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The differences between software specialists and software consultants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a software specialist and a software consultant. Additionally, a software consultant has an average salary of $88,605, which is higher than the $84,009 average annual salary of a software specialist.
The top three skills for a software specialist include C++, C # and database. The most important skills for a software consultant are web application, database, and java.
| Software Specialist | Software Consultant | |
| Yearly salary | $84,009 | $88,605 |
| Hourly rate | $40.39 | $42.60 |
| Growth rate | 21% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 264,307 | 275,746 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
Software Specialist designs and develops computer software and operating systems, establishing policies and protocols to ensure quality and data security. They function as a member of a company or an organization's information technology department. They also utilize their expertise by assessing and reviewing existing software, identifying its strengths and weaknesses, implementing solutions against vulnerable areas. Most of the time, a software specialist directly communicates with clients to determine their software needs and preferences, regularly coordinating to ensure client satisfaction and smooth workflow.
A software consultant is responsible for monitoring and maintaining the technological content and system applications of an organization, ensuring its efficiency and optimal performance. Software consultants design software systems, following clients' specifications and business needs. They must have excellent knowledge of the technology systems, programming languages, and system codes to create software processes and manage the network systems. A software consultant runs multiple diagnostic tests and creates troubleshooting reports for technical support reference.
Software specialists and software consultants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Software Specialist | Software Consultant | |
| Average salary | $84,009 | $88,605 |
| Salary range | Between $60,000 And $115,000 | Between $68,000 And $115,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New York | New York |
| Best paying company | American Express | Silver Peak |
| Best paying industry | Telecommunication | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a software specialist and a software consultant in terms of educational background:
| Software Specialist | Software Consultant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between software specialists' and software consultants' demographics:
| Software Specialist | Software Consultant | |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 67.2% Female, 32.8% | Male, 75.3% Female, 24.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.4% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.1% Asian, 30.0% White, 52.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 4.6% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.4% Asian, 29.8% White, 52.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |