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The differences between consultants and general contractors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a consultant, becoming a general contractor takes usually requires 6-8 years. Additionally, a consultant has an average salary of $78,912, which is higher than the $66,602 average annual salary of a general contractor.
The top three skills for a consultant include customer service, strong analytical and project management. The most important skills for a general contractor are plumbing, safety regulations, and contract negotiations.
| Consultant | General Contractor | |
| Yearly salary | $78,912 | $66,602 |
| Hourly rate | $37.94 | $32.02 |
| Growth rate | 11% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 171,733 | 66,218 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 45% |
| Average age | 44 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 8 |
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.
The job of general contractors is to oversee the day-to-day operations of projects in the organization. General contractors are considered seasoned experts when it comes to home improvement. They provide the material, equipment, labor, and services for a construction project. Often, they hire specialized subcontractors who will be working on some part of the construction work. They should have attained a bachelor's or associate's degree in construction management. Their experience in the industry is highly coveted.
Consultants and general contractors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Consultant | General Contractor | |
| Average salary | $78,912 | $66,602 |
| Salary range | Between $58,000 And $107,000 | Between $41,000 And $107,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | - |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | - |
| Best paying company | L.E.K. Consulting | - |
| Best paying industry | Technology | - |
There are a few differences between a consultant and a general contractor in terms of educational background:
| Consultant | General Contractor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 45% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo |
Here are the differences between consultants' and general contractors' demographics:
| Consultant | General Contractor | |
| Average age | 44 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 58.4% Female, 41.6% | Male, 90.6% Female, 9.4% |
| 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, 3.6% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 17.0% Asian, 2.8% White, 71.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 4% |