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The differences between human resources assistants and human resources consultants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a human resources assistant, becoming a human resources consultant takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a human resources consultant has an average salary of $71,882, which is higher than the $36,498 average annual salary of a human resources assistant.
The top three skills for a human resources assistant include customer service, payroll processing and background checks. The most important skills for a human resources consultant are performance management, shared services, and workforce planning.
| Human Resources Assistant | Human Resources Consultant | |
| Yearly salary | $36,498 | $71,882 |
| Hourly rate | $17.55 | $34.56 |
| Growth rate | - | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 40,408 | 52,761 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Average age | 43 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 6 |
Human resources (HR) assistants are responsible for various activities of the human resources department of the organization. This is usually an entry-level position for those who intend to build a career in human resources. Human resources assistants usually do administrative and clerical activities for the department. They are also exposed to various facets of HR, such as recruitment, training, compensation and benefits, employee relations, and organizational development. They get trained to do different activities, and as time goes by, they get to have more significant responsibilities within the department.
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.
Human resources assistants and human resources consultants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Human Resources Assistant | Human Resources Consultant | |
| Average salary | $36,498 | $71,882 |
| Salary range | Between $27,000 And $48,000 | Between $53,000 And $95,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | New York | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison | Eli Lilly and Company |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a human resources assistant and a human resources consultant in terms of educational background:
| Human Resources Assistant | Human Resources Consultant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between human resources assistants' and human resources consultants' demographics:
| Human Resources Assistant | Human Resources Consultant | |
| Average age | 43 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 15.9% Female, 84.1% | Male, 31.6% Female, 68.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.8% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 19.1% Asian, 10.4% White, 53.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% | 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 | 15% | 18% |