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The differences between subject matter experts and project analysts 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 project analyst. Additionally, a subject matter expert has an average salary of $103,749, which is higher than the $71,174 average annual salary of a project analyst.
The top three skills for a subject matter expert include SME, project management and DOD. The most important skills for a project analyst are project management, data analysis, and customer service.
| Subject Matter Expert | Project Analyst | |
| Yearly salary | $103,749 | $71,174 |
| Hourly rate | $49.88 | $34.22 |
| Growth rate | 11% | 11% |
| Number of jobs | 58,235 | 207,513 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| 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 project analyst is responsible for overseeing the development of new projects upon completion of data gathering. A project analyst must provide plans and design the project to its full potential. For this, it is essential to conduct extensive research and coordinate with all staff and departments involved through regular reports and various forms of communication. Furthermore, a project analyst must devise strategies to improve particular projects for it to succeed and achieve better results, all in adherence to the company policies and regulations.
Subject matter experts and project analysts have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Subject Matter Expert | Project Analyst | |
| Average salary | $103,749 | $71,174 |
| Salary range | Between $73,000 And $146,000 | Between $52,000 And $97,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Jersey City, NJ |
| Highest paying state | California | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Apple | |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a subject matter expert and a project analyst in terms of educational background:
| Subject Matter Expert | Project Analyst | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between subject matter experts' and project analysts' demographics:
| Subject Matter Expert | Project Analyst | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 63.8% Female, 36.2% | Male, 57.7% Female, 42.3% |
| 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, 8.0% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 8.9% Asian, 13.7% White, 64.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 12% |