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The differences between proposal specialists and proposal managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a proposal manager has an average salary of $88,678, which is higher than the $66,454 average annual salary of a proposal specialist.
The top three skills for a proposal specialist include powerpoint, RFP and sharepoint. The most important skills for a proposal manager are RFP, proposal management, and powerpoint.
| Proposal Specialist | Proposal Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $66,454 | $88,678 |
| Hourly rate | $31.95 | $42.63 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 25,141 | 87,739 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 76% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Average age | 44 | 47 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
A proposal specialist is responsible for evaluating business contracts for clients, especially on landing partnerships and long-term projects. Proposal specialists review the contract's effectiveness and accuracy, adhering to the company's internal guidelines and policies. They ensure that the document delivers all the critical information of the company, as well as pricing offers and related terms of service. A proposal specialist also meets with the client to formally discuss contract details and respond to their inquiries, concerns, and requests.
A proposal manager specializes in creating and preparing company proposals, ensuring timeliness and accuracy. Their responsibilities revolve around producing proposal management plans, devising strategies to identify and secure opportunities, delegating tasks to various departments, and processing every requisition. They may also produce progress reports and prepare presentations for clients or higher-officials in a company. Furthermore, as a proposal manager, it is essential to lead and encourage teams to reach new heights, all while implementing the company's policies.
Proposal specialists and proposal managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Proposal Specialist | Proposal Manager | |
| Average salary | $66,454 | $88,678 |
| Salary range | Between $44,000 And $98,000 | Between $60,000 And $130,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Providence, RI |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | Rhode Island |
| Best paying company | Ropes & Gray | McKinsey & Company Inc |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | - |
There are a few differences between a proposal specialist and a proposal manager in terms of educational background:
| Proposal Specialist | Proposal Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 76% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Western Carolina University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between proposal specialists' and proposal managers' demographics:
| Proposal Specialist | Proposal Manager | |
| Average age | 44 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 31.5% Female, 68.5% | Male, 50.5% Female, 49.5% |
| 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, 7.7% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 12.9% Asian, 8.6% White, 65.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 10% |