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Contractor/consultant salary
Average contractor/consultant salary
$84,811
Average Contractor/Consultant Salary
The average annual salary for a contractor/consultant is approximately $84,811. This figure reflects various factors, including location, industry, and years of experience. Understanding these dynamics can help job seekers make informed decisions about their career paths.
How Much Does a Contractor/Consultant Make?
On average, contractors and consultants earn about $41 per hour. This hourly rate can vary significantly based on the specific role and the region in which one works. For instance, contractors in metropolitan areas often report higher earnings than those in rural settings.
Where Can a Contractor/Consultant Earn More?
Geographical location plays a crucial role in determining salary levels. States such as California, New York, and Texas tend to offer higher compensation due to the cost of living and demand for skilled professionals. Additionally, specific industries such as technology and finance often provide better pay than others.
Highest Paying Cities for Contractor/Consultants
Cities like San Francisco, New York City, and Washington D.C. rank among the highest for contractor/consultant salaries. These urban centers not only offer competitive pay but also a vibrant job market filled with opportunities for growth.
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Where can a Contractor/Consultant earn more?
Average contractor/consultant salary by state
The average contractor/consultant salary in New Jersey, Connecticut, and Massachusetts are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average contractor/consultant salary states are Arkansas, Montana, and Oklahoma.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for contractor/consultants
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | $96,232 | $46.27 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $96,120 | $46.21 |
| 3 | Rhode Island | $89,805 | $43.18 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $96,155 | $46.23 |
| 5 | New Hampshire | $91,969 | $44.22 |
| 6 | New York | $95,543 | $45.93 |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | $90,403 | $43.46 |
| 8 | Virginia | $91,753 | $44.11 |
| 9 | Delaware | $95,145 | $45.74 |
| 10 | District of Columbia | $91,130 | $43.81 |
| 11 | Vermont | $84,714 | $40.73 |
| 12 | Oregon | $84,458 | $40.60 |
| 13 | North Carolina | $83,441 | $40.12 |
| 14 | Maryland | $92,237 | $44.34 |
| 15 | California | $91,029 | $43.76 |
| 16 | Michigan | $88,697 | $42.64 |
| 17 | Ohio | $84,683 | $40.71 |
| 18 | Arizona | $83,597 | $40.19 |
| 19 | West Virginia | $84,481 | $40.62 |
| 20 | Illinois | $82,092 | $39.47 |
| 21 | Nevada | $78,961 | $37.96 |
| 22 | Utah | $76,405 | $36.73 |
| 23 | Alaska | $90,646 | $43.58 |
| 24 | Texas | $79,208 | $38.08 |
| 25 | Maine | $83,679 | $40.23 |
| 26 | Minnesota | $79,088 | $38.02 |
| 27 | Alabama | $71,474 | $34.36 |
| 28 | Indiana | $77,187 | $37.11 |
| 29 | Wisconsin | $77,056 | $37.05 |
| 30 | Kentucky | $76,612 | $36.83 |
| 31 | New Mexico | $76,246 | $36.66 |
| 32 | Mississippi | $70,914 | $34.09 |
| 33 | Georgia | $75,333 | $36.22 |
| 34 | Missouri | $75,911 | $36.50 |
| 35 | Idaho | $71,911 | $34.57 |
| 36 | South Dakota | $64,516 | $31.02 |
| 37 | Washington | $76,988 | $37.01 |
| 38 | Louisiana | $74,761 | $35.94 |
| 39 | Tennessee | $72,489 | $34.85 |
| 40 | Kansas | $71,068 | $34.17 |
| 41 | Oklahoma | $64,843 | $31.17 |
| 42 | Florida | $70,141 | $33.72 |
| 43 | Montana | $65,366 | $31.43 |
| 44 | South Carolina | $74,008 | $35.58 |
| 45 | Hawaii | $65,645 | $31.56 |
| 46 | North Dakota | $67,029 | $32.23 |
| 47 | Iowa | $71,907 | $34.57 |
| 48 | Arkansas | $65,495 | $31.49 |
| 49 | Nebraska | $64,147 | $30.84 |
| 50 | Colorado | $66,198 | $31.83 |
| 51 | Wyoming | $63,352 | $30.46 |
Highest paying cities for contractor/consultants
The highest-paying cities for contractor/consultants are Boston, MA, San Francisco, CA, and New York, NY.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston, MA | $96,169 | $46.24 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $96,016 | $46.16 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $95,592 | $45.96 |
| 4 | McLean, VA | $93,140 | $44.78 |
| 5 | Washington, DC | $91,180 | $43.84 |
| 6 | Pittsburgh, PA | $88,370 | $42.49 |
| 7 | Raleigh, NC | $85,105 | $40.92 |
| 8 | Salem, OR | $84,362 | $40.56 |
| 9 | Columbus, OH | $84,144 | $40.45 |
| 10 | Phoenix, AZ | $83,691 | $40.24 |
| 11 | Chicago, IL | $82,528 | $39.68 |
| 12 | Austin, TX | $80,036 | $38.48 |
| 13 | Minneapolis, MN | $79,095 | $38.03 |
| 14 | Las Vegas, NV | $78,533 | $37.76 |
| 15 | Olympia, WA | $77,602 | $37.31 |
| 16 | Indianapolis, IN | $76,895 | $36.97 |
| 17 | Salt Lake City, UT | $75,939 | $36.51 |
| 18 | Atlanta, GA | $75,418 | $36.26 |
| 19 | Kansas City, MO | $75,314 | $36.21 |
| 20 | Des Moines, IA | $71,092 | $34.18 |
Contractor/consultant salary details
A contractor/consultant's salary ranges from $58,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $123,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a contractor/consultant's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $123,000 | $10,250 | $59 |
| 75th Percentile | $103,000 | $8,583 | $50 |
| Average | $84,811 | $7,068 | $41 |
| 25th Percentile | $69,000 | $5,750 | $33 |
| 10th Percentile | $58,000 | $4,833 | $28 |
Highest paying contractor/consultant jobs
The highest paying types of contractor/consultants are executive consultant, principal consultant, and senior consultant, information technology.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Analyst | $73,007 | $6,084 | $35.10 | 253,138 |
| Business Advisor | $96,469 | $8,039 | $46.38 | 125,154 |
| Business Development Consultant | $85,153 | $7,096 | $40.94 | 168,111 |
| Information Technology Consultant | $84,790 | $7,066 | $40.76 | 142,475 |
| Contract Coordinator | $43,318 | $3,610 | $20.83 | 38,845 |
| Business Consultant | $87,214 | $7,268 | $41.93 | 128,033 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for contractor/consultants, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Robin Cormier
Assistant Professor, Montana State University - Billings
Top companies hiring contractor/consultants now:
Which companies pay contractor/consultants the most?
