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The differences between information technology consultants and senior information technology specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become an information technology consultant, becoming a senior information technology specialist takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a senior information technology specialist has an average salary of $103,478, which is higher than the $84,790 average annual salary of an information technology consultant.
The top three skills for an information technology consultant include customer service, database and project management. The most important skills for a senior information technology specialist are customer service, database, and technical support.
| Information Technology Consultant | Senior Information Technology Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $84,790 | $103,478 |
| Hourly rate | $40.76 | $49.75 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 142,475 | 111,996 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Average age | 43 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 2 |
An Information Technology Consultant, also known as IT Consultant, is responsible for sharing extensive knowledge of Information Technology by providing suggestions and solving issues within the company. Among the duties include installing and maintaining the necessary software and hardware, designing new procedures, overseeing all implementations, and ensuring that all systems are running smoothly, employing methods to secure databases, and providing essential instructions when needed. Furthermore, an Information Technology Consultant needs to coordinate and report to management or supervisors at all times.
A senior information technology specialist is responsible for handling technology systems and network issues, ensuring the efficiency and optimal performance of the database by configuration and improving network infrastructures. Senior information technology specialists also design computer systems and applications to support business functions and operations, depending on the requirements and budget limitations. They create resolution reports for reference and recommend strategic techniques to prevent the reoccurrence of defects and malfunctions. A senior information technology specialist must have excellent communication and technical skills, especially in responding to the end-users' inquiries and concerns about the servers.
Information technology consultants and senior information technology specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Information Technology Consultant | Senior Information Technology Specialist | |
| Average salary | $84,790 | $103,478 |
| Salary range | Between $62,000 And $115,000 | Between $78,000 And $136,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | California Resources | Ropes & Gray |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Energy |
There are a few differences between an information technology consultant and a senior information technology specialist in terms of educational background:
| Information Technology Consultant | Senior Information Technology Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between information technology consultants' and senior information technology specialists' demographics:
| Information Technology Consultant | Senior Information Technology Specialist | |
| Average age | 43 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 83.4% Female, 16.6% | Male, 81.4% Female, 18.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.5% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.2% Asian, 14.5% White, 58.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 12.1% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 14.4% Asian, 14.1% White, 53.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 11% |