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The differences between projects controllers and cost controllers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a projects controller and a cost controller. Additionally, a projects controller has an average salary of $79,451, which is higher than the $76,697 average annual salary of a cost controller.
The top three skills for a projects controller include project management, financial analysis and project controller. The most important skills for a cost controller are project management, cost analysis, and financial statements.
| Projects Controller | Cost Controller | |
| Yearly salary | $79,451 | $76,697 |
| Hourly rate | $38.20 | $36.87 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 16,334 | 17,477 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
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.
A Cost Controller manages the project costs. Cost Controllers' tasks include developing, controlling, planning, and forecasting the project's budget. They make sure that projects are completed within the approved budget and minimize the deflection from it. Cost Controllers should know about total cost management concepts, budget distribution, and setting a cost limit. They should also know how to detect issues, analyze cost reports, and value management. Being a cost controller also requires skills to effectively communicate the project's cost performance, concerns, and recovery plans to the project team.
Projects controllers and cost controllers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Projects Controller | Cost Controller | |
| Average salary | $79,451 | $76,697 |
| Salary range | Between $53,000 And $118,000 | Between $51,000 And $114,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Sunnyvale, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | California Resources | NOVA Chemicals |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Energy |
There are a few differences between a projects controller and a cost controller in terms of educational background:
| Projects Controller | Cost Controller | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Most common major | Business | Accounting |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between projects controllers' and cost controllers' demographics:
| Projects Controller | Cost Controller | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 55.9% Female, 44.1% | Male, 63.2% Female, 36.8% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 8.8% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.2% Asian, 13.4% White, 62.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 7% |