Contractor/consultant salaries at Cerner and Osha Liang LLP are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average contractor/consultant salary at companies like Hoffmann-LA Roche Inc and The Walt Disney Company are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cerner | $111,757 | $53.73 |
| 2 | Osha Liang LLP | $108,592 | $52.21 |
| 3 | Hoffmann-LA Roche Inc | $101,866 | $48.97 |
| 4 | The Walt Disney Company | $98,870 | $47.53 |
| 5 | Elevance Health | $98,264 | $47.24 |
| 6 | Crown Equipment | $97,004 | $46.64 |
| 7 | Amerigroup | $96,328 | $46.31 |
| 8 | Highmark | $91,909 | $44.19 |
| 9 | Censeo Consulting | $88,699 | $42.64 |
| 10 | Deloitte | $87,562 | $42.10 |
| 11 | FleishmanHillard | $86,813 | $41.74 |
| 12 | BD | $86,400 | $41.54 |
| 13 | Dominion Energy | $85,396 | $41.06 |
| 14 | MicroStrategy | $84,888 | $40.81 |
| 15 | Turner & Townsend | $84,379 | $40.57 |
| 16 | Wells Fargo | $82,852 | $39.83 |
| 17 | Hulu | $81,325 | $39.10 |
| 18 | CRST International | $77,925 | $37.46 |
| 19 | MassMutual | $76,679 | $36.86 |
| 20 | Southwire | $76,338 | $36.70 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Contractor/Consultant salary by industry
The average contractor/consultant salary varies across industries:
- The average contractor/consultant salary in the technology industry is $88,122, the highest of any industry.
- The average contractor/consultant salary in the finance industry is $77,988.
- Contractor/consultants in the health care industry earn an average salary of $69,771, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for contractor/consultants
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Technology | $88,122 | $42.37 |
| 2 | Finance | $77,988 | $37.49 |
| 3 | Government | $77,763 | $37.39 |
| 4 | Manufacturing | $72,372 | $34.79 |
| 5 | Professional | $70,197 | $33.75 |
| 6 | Health Care | $69,771 | $33.54 |
High paying contractor/consultant jobs
Contractor/consultant salary trends
The average contractor/consultant salary has risen by $12,482 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average contractor/consultant earned $72,329 annually, but today, they earn $84,811 a year. That works out to a 9% change in pay for contractor/consultants over the last decade.
Compare contractor/consultant salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average contractor/consultant salary over time
Compare contractor/consultant salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Contractor/consultant salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $84,800 | $40.77 | +3.8% |
| 2024 | $81,600 | $39.22 | +2.3% |
| 2023 | $79,700 | $38.30 | +0.7% |
| 2022 | $79,100 | $38.02 | +1.4% |
| 2021 | $78,000 | $37.49 | +1.3% |
Recently added contractor/consultant salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burwood Group | Cloud Consultant-W2 Contract To | Chicago, IL | 06/29/2025 | $104,350 |
| Clever Inc. | Saved Passwords Consultant [Contract] | San Francisco, CA | 06/28/2025 | $62,610 |
| Cardinal Health | Consultant, Customer Contract Administration | Olympia, WA | 06/18/2025 | $79,700 |
| Cardinal Health | Consultant, Customer Contract Administration | Des Moines, IA | 06/18/2025 | $79,700 |
| Cardinal Health | Consultant, Customer Contract Administration | Springfield, IL | 06/18/2025 | $79,700 |
| Cardinal Health | Consultant, Customer Contract Administration | Tallahassee, FL | 06/18/2025 | $79,700 |
| Cardinal Health | Consultant, Customer Contract Administration | Boise, ID | 06/18/2025 | $79,700 |
| Cardinal Health | Consultant, Customer Contract Administration | Pierre, SD | 06/18/2025 | $79,700 |
| Cardinal Health | Consultant, Customer Contract Administration | Nashville, TN | 06/18/2025 | $79,700 |
| Cardinal Health | Consultant, Customer Contract Administration | Columbia, SC | 06/18/2025 | $79,700 |
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