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The differences between generalists 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 a generalist and a human resources consultant. Additionally, a human resources consultant has an average salary of $71,882, which is higher than the $46,518 average annual salary of a generalist.
The top three skills for a generalist include sales floor, store sales and customer loyalty. The most important skills for a human resources consultant are performance management, shared services, and workforce planning.
| Generalist | Human Resources Consultant | |
| Yearly salary | $46,518 | $71,882 |
| Hourly rate | $22.36 | $34.56 |
| Growth rate | 7% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 8,585 | 52,761 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 55% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A generalist, also known as a human resource generalist, is responsible for overseeing the operations in a human resource department, focusing on employees' welfare and working conditions. They are primarily involved in the hiring and laying off processes among employees, handing training and benefits programs, and coordinating with every department in the company. Furthermore, a generalist must perform administrative tasks that mostly revolve around producing reports and processing paperwork, conducting research and analysis, and responding to correspondence.
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.
Generalists and human resources consultants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Generalist | Human Resources Consultant | |
| Average salary | $46,518 | $71,882 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $72,000 | Between $53,000 And $95,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | California | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Meta | Eli Lilly and Company |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a generalist and a human resources consultant in terms of educational background:
| Generalist | Human Resources Consultant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 55% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between generalists' and human resources consultants' demographics:
| Generalist | Human Resources Consultant | |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 37.8% Female, 62.2% | 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% |