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The differences between technical consultants and functional consultants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a technical consultant and a functional consultant. Additionally, a technical consultant has an average salary of $89,290, which is higher than the $85,317 average annual salary of a functional consultant.
The top three skills for a technical consultant include java, database and customer service. The most important skills for a functional consultant are business process, prototyping, and ERP.
| Technical Consultant | Functional Consultant | |
| Yearly salary | $89,290 | $85,317 |
| Hourly rate | $42.93 | $41.02 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 173,374 | 51,066 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
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.
A functional consultant is responsible for supporting a team of business analysts and software engineers in designing and creating a software system and related computer applications, following the specifications of a client on their software needs. Functional consultants analyze different technological approaches, evaluate technical solutions, and utilize the best system method to meet the requirements of a client efficiently. A functional consultant performs multiple diagnostic tests to ensure the optimal performance of the system. They should also have excellent communication skills, especially in coordinating with the clients on updates and adjustments as needed.
Technical consultants and functional consultants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Technical Consultant | Functional Consultant | |
| Average salary | $89,290 | $85,317 |
| Salary range | Between $67,000 And $118,000 | Between $65,000 And $110,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman | Workday |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a technical consultant and a functional consultant in terms of educational background:
| Technical Consultant | Functional Consultant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Stanford University | - |
Here are the differences between technical consultants' and functional consultants' demographics:
| Technical Consultant | Functional Consultant | |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 79.1% Female, 20.9% | Male, 71.9% Female, 28.1% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 8.5% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 9.6% Asian, 25.2% White, 51.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |