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The differences between consultants and technical 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 technical consultant takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a technical consultant has an average salary of $89,290, 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 technical consultant are java, database, and customer service.
| Consultant | Technical Consultant | |
| Yearly salary | $78,912 | $89,290 |
| Hourly rate | $37.94 | $42.93 |
| Growth rate | 11% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 171,733 | 173,374 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| 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 technical consultant is an individual who provides technical support and performs troubleshooting functions for the company's product or application. A consultant should be highly knowledgeable about the product or application so that he/she can assist users and clients with whatever issues they may be facing. A bachelor's degree is required to work as a technical consultant, particularly a degree in Computer Science or Engineering. Also, a consultant should conduct training sessions and therefore, must possess excellent communication skills.
Consultants and technical consultants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Consultant | Technical Consultant | |
| Average salary | $78,912 | $89,290 |
| Salary range | Between $58,000 And $107,000 | Between $67,000 And $118,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Washington |
| Best paying company | L.E.K. Consulting | Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Professional |
There are a few differences between a consultant and a technical consultant in terms of educational background:
| Consultant | Technical Consultant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Most common major | Business | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between consultants' and technical consultants' demographics:
| Consultant | Technical Consultant | |
| Average age | 44 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 58.4% Female, 41.6% | Male, 79.1% Female, 20.9% |
| 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, 11.2% Asian, 15.3% White, 58.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 8% |