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The differences between consultants and systems consultants 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 systems consultant takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a systems consultant has an average salary of $99,659, 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 systems consultant are infrastructure, project management, and C++.
| Consultant | Systems Consultant | |
| Yearly salary | $78,912 | $99,659 |
| Hourly rate | $37.94 | $47.91 |
| Growth rate | 11% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 171,733 | 134,337 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Average age | 44 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 6 |
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 systems consultant is responsible for advising on the design, plan, and installation of information technology systems for clients. You will analyze data of an organization, determine the requirements of an information system, and define project objectives. Other duties include providing recommendations on the appropriate software, hardware, and systems, designing and installing new software, and organizing and conducting training for end-users. You will also be responsible for preparing test plans and test scripts needed for system testing.
Consultants and systems consultants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Consultant | Systems Consultant | |
| Average salary | $78,912 | $99,659 |
| Salary range | Between $58,000 And $107,000 | Between $74,000 And $134,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Palo Alto, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | California |
| Best paying company | L.E.K. Consulting | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Internet |
There are a few differences between a consultant and a systems consultant in terms of educational background:
| Consultant | Systems Consultant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between consultants' and systems consultants' demographics:
| Consultant | Systems Consultant | |
| Average age | 44 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 58.4% Female, 41.6% | Male, 75.3% Female, 24.7% |
| 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, 10.2% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 10.9% Asian, 14.6% White, 59.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 8% |