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The differences between technical associates and technical 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 associate, becoming a technical consultant takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a technical consultant has an average salary of $89,290, which is higher than the $86,489 average annual salary of a technical associate.
The top three skills for a technical associate include customer service, java and patients. The most important skills for a technical consultant are java, database, and customer service.
| Technical Associate | Technical Consultant | |
| Yearly salary | $86,489 | $89,290 |
| Hourly rate | $41.58 | $42.93 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 83,261 | 173,374 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Average age | 42 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 6 |
The duties of a technical associate depend on one's line of work or industry of employment. Typically, their responsibilities revolve around installing and repairing software and applications, troubleshooting, and conducting regular tests and maintenance to ensure smooth workflow. They must also handle and address inquiries or concerns from clients, resolving them promptly and professionally. Moreover, a technical associate mostly works under the directives of a manager or a more experienced staff; they usually coordinate with team members and produce progress reports.
A technical consultant is an individual who provides technical support and performs troubleshooting functions for the company's product or application. A consultant should be highly knowledgeable about the product or application so that he/she can assist users and clients with whatever issues they may be facing. A bachelor's degree is required to work as a technical consultant, particularly a degree in Computer Science or Engineering. Also, a consultant should conduct training sessions and therefore, must possess excellent communication skills.
Technical associates and technical consultants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Technical Associate | Technical Consultant | |
| Average salary | $86,489 | $89,290 |
| Salary range | Between $61,000 And $122,000 | Between $67,000 And $118,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Mateo, CA | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | Delaware | Washington |
| Best paying company | The Citadel | Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman |
| Best paying industry | Internet | Professional |
There are a few differences between a technical associate and a technical consultant in terms of educational background:
| Technical Associate | Technical Consultant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between technical associates' and technical consultants' demographics:
| Technical Associate | Technical Consultant | |
| Average age | 42 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 65.8% Female, 34.2% | Male, 79.1% Female, 20.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.5% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 14.9% Asian, 15.0% White, 54.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 10.2% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.2% Asian, 15.3% White, 58.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 8% |