Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between contract workers and contractor/consultants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a contractor/consultant has an average salary of $84,811, which is higher than the $70,825 average annual salary of a contract worker.
The top three skills for a contract worker include financial statements, SQL and payroll. The most important skills for a contractor/consultant are healthcare, post implementation, and data analysis.
| Contract Worker | Contractor/Consultant | |
| Yearly salary | $70,825 | $84,811 |
| Hourly rate | $34.05 | $40.77 |
| Growth rate | -8% | 11% |
| Number of jobs | 36,853 | 64,573 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 47% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Average age | 48 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 6 | - |
A contract worker is an independent contractor who only works at companies for a limited amount of time, according to agreed-upon contract terms. When it comes to employment, a contract worker may find opportunities in different industries, depending upon their set of skills and abilities. Although the extent of their responsibilities depends on their company or industry of employment, it typically includes performing basic tasks, maintaining an active communication line with co-workers, and adhering to company policies and regulations.
A contractor is a self-employed businessperson who agrees to work for a fixed price. His/her job involves the evaluation of clients' needs and actual performance of work. On the other hand, a consultant is a skilled independent businessperson who provides expert teaching and training in a specific market by assisting existing staff for the improvement of operations, problem-solving, and development of strategies. His/her role is to assess clients' needs and provide expert advice and opinion. However, both individuals are not employees, since they came from outside of the organization to perform such services.
Contract workers and contractor/consultants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Contract Worker | Contractor/Consultant | |
| Average salary | $70,825 | $84,811 |
| Salary range | Between $52,000 And $95,000 | Between $58,000 And $123,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Boston, MA |
| Highest paying state | - | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | - | Cerner |
| Best paying industry | - | Technology |
There are a few differences between a contract worker and a contractor/consultant in terms of educational background:
| Contract Worker | Contractor/Consultant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 47% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | Western Carolina University |
Here are the differences between contract workers' and contractor/consultants' demographics:
| Contract Worker | Contractor/Consultant | |
| Average age | 48 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 59.2% Female, 40.8% | Male, 66.2% Female, 33.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.1% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.5% Asian, 7.4% White, 65.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 6.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.4% Asian, 8.8% White, 70.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 11% |