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The differences between permit specialists and project specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a project specialist has an average salary of $65,993, which is higher than the $51,620 average annual salary of a permit specialist.
The top three skills for a permit specialist include GIS, construction drawings and data entry. The most important skills for a project specialist are customer service, project management, and project proposals.
A permit specialist's job is to process applications for building permits or construction projects. The specialist's task is to make sure that the plans follow all of the code regulations before approving the permit. They need to have a considerable understanding of building codes, be it local or state, to be able to identify if there are any issues in the blueprints and also to be able to give applicants the correct information in case they have questions.
A project specialist's role is to ensure that a project or program's completion is within the allotted time and budget. They are primarily responsible for devising plans and strategies to quicken the pace of production or processes involved, creating a comprehensive schedule, monitoring the progress and producing reports, tracking the budget and expenditures, and coordinating with all department personnel. Moreover, a project specialist may also schedule and attend meetings, all while adhering to the company's policies and standards.
Permit specialists and project specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Permit Specialist | Project Specialist | |
| Average salary | $51,620 | $65,993 |
| Salary range | Between $33,000 And $79,000 | Between $41,000 And $103,000 |
| Highest paying City | Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Pennsylvania | California |
| Best paying company | Southern California Edison | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Professional |
There are a few differences between a permit specialist and a project specialist in terms of educational background:
| Permit Specialist | Project Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 55% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | Western Carolina University |
Here are the differences between permit specialists' and project specialists' demographics:
| Permit Specialist | Project Specialist | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 34.7% Female, 65.3% | Male, 46.7% Female, 53.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.4% Asian, 8.8% White, 70.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 6.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.4% Asian, 8.8% White, 70.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |