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The differences between functional consultants and project managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a project manager has an average salary of $91,578, 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 project manager are project management, project scope, and customer service.
| Functional Consultant | Project Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $85,317 | $91,578 |
| Hourly rate | $41.02 | $44.03 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 51,066 | 167,116 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4.17 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Average age | 43 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 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.
Project managers oversee a specific project related to the organization's business. They manage the whole project from inception to evaluation. They initiate planning with involved departments, follow-through on the plans, ensure smooth execution of the plans, and evaluate the project for further improvements should these be needed. In line with this, project managers also ensure that the project is cost-efficient and well within the budget. They also manage the different work teams involved in the project and ensure that things are running smoothly on this aspect as well.
Functional consultants and project managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Functional Consultant | Project Manager | |
| Average salary | $85,317 | $91,578 |
| Salary range | Between $65,000 And $110,000 | Between $64,000 And $129,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Workday | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Technology |
There are a few differences between a functional consultant and a project manager in terms of educational background:
| Functional Consultant | Project Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Business |
| Most common college | - | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between functional consultants' and project managers' demographics:
| Functional Consultant | Project Manager | |
| Average age | 43 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 71.9% Female, 28.1% | Male, 68.9% Female, 31.1% |
| 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, 7.7% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 12.9% Asian, 9.0% White, 65.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 10% |