Management consulting salary (2020)
Up-to-date salaries at 12 consulting firms in 2020: McKinsey, BCG, Bain, Accenture, Deloitte and others
Let’s face it – no matter what you say in a consulting interview, those six-digit salary figures are quite tempting; so in this article, let’s explore and compare the salary of management consultants at 12 top consulting firms, including McKinsey, BCG, Bain (Big 3), the Big 4 firms and Accenture.
How much do management consultants make?
At top consulting firms, entry-level management consultants may earn $100,000 each year (bonuses and profit sharings included), while senior consultants may earn up to $200,000. Project leaders/managers are typically paid $200,000-$250,000. Partner-level managers (partners, directors, principals) can earn up to $1,000,000-$1,300,000.
In this article, we’ll explore the salary and bonuses for the following 12 consulting firms:
- MBB (Big Three firms): McKinsey, BCG, Bain
- Big Four firms: Deloitte, KPMG, EY, PwC
- Other firms: Accenture, AT Kearney, LEK, Oliver Wyman, Booz Allen Hamilton
McKinsey & Company consulting salary
McKinsey salary for entry-level consultants (Analysts) ranges from $90,000 to $110,000 per year, while the figure for MBA-level/experienced Associates can go up to $233,000. Engagement managers typically earn around $250,000, while Partners and Directors can earn up to $1,300,000.
McKinsey Analyst salary (Undergraduate/Entry-level)
- Base: $88,000 (Canada: CA$82,000, UK: £45,500, India: ₹1,635,000, China: ¥290,000)
- Performance Bonus: up to $15,000 (UK: £5,000, India: ₹450,000)
- Profit Sharing: up to $10,000 (China: ¥48,000)
- Retirement: 7% annual contribution every year to 401K plan
- Signing Bonus: $5,000 (UK: £3,000)
- Relocation: $2,000-10,000
- Total Annual Salary: up to $113,000
McKinsey Associate salary (MBA/Experienced-level)
- Base: $168,000 (UK: £84,000) (China: $116,000)
- Performance Bonus: up to $35,000
- Profit Sharing: up to $30,000
- Retirement: 7.5% into 401k
- Signing Bonus: $30,000
- Relocation: $2,000-9,000
- Total Annual Salary: up to $233,000
McKinsey Engagement Manager salary (Manager-level)
- Base: $175,000
- Performance Bonus: Up to $77,000
- Profit Sharing: $30,000
- Total Annual Salary: up to $282,000
McKinsey Associate Partner/Partner/Director salary (Partner-level)
- Base: $572,000 – $1,000,000
- Performance Bonus: Up to $252,000 – $300,000
- Total Annual Salary: up to $1,300,000
Boston Consulting Group (BCG) salary
At BCG, junior Associates earn around $90,000 to $110,000 per year, while the more senior Consultants can earn up to $215,000. Project Leaders has an even higher income – around $200,000-$260,000, while Principals and Partners top the scale at $1,150,000.
BCG Associate salary (Undergraduate/Entry-level)
- Base: $90,000 (UK: £71,000, India: ₹1,600,000)
- Performance Bonus: up to $18,000 (UK: £6,000, ₹300,000)
- Profit Sharing: up to $4,500
- Retirement: Profit-sharing deposited into 401k account
- Signing Bonus: $5,000 (UK: £3,000)
- Relocation: $5,000-8,000
- Total Annual Salary: up to $112,500
BCG Consultant salary (MBA/Experienced-level)
- Base: $165,000 (UK: £90,000) (Australia: A$160,000) (China: ¥700,000)
- Performance Bonus: up to $41,500 (UK: up to £25,000) (Australia: up to A$61,500)(China: ¥260,000)
- Profit Sharing: up to $9,000 (China: up to ¥200,000)
- Retirement:$10,000 into 401k (UK: up to 9% match) (Australia: A$16,000)
- Signing Bonus: $30,000 (UK: £15,000) (Australia: up to A$40,000)
- Relocation: $2,000-8,000 (Australia: up to A$7,500)
BCG Project Leader salary (Manager-level)
- Base: $178,000
- Performance Bonus: Up to $60,000
- Profit Sharing: $28,000
- Total Annual Salary: up to $266,000
BCG Principal/Partner salary (Partner-level)
- Base: $600,000-850,000
- Performance Bonus: up to $300,000
- Total Annual Salary: up to $1,150,000
Bain & Company salary
Bain consultant salary ranges from a maximum of $122,500 for junior Associate Consultants, to a $226,500 for senior Consultants. Case Team Leaders can make up to $242,000 per year, while Managers, Partners and Principals may earn as much as $1,000,000.
