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What is a business consultant/project manager and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
Quoted expert
Joseph Gilkey Ph.D.
The average business consultant/project manager salary is $103,967. The most common degree is a bachelor's degree degree with an business major. It usually takes 2-4 years of experience to become a business consultant/project manager. Business consultant/project managers with a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification earn more money. Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 11% and produce 108,400 job opportunities across the U.S.

What general advice would you give to a business consultant/project manager?

Joseph Gilkey Ph.D.Joseph Gilkey Ph.D. LinkedIn profile

Chair Business Administration, Director, Data Science Institute, Director of MBA and MSA Masters Programs, Associate Professor Department of Business Administration, Saint Peter's University

Continue to build skill sets and never stop learning. Look to understand and use new technologies, like AI. Stay current and relevant in the areas you want to work in. There are many ways to accomplish this, from self-study programs to colleges and universities.
ScoreBusiness Consultant/Project ManagerUS Average
Salary
7.7

Avg. Salary $103,967

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
6.8

Growth rate 11%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
5.9
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.17%

Asian 14.52%

Black or African American 7.52%

Hispanic or Latino 8.51%

Unknown 4.45%

White 64.83%

Gender

female 38.73%

male 61.27%

Age - 43
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 43
Stress level
6.8

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
8.7

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance
2.2

Work life balance is very poor

6.4 - fair

Business consultant/project manager career paths

Key steps to become a business consultant/project manager

  1. Explore business consultant/project manager education requirements

    Most common business consultant/project manager degrees

    Bachelor's

    72.1 %

    Master's

    19.4 %

    Associate

    5.6 %
  2. Start to develop specific business consultant/project manager skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Project Management10.68%
    Financial Analysis7.40%
    Project Scope7.29%
    Business Process7.01%
    Process Improvement4.07%
  3. Complete relevant business consultant/project manager training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New business consultant/project managers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a business consultant/project manager based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real business consultant/project manager resumes.
  4. Research business consultant/project manager duties and responsibilities

    • Train incoming associates and manage project portfolio, reporting regularly to executive management.
    • Build divisional pipelines by identifying potential contract leads utilizing DoD procurement resources which focus on engineering and supply chain management.
    • Develop test plans and scenarios, execute QA and UAT tests and provide results.
    • Prepare work flows (VISIO & PowerPoint), preliminary designs, and data structures.
  5. Prepare your business consultant/project manager resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your business consultant/project manager resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a business consultant/project manager resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable business consultant/project manager resume templates

    Build a professional business consultant/project manager resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your business consultant/project manager resume.
    Business Consultant/Project Manager Resume
    Business Consultant/Project Manager Resume
    Business Consultant/Project Manager Resume
    Business Consultant/Project Manager Resume
    Business Consultant/Project Manager Resume
    Business Consultant/Project Manager Resume
    Business Consultant/Project Manager Resume
    Business Consultant/Project Manager Resume
    Business Consultant/Project Manager Resume
  6. Apply for business consultant/project manager jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a business consultant/project manager job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first business consultant/project manager job

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Average business consultant/project manager salary

The average business consultant/project manager salary in the United States is $103,967 per year or $50 per hour. Business consultant/project manager salaries range between $74,000 and $144,000 per year.

Average business consultant/project manager salary
$103,967 Yearly
$49.98 hourly

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How do business consultant/project managers rate their job?

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Business consultant/project manager reviews

profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Feb 2023
Pros

I like to work with a team. Satisfaction of seeing the successful completion of a project

Cons

Strict deadlines, and stakeholders. Feeling undervalued or underappreciated.


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Aug 2020
Pros

As it seeks to solve problems in innovative way

Cons

It needs more patience to apply the true solution and satisfy your client


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A zippia user wrote a review on Jun 2020
Pros

I enjoy problem-solving and identifying a path to completing a complex project. I like to ensure that moving parts come together smoothly and communicating successes and celebrating with the team.

Cons

Without the right support from project sponsors, a project manager is doomed to failure. There is an enormous amount of responsibility on a project manager to deliver a product on time and on budget, though without proper authority or backing, it's basically wheel spinning.


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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