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The differences between consultants and associate 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 consultant and an associate consultant. Additionally, a consultant has an average salary of $78,912, which is higher than the $73,340 average annual salary of an associate consultant.
The top three skills for a consultant include customer service, strong analytical and project management. The most important skills for an associate consultant are healthcare, customer service, and project management.
| Consultant | Associate Consultant | |
| Yearly salary | $78,912 | $73,340 |
| Hourly rate | $37.94 | $35.26 |
| Growth rate | 11% | 11% |
| Number of jobs | 171,733 | 94,983 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
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.
An associate consultant is responsible for evaluating the project requirements based on clients' specifications, ensuring that the team meets project deliverables efficiently. Associate consultants test system applications and network infrastructure to recommend possible modifications for optimal performance and flawless navigation. They also identify cost-efficient business opportunities to gain more clients and improve overall project management procedures. An associate consultant may also facilitate training programs for the staff to maximize their productivity and hone their potential.
Consultants and associate consultants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Consultant | Associate Consultant | |
| Average salary | $78,912 | $73,340 |
| Salary range | Between $58,000 And $107,000 | Between $60,000 And $88,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Alaska |
| Best paying company | L.E.K. Consulting | Practice Fusion |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Finance |
There are a few differences between a consultant and an associate consultant in terms of educational background:
| Consultant | Associate Consultant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between consultants' and associate consultants' demographics:
| Consultant | Associate Consultant | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 58.4% Female, 41.6% | Male, 55.5% Female, 44.5% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 7.4% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 8.4% Asian, 14.3% White, 65.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 12% |