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The differences between managers, project director and consultant/project managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a manager, project director has an average salary of $104,614, which is higher than the $100,754 average annual salary of a consultant/project manager.
The top three skills for a manager, project director include project management, infrastructure and construction management. The most important skills for a consultant/project manager are project management, project scope, and business development.
| Manager, Project Director | Consultant/Project Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $104,614 | $100,754 |
| Hourly rate | $50.30 | $48.44 |
| Growth rate | - | 11% |
| Number of jobs | 162,781 | 213,963 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
A manager, project director monitors building progress, oversees finances, and ensures project quality. They make strategic decisions and provide leadership and direct project managers with feedback to put those decisions into practice. Project directors update project managers, stakeholders, and clients about project progress. Besides building robust working relationships and liaising with clients, these professionals also enable successful project completion by creating cost-effective plans. Manager, project directors manage risks to prevent reputational damage and delays. Moreover, these professionals ensure legal papers and permits get secured before starting the project.
Consultants/project managers act as planners, leaders, and advisors in business enterprises. These professionals facilitate meetings and establish positive relationships with vendors, management, and clients. They make customer visits, maintain industry knowledge, procure third-party software and hardware, and deliver projects. It is also part of their duty to manage complex initiatives in an individual business unit or organization. Their skills include analytical, time and cost management, problem-solving, interpersonal skills, and proficiency in project management software.
Managers, project director and consultant/project managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Manager, Project Director | Consultant/Project Manager | |
| Average salary | $104,614 | $100,754 |
| Salary range | Between $67,000 And $161,000 | Between $74,000 And $136,000 |
| Highest paying City | Boston, MA | Hartford, CT |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | Connecticut |
| Best paying company | Cambridge Associates | Microsoft |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Technology |
There are a few differences between a manager, project director and a consultant/project manager in terms of educational background:
| Manager, Project Director | Consultant/Project Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between managers, project director' and consultant/project managers' demographics:
| Manager, Project Director | Consultant/Project Manager | |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 69.8% Female, 30.2% | Male, 65.4% Female, 34.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.5% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 12.5% Asian, 8.8% White, 65.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | Black or African American, 7.6% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 12.7% Asian, 9.0% White, 65.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 10% |