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The differences between project controls specialists and contract project managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-8 years to become both a project controls specialist and a contract project manager. Additionally, a project controls specialist has an average salary of $85,159, which is higher than the $81,263 average annual salary of a contract project manager.
The top three skills for a project controls specialist include project controls, project management and work breakdown structure. The most important skills for a contract project manager are project management, project scope, and contract project.
| Project Controls Specialist | Contract Project Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $85,159 | $81,263 |
| Hourly rate | $40.94 | $39.07 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 21,484 | 159,765 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 8 | 8 |
A project controls specialist is responsible for establishing project management procedures to achieve project goals and objectives by following clients' specifications and requirements within the budget limitations and timetable. Project controls specialists implement strategic techniques to mitigate potential project risks and promote maximum productivity by conducting regular meetings to monitor the project's progress. They also coordinate with the clients for the updates, as well as informing them of any plan adjustments. A project controls specialist maintains strict quality control processes to ensure the efficient development of the project for timely 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 controls specialists and contract project managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Project Controls Specialist | Contract Project Manager | |
| Average salary | $85,159 | $81,263 |
| Salary range | Between $60,000 And $119,000 | Between $53,000 And $124,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Idaho | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | PRO Unlimited | |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a project controls specialist and a contract project manager in terms of educational background:
| Project Controls Specialist | Contract Project Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo |
Here are the differences between project controls specialists' and contract project managers' demographics:
| Project Controls Specialist | Contract Project Manager | |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 58.3% Female, 41.7% | Male, 66.1% Female, 33.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.7% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 17.7% Asian, 2.9% White, 70.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% | 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 | 4% | 4% |