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The differences between senior information technology administrators and information technology consultants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a senior information technology administrator, becoming an information technology consultant takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a senior information technology administrator has an average salary of $105,357, which is higher than the $84,790 average annual salary of an information technology consultant.
The top three skills for a senior information technology administrator include linux, SAN and unity. The most important skills for an information technology consultant are customer service, database, and project management.
| Senior Information Technology Administrator | Information Technology Consultant | |
| Yearly salary | $105,357 | $84,790 |
| Hourly rate | $50.65 | $40.76 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 156,682 | 142,475 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 6 |
A senior information technology administrator leads and oversees the efforts in maintaining computer systems and infrastructures, ensuring efficiency and smooth workflow. Their responsibilities include setting goals and objectives, managing budgets and schedules, supervising the installation and upgrades of systems, and developing strategies to optimize a company's information technology operations. They may also perform regular maintenance checks on systems, performing corrective measures as needed. Furthermore, as a senior administrator, it is essential to serve as a role model to junior administrators and staff, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
An Information Technology Consultant, also known as IT Consultant, is responsible for sharing extensive knowledge of Information Technology by providing suggestions and solving issues within the company. Among the duties include installing and maintaining the necessary software and hardware, designing new procedures, overseeing all implementations, and ensuring that all systems are running smoothly, employing methods to secure databases, and providing essential instructions when needed. Furthermore, an Information Technology Consultant needs to coordinate and report to management or supervisors at all times.
Senior information technology administrators and information technology consultants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Information Technology Administrator | Information Technology Consultant | |
| Average salary | $105,357 | $84,790 |
| Salary range | Between $82,000 And $135,000 | Between $62,000 And $115,000 |
| Highest paying City | Milpitas, CA | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | California | Washington |
| Best paying company | Cohesity | California Resources |
| Best paying industry | Hospitality | Finance |
There are a few differences between a senior information technology administrator and an information technology consultant in terms of educational background:
| Senior Information Technology Administrator | Information Technology Consultant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between senior information technology administrators' and information technology consultants' demographics:
| Senior Information Technology Administrator | Information Technology Consultant | |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 86.2% Female, 13.8% | Male, 83.4% Female, 16.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.5% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 12.2% Asian, 12.0% White, 62.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 10.5% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.2% Asian, 14.5% White, 58.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 8% |