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The differences between project associates and project consultants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a project consultant has an average salary of $86,654, 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 project consultant are customer service, project management, and client facing.
| Project Associate | Project Consultant | |
| Yearly salary | $56,523 | $86,654 |
| Hourly rate | $27.17 | $41.66 |
| Growth rate | 21% | 11% |
| Number of jobs | 107,546 | 113,013 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Average age | 47 | 44 |
| Years of experience | - | 4 |
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 project consultant is responsible for communicating with the clients for their specific needs, develop strategic plans, and determine project resources to achieve their business goals and objectives. Project consultants are employed across various industries, offering their knowledge and expertise to facilitate clients' requests and propositions. They also collaborate with different development teams to discuss project parameters and analyze opportunities to improve plans and progress efficiency. A project consultant must have excellent communication and critical-thinking skills, responding to clients' inquiries and concerns, and providing recommendations to ensure successful project completion.
Project associates and project consultants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Project Associate | Project Consultant | |
| Average salary | $56,523 | $86,654 |
| Salary range | Between $39,000 And $80,000 | Between $59,000 And $126,000 |
| Highest paying City | Richmond, CA | Newark, NJ |
| Highest paying state | Pennsylvania | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Meta | Dell |
| Best paying industry | Pharmaceutical | - |
There are a few differences between a project associate and a project consultant in terms of educational background:
| Project Associate | Project Consultant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between project associates' and project consultants' demographics:
| Project Associate | Project Consultant | |
| Average age | 47 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 43.5% Female, 56.5% | Male, 61.9% Female, 38.1% |
| 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, 7.4% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 8.5% Asian, 14.4% White, 65.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 12% |