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The differences between human resources associates and senior 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 human resources associate and a senior human resources consultant. Additionally, a senior human resources consultant has an average salary of $81,131, which is higher than the $56,636 average annual salary of a human resources associate.
The top three skills for a human resources associate include customer service, HRIS and I-9. The most important skills for a senior human resources consultant are healthcare, employee engagement, and workforce planning.
| Human Resources Associate | Senior Human Resources Consultant | |
| Yearly salary | $56,636 | $81,131 |
| Hourly rate | $27.23 | $39.01 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 43,496 | 62,899 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Average age | 41 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A human resources associate is responsible for supporting the human resources department's operations, updating employees' records within the organization's database, and managing the employees' inquiries and concerns by referencing the human resources policies. Human resources associates assist with staffing and recruitment processes, maintaining a timely job board, and filtering potential candidates' requirements and qualifications. They also respond to payments and benefits concerns and recommend employees' training and programs to maximize their potential, credibility, and productivity for daily operations and project management.
A senior human resources consultant specializes in recommending solutions to optimize a company's human resource operations. Their responsibilities typically revolve around performing research and analysis to identify the strengths and weaknesses of existing procedures, devising strategies to attain the best employment practices, and developing programs for the benefit of employees. They may also implement the company's policies and regulations, creating new ones as needed. Furthermore, as a senior human resources consultant, it is essential to lead and encourage junior consultants and managers to accomplish goals in adherence to the vision and mission of the company.
Human resources associates and senior human resources consultants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Human Resources Associate | Senior Human Resources Consultant | |
| Average salary | $56,636 | $81,131 |
| Salary range | Between $39,000 And $80,000 | Between $60,000 And $108,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New York | New York |
| Best paying company | Citi | Santander Private Banking International |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Technology |
There are a few differences between a human resources associate and a senior human resources consultant in terms of educational background:
| Human Resources Associate | Senior Human Resources Consultant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between human resources associates' and senior human resources consultants' demographics:
| Human Resources Associate | Senior Human Resources Consultant | |
| Average age | 41 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 21.2% Female, 78.8% | Male, 36.3% Female, 63.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.0% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 18.6% Asian, 8.0% White, 56.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% | 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 | 9% | 18% |