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The differences between managers information technology specialist and information technology 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 manager information technology specialist, becoming an information technology consultant takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a manager information technology specialist has an average salary of $97,475, which is higher than the $84,790 average annual salary of an information technology consultant.
The top three skills for a manager information technology specialist include customer service, troubleshoot and data entry. The most important skills for an information technology consultant are customer service, database, and project management.
| Manager Information Technology Specialist | Information Technology Consultant | |
| Yearly salary | $97,475 | $84,790 |
| Hourly rate | $46.86 | $40.76 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 118,806 | 142,475 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Average age | 42 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 6 |
Information technology (IT) specialist managers coordinate, plan, and manage an organization's computer-related activities by determining information technology needs and implementing computer systems in compliance with the organization's information system requirements. The job involves management in the monitoring, assessment, and troubleshooting tasks and directing daily operations such as developing standards and setting deadlines. These managers develop strong technical and project management skills and their demand is said to grow as firms continue to expand their business to digital platforms.
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.
Managers information technology specialist and information technology consultants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Manager Information Technology Specialist | Information Technology Consultant | |
| Average salary | $97,475 | $84,790 |
| Salary range | Between $68,000 And $137,000 | Between $62,000 And $115,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | Rhode Island | Washington |
| Best paying company | IBM | California Resources |
| Best paying industry | Retail | Finance |
There are a few differences between a manager information technology specialist and an information technology consultant in terms of educational background:
| Manager Information Technology Specialist | Information Technology Consultant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Most common major | Business | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between managers information technology specialist' and information technology consultants' demographics:
| Manager Information Technology Specialist | Information Technology Consultant | |
| Average age | 42 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 78.2% Female, 21.8% | Male, 83.4% Female, 16.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 12.4% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.6% Asian, 10.5% White, 55.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | 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% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 8% |