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The differences between technical consultants and technical supervisors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a technical consultant, becoming a technical supervisor takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a technical supervisor has an average salary of $89,670, which is higher than the $89,290 average annual salary of a technical consultant.
The top three skills for a technical consultant include java, database and customer service. The most important skills for a technical supervisor are customer service, customer satisfaction, and patient care.
| Technical Consultant | Technical Supervisor | |
| Yearly salary | $89,290 | $89,670 |
| Hourly rate | $42.93 | $43.11 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 173,374 | 83,226 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 46% |
| Average age | 43 | 49 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 4 |
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 technical supervisor is a leader who offers hands-on leadership for the staff members. Technical supervisors oversee employee performance in a certain department of the organization. They monitor the installation, repair, troubleshooting, and maintenance work of technicians. They supervise teams of technicians, oversee workers, and perform inspections on work orders. Their skills include leadership, confidence, problem-solving, empathy, and strong communication skills. They should also be compassionate, be able to manage time, and a problem solver.
Technical consultants and technical supervisors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Technical Consultant | Technical Supervisor | |
| Average salary | $89,290 | $89,670 |
| Salary range | Between $67,000 And $118,000 | Between $63,000 And $126,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | Sunnyvale, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman | SE2 |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a technical consultant and a technical supervisor in terms of educational background:
| Technical Consultant | Technical Supervisor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 46% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | SUNY College of Technology at Alfred |
Here are the differences between technical consultants' and technical supervisors' demographics:
| Technical Consultant | Technical Supervisor | |
| Average age | 43 | 49 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 79.1% Female, 20.9% | Male, 78.7% Female, 21.3% |
| 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, 8.4% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 15.9% Asian, 2.1% White, 67.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 4% |