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The differences between gis specialists and gis 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 gis specialist and a gis consultant. Additionally, a gis consultant has an average salary of $94,013, which is higher than the $65,463 average annual salary of a gis specialist.
The top three skills for a gis specialist include GPS, python and data collection. The most important skills for a gis consultant are data analysis, desktop, and esri arcgis.
| GIS Specialist | GIS Consultant | |
| Yearly salary | $65,463 | $94,013 |
| Hourly rate | $31.47 | $45.20 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 2,029 | 16,722 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A GIS Specialist plans, develops, and implements systems and databases for storing and accessing geospatial data. They create maps and graphs using GIS software and related equipment.
A GIS (Geographic Information Systems) Consultant manages digital mapping data and performs analyses to answer geographical questions. They work for a wide range of industries, including technology, law enforcement, transportation, and construction.
Gis specialists and gis consultants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| GIS Specialist | GIS Consultant | |
| Average salary | $65,463 | $94,013 |
| Salary range | Between $43,000 And $98,000 | Between $66,000 And $133,000 |
| Highest paying City | Edison, NJ | - |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | - |
| Best paying company | The Wonderful Company | - |
| Best paying industry | Energy | - |
There are a few differences between a gis specialist and a gis consultant in terms of educational background:
| GIS Specialist | GIS Consultant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Most common major | Geography | Geography |
| Most common college | University of California, Berkeley | University of California, Berkeley |
Here are the differences between gis specialists' and gis consultants' demographics:
| GIS Specialist | GIS Consultant | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 69.4% Female, 30.6% | Male, 77.1% Female, 22.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 8.8% Asian, 12.0% White, 67.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black or African American, 6.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 8.8% Asian, 12.0% White, 67.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |