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The differences between technical advisors and 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 technical advisor, becoming a consultant takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a technical advisor has an average salary of $106,686, which is higher than the $78,912 average annual salary of a consultant.
The top three skills for a technical advisor include java, customer service and provisioning. The most important skills for a consultant are customer service, strong analytical, and project management.
| Technical Advisor | Consultant | |
| Yearly salary | $106,686 | $78,912 |
| Hourly rate | $51.29 | $37.94 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 11% |
| Number of jobs | 118,740 | 171,733 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 55% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Average age | 42 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 4 |
Technical advisors are experts in a specific field of knowledge, offering information and advice to those in the field. They develop applications, coordinate the activities of technicians, and provide technical expertise. They offer advice and suggestions to specialists. The skills they need to possess include multitasking abilities, attention to detail, and exceptional customer service. They are also required to be savvy in terms of information technology, business practices, and have significant experience in this field.
Consultants are individuals who were tapped by a company or an organization to work on a specific activity, depending on their field of expertise. They act as guides for the organization in undertaking projects that are related to their field. Consultants would usually assist organizations in planning, often giving advice when the need arises. They would, at times, take the lead in activities that involve data gathering and interpretation of data gathering results so that they can provide solid recommendations on actions that the organization may undertake. They may also guide the organization in implementing any changes brought about by their consultancy and in evaluating the effectiveness of the changes.
Technical advisors and consultants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Technical Advisor | Consultant | |
| Average salary | $106,686 | $78,912 |
| Salary range | Between $79,000 And $143,000 | Between $58,000 And $107,000 |
| Highest paying City | Kentfield, CA | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | California | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Perkins Coie | L.E.K. Consulting |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between a technical advisor and a consultant in terms of educational background:
| Technical Advisor | Consultant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 55% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between technical advisors' and consultants' demographics:
| Technical Advisor | Consultant | |
| Average age | 42 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 72.7% Female, 27.3% | Male, 58.4% Female, 41.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.2% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.1% Asian, 11.7% White, 55.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 7.8% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 8.7% Asian, 13.8% White, 65.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 12% |