US Management Consulting Salaries – 2025 Salary Guide
Understand where your role fits in today’s market. Our 2025 guide offers detailed base and bonus benchmarks for consulting professionals in the US, helping both candidates and employers stay informed.
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Industry Trends – What’s Happening in the US Market?
Consulting salaries in the US have remained broadly flat year-over-year, with inflation again outpacing compensation growth and impacting real-terms earnings.
Key themes from the market:
- Promotion pathways have narrowed, especially within Big 4 firms.
- Consultants are spending longer at each grade, with reduced upward mobility.
- Some professionals are more open to lateral moves or accepting slightly lower pay for the right opportunity.
- Post-election, some large firms like Accenture have scaled back DEI initiatives.
- There is renewed demand for Commercial Due Diligence (CDD) and operating model expertise, especially in cost-optimisation contexts.
- Hiring is slower and more selective, with firms hesitant to commit early.
- Redundancy trends persist, although attrition remains low (~5%).
- Senior specialist roles are favoured, with fewer junior positions being filled.
Consulting Salaries – Management Consulting Roles (US)
| Title | Experience (Years) | Base Salary | Bonus |
| Analyst | 0 - 2 | $70,000 - $120,000 | 0 - 15% |
| Consultant | 2 - 4 | $120,000 - $140,000 | 0 - 15% |
| Senior Consultant | 4 - 6 | $140,000 - $160,000 | 5 - 20% |
| Manager | 6 - 8 | $160,000 - $210,000 | 10 - 25% |
| Senior Management / Associate Director | 8 - 10 | $180,000 - $260,000 | 10 - 30% |
| Director | 10 - 12 | $240,000 - $300,000 | 15 - 30% |
| Partner | 12+ | Bespoke | Bespoke |
The consulting manager salary range is especially competitive in the US market, typically between $160,000 and $210,000 plus bonus.
Strategy Consulting Salary Ranges (US)
Strategy-focused roles continue to command premium pay, particularly at senior levels.
| Title | Experience (Years) | Base Salary | Bonus |
| Analyst | 0 - 2 | $100,000 - $130,000 | 0 - 10% |
| Consultant | 1 - 3 | $120,000 - $150,000 | 5 - 20% |
| Senior Consultant | 2 - 4 | $140,000 - $180,000 | 10 - 25% |
| Manager | 4 - 6 | $180,000 - $240,000 | 15 - 30% |
| Senior Manager / Associate Director | 6 - 8 | $240,000 - $280,000 | 15 - 40% |
| Director | 8 - 12 | $250,000+ | 20 - 50% |
| Partner | 9+ | Bespoke | Bespoke |
This snapshot is particularly useful for professionals working in strategy consulting, including those in MBB and equivalent firms.
Big 4 Consultant Salary Context
While our insights and research covers a range of firms, it’s worth noting that Big 4 consultant salaries have come under pressure in recent months due to hiring freezes and ongoing restructuring. Compensation remains competitive but promotion timelines are increasingly stretched.
Download the Full 2025 US Salary Guide
View the full table, bonus ranges, and commentary in our downloadable PDF.
Click here to download the US Managing Consulting Salary Guide
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