Bain Associate Consultant salary (Undergraduate/Entry-level)
- Base: $90,000 (UK: £65,000, Canada: CA$80,000, China: ¥310,000, India: ₹1,800,000)
- Performance Bonus: up to $22,500 (UK: £6,000, Canada: CA$10,000, China: ¥50,000, India: ₹200,000)
- Profit Sharing: up to $10,000 (Canada: CA$5,000)
- Retirement: 4.5% of base + bonus into 401k, no contribution required
- Signing Bonus: $5,000 (UK: £3,000)
- Relocation: $5,000
- Total Annual Salary: up to $122,500
Bain Consultant salary (MBA/Experienced-level)
- Base: $165,000 (UK: £86,000, Canada: CA$160,000, India: ₹3,500,000, Germany: €103,000)
- Performance Bonus: up to $41,250 (UK: up to £20,000, India: ₹770,000, Germany: €25,000)
- Profit Sharing: up to $20,000 (UK: £6,000, Canada: CA$20,000)
- Retirement: 401k contribution up to $8,000 (UK: £10,000)
- Signing Bonus: $30,000 (UK: £15,000)
- Relocation: $8,000 for under 400 miles; $16,000 for over 400 miles
- Total Annual Salary: up to $226,500
Bain Case Team Leader salary (Manager-level)
- Base: $175,000
- Performance Bonus: up to $37,000
- Profit Sharing: $30,000
- Total Annual Salary: up to $242,000
Bain Manager salary (Manager-level)
- Base: $185,000
- Base: $185,000
- Profit Sharing: $40,000
- Total Annual Salary: up to $285,000
Bain Principal/Partner salary (Partner-level)
- Base: $400,000
- Performance Bonus: $400,000-600,000
- Total Annual Salary: up to $1,000,000
Deloitte Consulting salary
Deloitte junior consultants have a maximum annual salary of $98,000, with $85,000 as base. Senior consultants can make up to $201,000 per year.
Deloitte Analyst salary (Undergraduate/Entry-level)
- Base: $85,000
- Performance Bonus: $13,000
- Retirement: 25% match for the first 6% of individual contributions in 401k
- Signing Bonus: $12,500
- Total Annual Salary: up to $98,000
Deloitte Consultant salary (MBA/Experienced-level)
- Base: $160,000 (Toronto: C$105,000) (Calgary: C$100,000) (Mexico City: MXN700,000)
- Performance Bonus: up to $41,000 (Mexico City: up to MXN35,000)
- Retirement: 25% match of first 6% into 401k (a total of 1.5%)
- Signing Bonus: $30,000 ($20,000 contingent on signing early) (Canada: C$15,000)
- Relocation: up to $10,000
- Total Annual Salary: up to $201,000
KPMG Consulting salary
KPMG junior consultants have a maximum annual salary of $83,000, with $75,000 as base. Senior consultants can make up to $185,000 per year.
KPMG Analyst salary (Undergraduate/Entry-level)
- Base: $75,000
- Performance Bonus: up to $8,000
- Retirement: up to $7,500
- Signing Bonus: up to $2,000
- Total Annual Salary: up to $83,000
KPMG Consultant salary (MBA/Experienced-level)
- Base: $160,000
- Performance Bonus: up to $25,000
- Retirement: Match 50% (2.5%) if deposit 5% + pension contribution
- Signing Bonus: up to $45,000
- Relocation: up to $5,000
- Total Annual Salary: up to $185,000
PwC Consulting salary (Strategy&)
PwC junior consultants have a maximum annual salary of $108,000, with $90,000 as base. Senior consultants can make up to $185,000 per year.
PwC Associate salary (Undergraduate/Entry-level)
- Base: $90,000
- Performance Bonus: up to $18,000 (20% of base)
- Signing Bonus: $5,000
- Signing Bonus: $5,000
- Total Annual Salary: up to $108,000
PwC Senior Associate salary (MBA/Experienced-level)
- Base: $150,000
- Performance Bonus: up to $35,000
- Retirement: 25% match up to 6%; 1% immediate separate contribution
- Signing Bonus: $30,000 (paid at start of work)
- Relocation: up to $2,000
- Total Annual Salary: up to $185,000
EY consulting salary (EY-Parthenon)
EY junior consultants have a maximum annual salary of $101,000, with $92,000 as base. Senior consultants can make up to $180,000 per year.
EY Associate salary (Undergraduate/Entry-level)
- Base: $92,000
- Performance Bonus: up to $9,000 (10% of base)
- Signing Bonus: $10,000
- Relocation: up to $2,000 (local)
- Total Annual Salary: up to $101,000
EY Senior Associate salary (MBA/Experienced-level)
- Base: $170,000
- Performance Bonus: up to $10,000
- Signing Bonus: $35,000
- Relocation: up to $2,000
- Total Annual Salary: up to $180,000
Accenture consulting salary
Accenture junior consultants have a maximum annual salary of $113,000, with $87,000 as base. Senior consultants can make up to $200,000 per year.
Accenture Analyst salary (Undergraduate/Entry-level)
- Base: $87,000
- Performance Bonus: up to $26,000 (30% of base)
- Retirement: 6% match for 401k after 1st year
- Signing Bonus: $12,500
- Relocation: up to $5,000
- Total Annual Salary: up to $113,000
Accenture Consultant salary (MBA/Experienced-level)
- Base: $155,000 (Canada: C$135,000) (UK: £83,000)
- Performance Bonus: $30,000 + $15,000 for top performers (UK: £10,000)
- Retirement: 6% match for 401k after
- Signing Bonus: $35,000 + $17,500 early sign on for returning interns (Canada: C$25,000) (UK: £31,500)
- Relocation: up to $10,000
- Total Annual Salary: up to $200,000
Other consulting firms salary
AT Kearney consulting salary
Undergraduate/Entry-level | MBA/Experienced-level |
---|---|
Base: $80,000 | Base: $158,000 (Canada: C$153,000) (Germany: €85,000) (Dubai: AED570,000) |
Performance Bonus: up to $20,000 (25% of base) | Performance Bonus: up to $44,100 (Canada: up to C$45,900) (Germany: up to €16,000) (Dubai: up to AED90,000) |
Retirement: up to 6% base | Retirement: 401k contribution up to $8,000 |
Signing Bonus: $5,000 | Signing Bonus: $25,000 (plus $10,000 for summer interns). Canada: C$20,000. Dubai: AED90,000 |
Relocation: up to $10,000 | Relocation: up to $10,000 (Canada: C$5,000) (Germany: up to €5,000) |
Total Annual Salary: up to $100,000 | Total Annual Salary: up to $202,000 |
Booz Allen Hamilton consulting salary
Undergraduate/Entry-level | MBA/Experienced-level |
---|---|
Base: $75,000 | Base: $130,000 (Middle East) |
Performance Bonus: up to $4,000 | Performance Bonus: up to $32,500 (25% of base; Middle East) |
Retirement: 6% match for 401k | Allowances: 40% of base ($52,000; Middle East) |
Relocation: up to $5,000 | Relocation: up to $25,000 (Middle East) |
Total Annual Salary: up to $79,000 | Total Annual Salary: up to $162,500 |
Oliver Wyman consulting salary
Undergraduate/Entry-level | MBA/Experienced-level |
---|---|
Base: $87,000 | Base: $145,000 (Doha: $144,000) |
Performance Bonus: up to $16,000 | Performance Bonus: up to $36,500 |
Retirement: 3% match | Retirement: 401k – up to 3.5% match at start of 2nd year |
Signing Bonus: $10,000 | Signing Bonus: up to $45,000 (Doha: $1,500) |
Relocation: up to $2,000 | |
Total Annual Salary: up to $103,000 | Total Annual Salary: up to $181,500 |
LEK consulting salary
Undergraduate/Entry-level | MBA/Experienced-level |
---|---|
Base: $75,000 | Base: $165,000 |
Performance Bonus: up to $3,000 | Performance Bonus: up to $25,000 |
Signing Bonus: $10,000 | Signing Bonus: $25,000 (additional $25,000 for returning interns) |
Relocation: up to $2,500 | Relocation: up to $5,000 |
Total Annual Salary: up to $78,000 | Total Annual Salary: up to $190,000 |
Comparing management consulting salary
There are a gap in consultants' salaries among management consulting firms. Overall, the Big Three (MBB) companies pay their consultants more generously due to the larger scale of their consulting projects.
Salaries when exiting management consulting
Short answer: You get a raise when you quit the job.
And here’s the long answer:
Even though management consulting is among the best-paid jobs, with a few years of experience, you will receive even higher-paying offers from outside the industry – typically ranging from +20% to + 50%, but sometimes as high as +100-200%!
This is the exact reason so many people willingly exit the industry within the first few years, but at the same time, it explains why management consulting is so attractive – those learning opportunities will catapult your career and your salary sky-high!