Human resources consultant vs human resources supervisor

The differences between human resources consultants and human resources supervisors 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 supervisor. Additionally, a human resources consultant has an average salary of $71,882, which is higher than the $64,757 average annual salary of a human resources supervisor.

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 supervisor are customer service, state laws, and payroll processing.

Human resources consultant vs human resources supervisor overview

	Human Resources Consultant	Human Resources Supervisor
Yearly salary	$71,882	$64,757
Hourly rate	$34.56	$31.13
Growth rate	7%	7%
Number of jobs	52,761	46,523
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 70%	Bachelor's Degree, 62%
Average age	47	47
Years of experience	6	6

What does a human resources consultant do?

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.

What does a human resources supervisor do?

A human resources supervisor is an individual responsible for developing and administering human resources programs so that the company can achieve efficient operations. Human resources supervisors coordinate all stages of the hiring process, such as checking all candidates' backgrounds, conducting interviews, and drug screening. They address conflicts among employees, investigate employee problems, and work with management to administer employee discipline or corrective action. The human resources supervisor also develops training and development programs for their salaried employees.

Human resources consultant vs human resources supervisor salary

Human resources consultants and human resources supervisors have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Human Resources Consultant	Human Resources Supervisor
Average salary	$71,882	$64,757
Salary range	Between $53,000 And $95,000	Between $47,000 And $88,000
Highest paying City	Washington, DC	San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state	New Jersey	California
Best paying company	Eli Lilly and Company	Genentech
Best paying industry	Manufacturing	Manufacturing

Differences between human resources consultant and human resources supervisor education

There are a few differences between a human resources consultant and a human resources supervisor in terms of educational background:

	Human Resources Consultant	Human Resources Supervisor
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 70%	Bachelor's Degree, 62%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	Northwestern University	University of Pennsylvania

Human resources consultant vs human resources supervisor demographics

Here are the differences between human resources consultants' and human resources supervisors' demographics:

	Human Resources Consultant	Human Resources Supervisor
Average age	47	47
Gender ratio	Male, 31.6% Female, 68.4%	Male, 35.1% Female, 64.9%
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%

Differences between human resources consultant and human resources supervisor duties and responsibilities

Human resources consultant example responsibilities.

Manage AAP plan development, modification, implementation, and reporting requirements.
Advise management on disciplinary actions, compensation, performance management, FMLA issues, and daily policy and procedural interpretation.
Handle UN employment claims, safety meetings, and key OSHA information.
Prepare cross-check system to ensure compliance with OSHA, EEOC and ADA.
Develop payroll relations with ADP and provide application training.
Conduct orientations to managers and supervisors on EEO federal/local regulations.

Human resources supervisor example responsibilities.

Manage and lead service team initiatives/special projects (i.e., ADP conversion, corporate mergers, and teamwork events).
Manage HRIS database system and provide monthly reports to executive management.
Manage job-reclassification project, conducting occupational research to determine if job titles are synchronized with FLSA norms.
Utilize KRONOS and ADP to import and process payroll.
Review all exempt positions to determine classification and conduct audits to ensure FLSA compliance.
Maintain all company leave of absence (including work-relate injuries, non work-relate leaves and FMLA, etc .).

Human resources consultant vs human resources supervisor skills

Common human resources consultant skills

Performance Management, 9%
Shared Services, 8%
Workforce Planning, 8%
Employee Engagement, 7%
Payroll, 6%
Customer Service, 4%

Common human resources supervisor skills

Customer Service, 22%
State Laws, 9%
Payroll Processing, 5%
Personnel Actions, 4%
HRIS, 4%
ISO, 3%

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Human Resources Consultant
Human Resources Consultant vs Human Resources Supervisor

Updated January 8, 2025

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