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The differences between human resources consultants and human resources business partners 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 consultant and a human resources business partner. Additionally, a human resources business partner has an average salary of $86,363, which is higher than the $71,882 average annual salary of a human resources consultant.
The top three skills for a human resources consultant include performance management, shared services and workforce planning. The most important skills for a human resources business partner are employee engagement, HRBP, and succession planning.
| Human Resources Consultant | Human Resources Business Partner | |
| Yearly salary | $71,882 | $86,363 |
| Hourly rate | $34.56 | $41.52 |
| Growth rate | 7% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 52,761 | 103,520 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
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 resource (HR) business partners' primary job is to ensure that business objectives are aligned with the management and employees within an organization. They typically focus more on developing HR strategy than implementing the company policies. They often work with individual business units, and their work is related to the company's current and future success. HR business partners are also responsible for providing performance management guidance, developing contract terms for new employees, transfers, and promotions, and providing advice on business units.
Human resources consultants and human resources business partners have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Human Resources Consultant | Human Resources Business Partner | |
| Average salary | $71,882 | $86,363 |
| Salary range | Between $53,000 And $95,000 | Between $62,000 And $119,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | California |
| Best paying company | Eli Lilly and Company | Ropes & Gray |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Finance |
There are a few differences between a human resources consultant and a human resources business partner in terms of educational background:
| Human Resources Consultant | Human Resources Business Partner | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between human resources consultants' and human resources business partners' demographics:
| Human Resources Consultant | Human Resources Business Partner | |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 31.6% Female, 68.4% | Male, 28.1% Female, 71.9% |
| 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% |