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The differences between project associates and contract project managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a contract project manager has an average salary of $81,263, which is higher than the $56,523 average annual salary of a project associate.
The top three skills for a project associate include project management, data collection and powerpoint. The most important skills for a contract project manager are project management, project scope, and contract project.
| Project Associate | Contract Project Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $56,523 | $81,263 |
| Hourly rate | $27.17 | $39.07 |
| Growth rate | 21% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 107,546 | 159,765 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Average age | 47 | 46 |
| Years of experience | - | 8 |
A project associate (PA) is an individual who ensures that the activities of a project are running smoothly and properly implemented. Project associates are required to provide administrative coordination support to assigned projects and maintain project pending lists and meeting agendas. They must review and process invoices from consultants, subcontractors, and vendors to ensure that they are according to the project's requirements. In collaboration with the senior project officer, project associates should also assist in tracking and documenting project deliverables.
A contract project manager is an executive professional who provides project management and business analysis to fill the needs of an organization. Contract project managers are required to monitor and inspect contract projects to maintain a high level of safety and quality traffic control in highly variable conditions. They assist contract project administration with the review of project progress reports. Contract project managers must also manage the relationship between clients and the organization while monitoring the progress of the project to ensure that it complies with the terms of the corporate contract.
Project associates and contract project managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Project Associate | Contract Project Manager | |
| Average salary | $56,523 | $81,263 |
| Salary range | Between $39,000 And $80,000 | Between $53,000 And $124,000 |
| Highest paying City | Richmond, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Pennsylvania | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Meta | PRO Unlimited |
| Best paying industry | Pharmaceutical | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a project associate and a contract project manager in terms of educational background:
| Project Associate | Contract Project Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo |
Here are the differences between project associates' and contract project managers' demographics:
| Project Associate | Contract Project Manager | |
| Average age | 47 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 43.5% Female, 56.5% | Male, 66.1% Female, 33.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.6% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 12.7% Asian, 8.9% White, 65.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | Black or African American, 3.7% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 17.6% Asian, 2.8% White, 70.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 4% |