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The differences between project controls specialists and projects controllers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-8 years to become a project controls specialist, becoming a projects controller takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a project controls specialist has an average salary of $85,159, which is higher than the $79,451 average annual salary of a projects controller.
The top three skills for a project controls specialist include project controls, project management and work breakdown structure. The most important skills for a projects controller are project management, financial analysis, and project controller.
| Project Controls Specialist | Projects Controller | |
| Yearly salary | $85,159 | $79,451 |
| Hourly rate | $40.94 | $38.20 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 21,484 | 16,334 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Average age | 46 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 8 | 4 |
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 project controller is responsible for evaluating the effectiveness of project management procedures, ensuring that the team adheres to the clients' specifications and requirements, and keeping all project resources and deliverables within the budget goals and set timeframe. Project controllers determine the progress of the project and coordinate the updates to the client, adjusting the project approach as needed to achieve high-quality standards and objectives. They also maintain an organized report of expenditures, as well as generating process reports to identify potential process improvement techniques that will maximize operational efficiency.
Project controls specialists and projects controllers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Project Controls Specialist | Projects Controller | |
| Average salary | $85,159 | $79,451 |
| Salary range | Between $60,000 And $119,000 | Between $53,000 And $118,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Idaho | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | California Resources | |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Finance |
There are a few differences between a project controls specialist and a projects controller in terms of educational background:
| Project Controls Specialist | Projects Controller | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between project controls specialists' and projects controllers' demographics:
| Project Controls Specialist | Projects Controller | |
| Average age | 46 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 58.3% Female, 41.7% | Male, 55.9% Female, 44.1% |
| 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, 8.5% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 10.8% Asian, 13.9% White, 62.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 7% |