Something you should know, thought I'd share
https://managementconsulted.com/2009/01/ ... u-partner/The truth behind consulting salaries: from analyst thru partnerby kgao on January 8, 2009
Something a lot of readers are dying to know.
The data is what I’ve gathered from my own experience, current consulting friends, and public sources. They won’t be 100% accurate but should be pretty close.
One resource I’ve found valuable is the Consulting forums at WallStreetOasis.
First year out of undergraduate:Base salaries: $50-65K
Signing bonuses: $5-10K
Relocation/moving expenses: $5-10K
Year-end bonus: $5-10K depending on firm.
That’s an average of $70-75K in first year compensation. As a summer intern, you can expect a comparable, pro-rated salary (minus the bonuses). This does not include retirement contributions.
First year out of business school/MBA:Base salaries: $110-140K
Signing bonuses: $20-40K
Relocation/moving expenses: $10-20K
Year-end bonus: $20-40K depending on firm.
That’s an average of $160-200K in total first year compensation. This does not include retirement contributions. My original estimates were a bit lower, but have been adjusted upward based on emails and the comments below.
Progression track through partner:
My numbers have a higher risk of being inaccurate as this is only from personal anecdotes, so if you have better information, email me or comment below
Engagement manager/Project leader: $175-250K
Associate principal/Senior project leader: $250-400K
Partner/Principal: $500-800K
Senior partner/Director: $1M plus At more senior levels the pay becomes increasingly variable and performance-based
How consulting salaries lose to finance:At almost every level of consulting, your salary will be 30-50% lower than a comparable position in investment banking. This is variable by year and median salaries in non-banking departments (such as research, asset management, sales & trading) are lower. But like I said in this post, consulting is not a profession to make big bucks.
How consulting firms compensate for the lower salaries:Better benefits - healthcare, life insurance, etc
Retirement contributions - this one is important because at MBB, they’ll contribute an added 5-10% of your base salary to your retirement funds, effectively a 5-10% year-end bonus! (A reader just informed me that his MBB retirement contribution starting fulltime in ‘09 was 4.5%, which is lower than I’d seen in previous years)
More generous expense/reimbursement policies, travel perks, etc
I’m going to start adding funny, topical cartoons to the end of posts from now on. Here is the first: