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Executive consultant vs business consultant

The differences between executive consultants and business consultants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 8-10 years to become an executive consultant, becoming a business consultant takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, an executive consultant has an average salary of $131,331, which is higher than the $87,214 average annual salary of a business consultant.

The top three skills for an executive consultant include healthcare, business development and financial services. The most important skills for a business consultant are data analysis, project management, and strong analytical.

Executive consultant vs business consultant overview

Executive ConsultantBusiness Consultant
Yearly salary$131,331$87,214
Hourly rate$63.14$41.93
Growth rate10%11%
Number of jobs118,432128,033
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 67%Bachelor's Degree, 67%
Average age3944
Years of experience104

What does an executive consultant do?

An executive consultant gives support and guidance to the company's management team. Their duties may vary depending on each client's needs. Other companies hire consultants to solve a particular problem or assist with operations, employees, or strategic planning. They advise partner companies in business development opportunities to pursue financial goals and financial growth. They can also provide consulting services for non-profit organizations to act as an executive member.

What does a business consultant do?

A business consultant is an individual who works directly with business owners on developing a business plan and identifying their marketing needs. Business consultants offer business owners a wide range of services, such as supplementing existing staff, provide expertise in a specific market, and influencing other people. To increase revenue in business, business consultants should have experience success with the previous business owners. Business consultants must also have a bachelor's degree in business management and received years of field training.

Executive consultant vs business consultant salary

Executive consultants and business consultants have different pay scales, as shown below.

Executive ConsultantBusiness Consultant
Average salary$131,331$87,214
Salary rangeBetween $90,000 And $190,000Between $64,000 And $117,000
Highest paying CitySouth San Francisco, CASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateWashingtonAlaska
Best paying companyMayo ClinicZS
Best paying industryTechnologyTechnology

Differences between executive consultant and business consultant education

There are a few differences between an executive consultant and a business consultant in terms of educational background:

Executive ConsultantBusiness Consultant
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 67%Bachelor's Degree, 67%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of GeorgiaNorthwestern University

Executive consultant vs business consultant demographics

Here are the differences between executive consultants' and business consultants' demographics:

Executive ConsultantBusiness Consultant
Average age3944
Gender ratioMale, 67.2% Female, 32.8%Male, 62.8% Female, 37.2%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 3.0% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 8.7% Asian, 8.2% White, 74.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%Black or African American, 8.0% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 8.9% Asian, 13.4% White, 65.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage10%12%

Differences between executive consultant and business consultant duties and responsibilities

Executive consultant example responsibilities.

  • Recruit to manage key client engagements to define global strategic sourcing projects and solutions to utilize technology and advance ERP systems.
  • Manage e-commerce website and direct email campaigns to wholesale and retail customers, initiate SEO plan: organic and paid search.
  • Manage design and development of cloud-base billing application for streamlining payroll and invoicing, as well as offering real-time business analytics.
  • Own the PMO, reporting to the COO/CEO.
  • Lead and develop the expertise of individuals in the PMO.
  • Develop protocols for RFP initiation and execution.
  • Show more

Business consultant example responsibilities.

  • Partner with PMO and lead testing effort to ensure completeness of test data sets and to manage risk.
  • Manage requirements gathering, identify KPI s, and oversee design and architecture decisions.
  • Manage various SOX, HIPAA and PCI compliance projects from the planning stages to completion.
  • Apply the specific rules for HIPAA X12, Medicaid manage care requirements and industry best practices for transaction handling.
  • Manage external technology suppliers to assure functional operations and system architecture meet the business needs.
  • Perform successful UAT - good knowledge & experience in SDLC - SQL querying and data analysis.
  • Show more

Executive consultant vs business consultant skills

Common executive consultant skills
  • Healthcare, 17%
  • Business Development, 8%
  • Financial Services, 8%
  • Project Management, 7%
  • Process Improvement, 6%
  • C-Suite, 5%
Common business consultant skills
  • Data Analysis, 10%
  • Project Management, 9%
  • Strong Analytical, 8%
  • Analytics, 7%
  • Healthcare, 5%
  • Tableau, 5%

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