Employee relations manager vs human resources consultant

The differences between employee relations managers and human resources consultants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both an employee relations manager and a human resources consultant. Additionally, an employee relations manager has an average salary of $81,465, which is higher than the $71,882 average annual salary of a human resources consultant.

The top three skills for an employee relations manager include performance management, management system and conflict resolution. The most important skills for a human resources consultant are performance management, shared services, and workforce planning.

Employee relations manager vs human resources consultant overview

	Employee Relations Manager	Human Resources Consultant
Yearly salary	$81,465	$71,882
Hourly rate	$39.17	$34.56
Growth rate	7%	7%
Number of jobs	41,544	52,761
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 73%	Bachelor's Degree, 70%
Average age	47	47
Years of experience	6	6

What does an employee relations manager do?

An employee relations manager's responsibilities revolve around maintaining a strong professional relationship between employees and a company's management. They are also in charge of resolving conflicts and issues within the workplace, providing technical support on all employee programs, developing orientation and workshop activities among trainees and new members of the workforce, and addressing their concerns promptly and professionally. Furthermore, there are instances when an employee relations manager must conduct investigations, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.

What does a human resources consultant do?

A human resources consultant is responsible for supporting the human resources management of an organization by advising on policies and procedures for effective employee relations. Human resources consultants analyze HR programs and current processes and initiate projects to maintain stable operations. They also facilitate strategic plans to resolve HR matters and improve culture management. A human resources consultant must be highly-knowledgeable of the human resources industry, its techniques, regulations, and disciplines to help with the implementation of business advancements and achieve the organization's objectives.

Employee relations manager vs human resources consultant salary

Employee relations managers and human resources consultants have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Employee Relations Manager	Human Resources Consultant
Average salary	$81,465	$71,882
Salary range	Between $59,000 And $112,000	Between $53,000 And $95,000
Highest paying City	San Francisco, CA	Washington, DC
Highest paying state	Washington	New Jersey
Best paying company	Meta	Eli Lilly and Company
Best paying industry	Retail	Manufacturing

Differences between employee relations manager and human resources consultant education

There are a few differences between an employee relations manager and a human resources consultant in terms of educational background:

	Employee Relations Manager	Human Resources Consultant
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 73%	Bachelor's Degree, 70%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	Northwestern University	Northwestern University

Employee relations manager vs human resources consultant demographics

Here are the differences between employee relations managers' and human resources consultants' demographics:

	Employee Relations Manager	Human Resources Consultant
Average age	47	47
Gender ratio	Male, 40.9% Female, 59.1%	Male, 31.6% Female, 68.4%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 7.7% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 11.1% Asian, 5.7% White, 70.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%	Black or African American, 7.7% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 11.1% Asian, 5.7% White, 70.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage	18%	18%

Differences between employee relations manager and human resources consultant duties and responsibilities

Employee relations manager example responsibilities.

Lead office through OFCCP audit and manage compliance with a conciliation agreement.
Manage and publish several cost-savings models for Sr. level management.
Provide litigation support to counsel which include representation at depositions, mediation and settlement conferences, and trial document preparation.
File EEO-1, ACA annually.
Provide oversight for all unemployment claims, successfully defending all unfound claims.
Serve as chief spokesperson and advisor on all labor and employee relations matters.

Human resources consultant example responsibilities.

Manage AAP plan development, modification, implementation, and reporting requirements.
Advise management on disciplinary actions, compensation, performance management, FMLA issues, and daily policy and procedural interpretation.
Handle UN employment claims, safety meetings, and key OSHA information.
Prepare cross-check system to ensure compliance with OSHA, EEOC and ADA.
Develop payroll relations with ADP and provide application training.
Conduct orientations to managers and supervisors on EEO federal/local regulations.

Employee relations manager vs human resources consultant skills

Common employee relations manager skills

Performance Management, 9%
Management System, 7%
Conflict Resolution, 5%
Labor Relations, 5%
Employment Law, 5%
Employee Engagement, 4%

Common human resources consultant skills

Performance Management, 9%
Shared Services, 8%
Workforce Planning, 8%
Employee Engagement, 7%
Payroll, 6%
Customer Service, 4%

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Employee Relations Manager
Employee Relations Manager vs Human Resources Consultant

Updated January 8, 2025

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