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The differences between general contractors and project controls specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-8 years to become both a general contractor and a project controls specialist. Additionally, a project controls specialist has an average salary of $85,159, which is higher than the $66,602 average annual salary of a general contractor.
The top three skills for a general contractor include plumbing, safety regulations and contract negotiations. The most important skills for a project controls specialist are project controls, project management, and work breakdown structure.
| General Contractor | Project Controls Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $66,602 | $85,159 |
| Hourly rate | $32.02 | $40.94 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 66,218 | 21,484 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 45% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 8 | 8 |
The job of general contractors is to oversee the day-to-day operations of projects in the organization. General contractors are considered seasoned experts when it comes to home improvement. They provide the material, equipment, labor, and services for a construction project. Often, they hire specialized subcontractors who will be working on some part of the construction work. They should have attained a bachelor's or associate's degree in construction management. Their experience in the industry is highly coveted.
A project controls specialist is responsible for establishing project management procedures to achieve project goals and objectives by following clients' specifications and requirements within the budget limitations and timetable. Project controls specialists implement strategic techniques to mitigate potential project risks and promote maximum productivity by conducting regular meetings to monitor the project's progress. They also coordinate with the clients for the updates, as well as informing them of any plan adjustments. A project controls specialist maintains strict quality control processes to ensure the efficient development of the project for timely deliverables.
General contractors and project controls specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| General Contractor | Project Controls Specialist | |
| Average salary | $66,602 | $85,159 |
| Salary range | Between $41,000 And $107,000 | Between $60,000 And $119,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | - | Idaho |
| Best paying company | - | |
| Best paying industry | - | Professional |
There are a few differences between a general contractor and a project controls specialist in terms of educational background:
| General Contractor | Project Controls Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 45% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo |
Here are the differences between general contractors' and project controls specialists' demographics:
| General Contractor | Project Controls Specialist | |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 90.6% Female, 9.4% | Male, 58.3% Female, 41.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.6% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 17.0% Asian, 2.8% White, 71.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% | Black or African American, 3.7% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 17.7% Asian, 2.9% White, 70.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |