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Project liaison vs project specialist

The differences between project liaisons and project specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a project liaison has an average salary of $81,451, which is higher than the $65,993 average annual salary of a project specialist.

The top three skills for a project liaison include project management, sigma and logistics. The most important skills for a project specialist are customer service, project management, and project proposals.

Project liaison vs project specialist overview

Project LiaisonProject Specialist
Yearly salary$81,451$65,993
Hourly rate$39.16$31.73
Growth rate-10%
Number of jobs72,70199,583
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 67%Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Average age4744
Years of experience--

What does a project liaison do?

Project liaisons communicate effectively between multiple team members and stakeholders. The job will require persuasiveness, approachability, likeability, adaptability, and skills in project management in order to do well in this career choice. Those who choose this career path will be a capstone team's main organizational contact, with time devoted to the project depending on the project's scope.

What does a project specialist do?

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.

Project liaison vs project specialist salary

Project liaisons and project specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Project LiaisonProject Specialist
Average salary$81,451$65,993
Salary rangeBetween $45,000 And $144,000Between $41,000 And $103,000
Highest paying CityWilmington, DESan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateRhode IslandCalifornia
Best paying companyLogistics Management InstituteMeta
Best paying industry-Professional

Differences between project liaison and project specialist education

There are a few differences between a project liaison and a project specialist in terms of educational background:

Project LiaisonProject Specialist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 67%Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaWestern Carolina University

Project liaison vs project specialist demographics

Here are the differences between project liaisons' and project specialists' demographics:

Project LiaisonProject Specialist
Average age4744
Gender ratioMale, 49.4% Female, 50.6%Male, 46.7% Female, 53.3%
Race ratioBlack 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, 6.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.4% Asian, 8.8% White, 70.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage10%11%

Differences between project liaison and project specialist duties and responsibilities

Project liaison example responsibilities.

  • Manage logistics and conduct initial train-the-trainer events and certification processes.
  • Focuse on continuously improving existing processes, including managing SharePoint files and recommending improvements to digital architecture.
  • Implement a repeatable process methodology base on the PMI PMBOK defining a systematic approach to delivering solutions and achieving customer objectives.
  • Install dry-wall, floors, doors, and windows.
  • Act as plant POC for engineering changes.
  • Work with QA on sample preparations for the global markets.
  • Show more

Project specialist example responsibilities.

  • Manage all phases of SDLC.
  • Manage SDLC so that all controls are followed.
  • Manage tracking and resolution of defects and reporting of UAT execution results.
  • Purchase and manage inventory for aircraft LCD displays across all Rockwell sites.
  • Manage relational database through SQL programming, as well as ERP and MRP.
  • Design screen layouts and fields in the ERP system to accomplish above goals as well as enhance end user experience.
  • Show more

Project liaison vs project specialist skills

Common project liaison skills
  • Project Management, 28%
  • Sigma, 12%
  • Logistics, 8%
  • Operational Aspects, 6%
  • IPT, 4%
  • SharePoint, 4%
Common project specialist skills
  • Customer Service, 25%
  • Project Management, 17%
  • Project Proposals, 10%
  • Telemarketing, 7%
  • PowerPoint, 4%
  • Patients, 2%

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