultant In Product Development | Developer/Consultant | |
| Yearly salary | $111,727 | $98,508 |
| Hourly rate | $53.71 | $47.36 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 138,422 | 257,985 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 10 | 4 |
Product development consultants create products with enhanced or additional features to help their clients remain competitive. They evaluate the proposed designs of products before advising their team to start its development. Their jobs are mainly to report on actions to improve the product proposals and give constructive criticisms regarding the staff's performance during meetings or group huddles. They must also have strong written and verbal communication skills, knowledge in product development processes, and detail orientation to perform the duties of the job well.
A developer/consultant is responsible for developing system databases and applications, depending on the business' needs and clients' specifications. Developers/consultants design their services to manage optimal performance and maximize productivity for timely submission of projects, ensuring client satisfaction and loyalty. They also handle clients' inquiries and concerns, informing them about necessary adjustments to improve strategic procedures and processes. A developer/consultant must have excellent communication and analytical skills, as well as extensive experience with the technology industry.
Consultants in product development and developer/consultants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Consultant In Product Development | Developer/Consultant | |
| Average salary | $111,727 | $98,508 |
| Salary range | Between $81,000 And $153,000 | Between $71,000 And $135,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | ERM | Microsoft |
| Best paying industry | Transportation | Technology |
There are a few differences between a consultant in product development and a developer/consultant in terms of educational background:
| Consultant In Product Development | Developer/Consultant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Georgia | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between consultants in product development' and developer/consultants' demographics:
| Consultant In Product Development | Developer/Consultant | |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 66.6% Female, 33.4% | Male, 58.5% Female, 41.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.0% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 8.7% Asian, 8.2% White, 74.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 4.6% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.4% Asian, 29.8% White, 52.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 8% |