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The differences between consultants and requirements managers 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 requirements manager takes usually requires 6-8 years. Additionally, a requirements manager has an average salary of $87,310, which is higher than the $78,912 average annual salary of a consultant.
The top three skills for a consultant include customer service, strong analytical and project management. The most important skills for a requirements manager are java, client facing, and emerging technologies.
| Consultant | Requirements Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $78,912 | $87,310 |
| Hourly rate | $37.94 | $41.98 |
| Growth rate | 11% | 16% |
| Number of jobs | 171,733 | 64,837 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Average age | 44 | 47 |
| 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.
A Requirements Manager develops and oversees procedures to ensure that projects meet their needs. They focus on identifying project requirements through extensive research and analysis, conceptualizing plans to attain them. There are also instances when they must spearhead product and requirement reviews, identifying their strengths and weaknesses to develop solutions against potential problem areas. Most Requirements Managers manage development teams, leading and encouraging them to reach goals while implementing company standards and regulations for a smooth and efficient workflow.
Consultants and requirements managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Consultant | Requirements Manager | |
| Average salary | $78,912 | $87,310 |
| Salary range | Between $58,000 And $107,000 | Between $56,000 And $135,000 |
| 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 requirements manager in terms of educational background:
| Consultant | Requirements Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Carnegie Mellon University |
Here are the differences between consultants' and requirements managers' demographics:
| Consultant | Requirements Manager | |
| Average age | 44 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 58.4% Female, 41.6% | Male, 66.8% Female, 33.2% |
| 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, 6.8% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 10.2% Asian, 12.6% White, 65.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 11% |