Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between functional consultants and functional analysts can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a functional consultant and a functional analyst. Additionally, a functional analyst has an average salary of $96,841, which is higher than the $85,317 average annual salary of a functional consultant.
The top three skills for a functional consultant include business process, prototyping and ERP. The most important skills for a functional analyst are business process, lifecycle management, and HR.
| Functional Consultant | Functional Analyst | |
| Yearly salary | $85,317 | $96,841 |
| Hourly rate | $41.02 | $46.56 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 51,066 | 52,085 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A functional consultant is responsible for supporting a team of business analysts and software engineers in designing and creating a software system and related computer applications, following the specifications of a client on their software needs. Functional consultants analyze different technological approaches, evaluate technical solutions, and utilize the best system method to meet the requirements of a client efficiently. A functional consultant performs multiple diagnostic tests to ensure the optimal performance of the system. They should also have excellent communication skills, especially in coordinating with the clients on updates and adjustments as needed.
Functional analysts are professionals specializing in a specific line of business, technology, and industry. They collect information by interviewing managers and employees and studying the company's systems and procedures. They design computer systems that meet business requirements and prepare reports for the managers. Additional duties for this role include installing and configuring new systems, running tests to ensure that specifications are met, and writing user manuals. Functional analysts are also responsible for conducting training on new capabilities to existing end-users.
Functional consultants and functional analysts have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Functional Consultant | Functional Analyst | |
| Average salary | $85,317 | $96,841 |
| Salary range | Between $65,000 And $110,000 | Between $71,000 And $131,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Mountain View, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | New Mexico |
| Best paying company | Workday | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Retail |
There are a few differences between a functional consultant and a functional analyst in terms of educational background:
| Functional Consultant | Functional Analyst | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Business |
| Most common college | - | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between functional consultants' and functional analysts' demographics:
| Functional Consultant | Functional Analyst | |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 71.9% Female, 28.1% | Male, 55.9% Female, 44.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.5% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 9.6% Asian, 25.2% White, 51.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 10.0% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 10.8% Asian, 19.5% White, 54.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |