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The differences between subject matter experts and associate 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 subject matter expert and an associate consultant. Additionally, a subject matter expert has an average salary of $103,749, which is higher than the $73,340 average annual salary of an associate consultant.
The top three skills for a subject matter expert include SME, project management and DOD. The most important skills for an associate consultant are healthcare, customer service, and project management.
| Subject Matter Expert | Associate Consultant | |
| Yearly salary | $103,749 | $73,340 |
| Hourly rate | $49.88 | $35.26 |
| Growth rate | 11% | 11% |
| Number of jobs | 58,235 | 94,983 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A subject matter expert is someone who has special knowledge and expertise about a specific process or service, providing advice to other team members or directly assisting customers with their inquiries and concerns. Subject matter experts coordinate on planning strategic procedures to improve the work processes and ensure customer satisfaction. They are also active in participating in learning programs and training sessions to share their knowledge and best practices for their specialization. Subject matter experts identify potential business opportunities to generate more revenues for the business and achieve its profitability goals.
An associate consultant is responsible for evaluating the project requirements based on clients' specifications, ensuring that the team meets project deliverables efficiently. Associate consultants test system applications and network infrastructure to recommend possible modifications for optimal performance and flawless navigation. They also identify cost-efficient business opportunities to gain more clients and improve overall project management procedures. An associate consultant may also facilitate training programs for the staff to maximize their productivity and hone their potential.
Subject matter experts and associate consultants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Subject Matter Expert | Associate Consultant | |
| Average salary | $103,749 | $73,340 |
| Salary range | Between $73,000 And $146,000 | Between $60,000 And $88,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | California | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Apple | Practice Fusion |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Finance |
There are a few differences between a subject matter expert and an associate consultant in terms of educational background:
| Subject Matter Expert | Associate Consultant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between subject matter experts' and associate consultants' demographics:
| Subject Matter Expert | Associate Consultant | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 63.8% Female, 36.2% | Male, 55.5% Female, 44.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.2% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 9.0% Asian, 12.1% White, 66.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 7.4% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 8.4% Asian, 14.3% White, 65.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 12% |