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The differences between controllers and projects controllers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-8 years to become a controller, becoming a projects controller takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a controller has an average salary of $101,204, which is higher than the $79,451 average annual salary of a projects controller.
The top three skills for a controller include CPA, payroll processing and reconciliations. The most important skills for a projects controller are project management, financial analysis, and project controller.
| Controller | Projects Controller | |
| Yearly salary | $101,204 | $79,451 |
| Hourly rate | $48.66 | $38.20 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 75,440 | 16,334 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 75% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Average age | 46 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 8 | 4 |
Controllers are employees in the accounting department who manage the finances of the organization. They are involved in the budget setting activity at the start of the company's fiscal year. Controllers are responsible for ensuring that all departments work within their respective budgets. They have the power to recommend budget cuts due to any unforeseen circumstances that may happen. They also have the ability to veto or forego budget items. Controllers should have accounting skills and auditing skills. They must also be trustworthy and should work with integrity.
A project controller is responsible for evaluating the effectiveness of project management procedures, ensuring that the team adheres to the clients' specifications and requirements, and keeping all project resources and deliverables within the budget goals and set timeframe. Project controllers determine the progress of the project and coordinate the updates to the client, adjusting the project approach as needed to achieve high-quality standards and objectives. They also maintain an organized report of expenditures, as well as generating process reports to identify potential process improvement techniques that will maximize operational efficiency.
Controllers and projects controllers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Controller | Projects Controller | |
| Average salary | $101,204 | $79,451 |
| Salary range | Between $70,000 And $144,000 | Between $53,000 And $118,000 |
| Highest paying City | Portland, ME | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | New York | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Perkins Coie | California Resources |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Finance |
There are a few differences between a controller and a projects controller in terms of educational background:
| Controller | Projects Controller | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 75% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Most common major | Accounting | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between controllers' and projects controllers' demographics:
| Controller | Projects Controller | |
| Average age | 46 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 58.9% Female, 41.1% | Male, 55.9% Female, 44.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.7% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 14.8% Asian, 9.4% White, 63.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 8.5% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 10.8% Asian, 13.9% White, 62.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 7% |