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The differences between project specialists and consultant/project managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a consultant/project manager has an average salary of $100,754, which is higher than the $65,993 average annual salary of a project specialist.
The top three skills for a project specialist include customer service, project management and project proposals. The most important skills for a consultant/project manager are project management, project scope, and business development.
| Project Specialist | Consultant/Project Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $65,993 | $100,754 |
| Hourly rate | $31.73 | $48.44 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 11% |
| Number of jobs | 99,583 | 213,963 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 44 | 47 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
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.
Consultants/project managers act as planners, leaders, and advisors in business enterprises. These professionals facilitate meetings and establish positive relationships with vendors, management, and clients. They make customer visits, maintain industry knowledge, procure third-party software and hardware, and deliver projects. It is also part of their duty to manage complex initiatives in an individual business unit or organization. Their skills include analytical, time and cost management, problem-solving, interpersonal skills, and proficiency in project management software.
Project specialists and consultant/project managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Project Specialist | Consultant/Project Manager | |
| Average salary | $65,993 | $100,754 |
| Salary range | Between $41,000 And $103,000 | Between $74,000 And $136,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Hartford, CT |
| Highest paying state | California | Connecticut |
| Best paying company | Meta | Microsoft |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Technology |
There are a few differences between a project specialist and a consultant/project manager in terms of educational background:
| Project Specialist | Consultant/Project Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Western Carolina University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between project specialists' and consultant/project managers' demographics:
| Project Specialist | Consultant/Project Manager | |
| Average age | 44 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 46.7% Female, 53.3% | Male, 65.4% Female, 34.6% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 7.6% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 12.7% Asian, 9.0% White, 65.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 10% |