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The differences between project management specialists and project controls specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a project management specialist, becoming a project controls specialist takes usually requires 6-8 years. Additionally, a project controls specialist has an average salary of $85,159, which is higher than the $81,204 average annual salary of a project management specialist.
The top three skills for a project management specialist include PMP, powerpoint and status reports. The most important skills for a project controls specialist are project controls, project management, and work breakdown structure.
| Project Management Specialist | Project Controls Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $81,204 | $85,159 |
| Hourly rate | $39.04 | $40.94 |
| Growth rate | 11% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 145,872 | 21,484 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Average age | 44 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 8 |
A project management specialist is an individual who manages an entire project and serves as a point of contact for a client or customer. Project management specialists must provide detailed cost analysis and timetable reports to keep projects on schedule and budget. They must ask for frequent updates from all staff assigned so that they can identify potential problems that may keep projects from being completed on time. Project management specialists must also prepare progress reports of projects and create presentations for senior management.
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.
Project management specialists and project controls specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Project Management Specialist | Project Controls Specialist | |
| Average salary | $81,204 | $85,159 |
| Salary range | Between $58,000 And $112,000 | Between $60,000 And $119,000 |
| Highest paying City | Bridgewater, NJ | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Idaho |
| Best paying company | Enbridge | |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Professional |
There are a few differences between a project management specialist and a project controls specialist in terms of educational background:
| Project Management Specialist | Project Controls Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo |
Here are the differences between project management specialists' and project controls specialists' demographics:
| Project Management Specialist | Project Controls Specialist | |
| Average age | 44 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 52.4% Female, 47.6% | Male, 58.3% Female, 41.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 8.9% Asian, 11.8% White, 66.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | 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% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 4% |