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The differences between subject matter experts and management 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 a management consultant. Additionally, a subject matter expert has an average salary of $103,749, which is higher than the $99,360 average annual salary of a management consultant.
The top three skills for a subject matter expert include SME, project management and DOD. The most important skills for a management consultant are healthcare, project management, and portfolio.
| Subject Matter Expert | Management Consultant | |
| Yearly salary | $103,749 | $99,360 |
| Hourly rate | $49.88 | $47.77 |
| Growth rate | 11% | 11% |
| Number of jobs | 58,235 | 153,045 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| 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.
A management consultant's responsibility focuses on conducting an in-depth analysis of a company or business, including its target market. Through their findings, they can devise strategies that will help the business grow and attain a significant profit. There are also instances when a management consultant must solve particular issues that will require them to investigate the problem, assess damages, identify risks, and recommend the best solutions to take. Furthermore, a management consultant must adhere to the company's vision, mission, and policies at all times.
Subject matter experts and management consultants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Subject Matter Expert | Management Consultant | |
| Average salary | $103,749 | $99,360 |
| Salary range | Between $73,000 And $146,000 | Between $72,000 And $136,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Jersey City, NJ |
| Highest paying state | California | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Apple | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Technology |
There are a few differences between a subject matter expert and a management consultant in terms of educational background:
| Subject Matter Expert | Management Consultant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between subject matter experts' and management consultants' demographics:
| Subject Matter Expert | Management Consultant | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 63.8% Female, 36.2% | Male, 65.9% Female, 34.1% |
| 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, 8.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 8.9% Asian, 13.6% White, 64.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 12% |