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Job outlook for digital consultants in the United States
Are digital consultant jobs in demand?
Digital consultant job and salary trends over time
Digital consultant jobs over time
Digital consultant job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,471 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 2,344 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 2,305 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 2,168 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 2,026 | 0.00% |
Average digital consultant salary over time
Digital consultant salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $103,415 | $49.72 | +3.2% |
| 2024 | $100,241 | $48.19 | +1.1% |
| 2023 | $99,188 | $47.69 | --0.2% |
| 2022 | $99,361 | $47.77 | +1.1% |
| 2021 | $98,308 | $47.26 | +0.7% |
Digital consultant jobs by state
Most common states for digital consultants
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 198 | 29% |
| 2 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 179 | 21% |
| 3 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 226 | 17% |
| 4 | Alabama | 4,874,747 | 588 | 12% |
| 5 | Oklahoma | 3,930,864 | 455 | 12% |
| 6 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 608 | 9% |
| 7 | Mississippi | 2,984,100 | 281 | 9% |
| 8 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 85 | 8% |
| 9 | Delaware | 961,939 | 79 | 8% |
| 10 | Vermont | 623,657 | 50 | 8% |
| 11 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 376 | 7% |
| 12 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 280 | 7% |
| 13 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 100 | 7% |
| 14 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 771 | 6% |
| 15 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 196 | 6% |
| 16 | California | 39,536,653 | 1,875 | 5% |
| 17 | New York | 19,849,399 | 985 | 5% |
| 18 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 467 | 5% |
| 19 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 385 | 5% |
| 20 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 57 | 5% |
Most common cities for digital consultants
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Henrietta | 1 | 2% | $103,168 |
| 2 | Newport Beach | 1 | 1% | $112,184 |
| 3 | Palo Alto | 1 | 1% | $123,500 |
| 4 | Pleasanton | 1 | 1% | $123,235 |
| 5 | Schaumburg | 1 | 1% | $96,635 |
| 6 | Chicago | 3 | 0% | $96,613 |
| 7 | Los Angeles | 2 | 0% | $113,008 |
| 8 | San Diego | 2 | 0% | $111,266 |
| 9 | San Francisco | 2 | 0% | $123,552 |
| 10 | Arlington | 1 | 0% | $96,156 |
| 11 | Atlanta | 1 | 0% | $98,231 |
| 12 | Chandler | 1 | 0% | $98,353 |
| 13 | Houston | 1 | 0% | $108,159 |
| 14 | New York | 1 | 0% | $104,923 |
| 15 | Oakland | 1 | 0% | $123,413 |
| 16 | Phoenix | 1 | 0% | $98,485 |
| 17 | Tucson | 1 | 0% | $97,866 |
Digital Consultant job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of digital consultant experts
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania
Metropolitan State University of Denver
Indiana University Bloomington
Lasell University
Webster University
University of Houston - Downtown
Berea College
Grove City College
Prairie View A&M University
Florida Atlantic University
Endicott College
Old Dominion University
What will help Digital Consultants increase their earning potential?
Rich Johnson: Digital media covers a lot of mediums and requires many skill sets (print, static online, animation, interactive). The print arm is a lesser component although still valuable in the scope of marketing. Smartphones, tablets and gaming have moved a lot of digital into a customer expectation of interactive and customizable content. The present model of career specialization in a certain aspect of this spectrum of skills is changing. The age of the generalist is becoming more of a reality as design tools are becoming more accessible and A.I. is assisting in the more complex tasks. I would say that someone working in digital media will need to focus more on the big picture of design, predicting trends and developing solutions from a point of view with perspective. It will be even more important to understand the needs of a system from the top down and provide solutions that enhance that system. This might be through partnering with marketing and sales to conceptualize solutions, pitching product ideas and other functions related to creative and art direction. And be curious, all of the time. Keep up to date with everything that is happening. Take classes, watch tutorials, read articles and be obsessed with the breakneck rate of change. Digital media is constantly changing and possibilities are always expanding. It can be near impossible to be a master of all of these trajectories, but you can understand them well enough to bring in a specialist when the challenge requires it. This is where I predict that A.I. will be a major paradigm shift. There will be a time when you will ask the system to solve a problem, and you can choose what parts of the process that you want to control. So to boil it down... Develop a well rounded set of skills Further develop specialist level skills where you excel Keep on top of change and keep a thirst for learning Strengthen your connection to problem solving and creative innovation Keep an eye on the future predicting what might be around the bend
Dr. Joseph Harasta Jr
Associate ProfessorKutztown University of Pennsylvania
Radio, Television, And Digital Communication
What Digital Consultant skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Joseph Harasta Jr: Because digital media specialists must adhere to the brand and image of an organization, some might feel stifled as far as what they can and cannot do from a creative standpoint. Also, once something is put out in the online world, it’s there forever and of course can be seen by millions of people, so any mistake or misstep is not likely to go away quickly or easily. We all know that the online world, especially social media can be rather toxic and negative in nature, therefore it can take someone with a bit of thick skin to deal with critics or trolls who just wait for any mistake to bounce. Digital media specialists must work in a oftentimes nasty environment that is the internet.
Sally Baalbaki-Yassine Ph.D.
Department Chair, Professor and Digital Marketing Program DirectorMetropolitan State University of Denver
Marketing
What Digital Consultant skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Sally Baalbaki-Yassine Ph.D.: Digital Marketing is booming, so knowing how to use AI to make your work more efficient is very important. AI will not replace you, but the person who knows how to use AI better than you will replace you. Communication skills are also very important, knowing how to communicate (which includes good listening skills) is important in any marketing role.
Professor Steve Vinson
Director of Undergraduate StudiesIndiana University Bloomington
Middle/Near Eastern And Semitic Languages, Literatures, And Linguistics
What will help Digital Consultants increase their earning potential?
Professor Steve Vinson: By being flexible, and by standing out. Cultivate multiple skills that complement your area studies/language skills, especially digital skills.
Meryl Perlson MFA
Professor & Chair, CommunicationLasell University
Communication And Media Studies
What general advice would you give to a Digital Consultant?
Meryl Perlson MFA: As technology, including generative AI, makes it easier to produce content, it will become harder for organizations to break through the glut of messages. I anticipate increasing demand for digital storytelling skills - graduates who can harness, words, images and especially video to produce multimedia content for different platforms. Social media expertise - understanding how to track trends, engage audiences and measure the impact of messages to inform strategy - will also be increasingly valuable. Perennial list toppers like interpersonal communication (both virtual and in-person), problem solving and teamwork skills will continue to be important.
Sung Eun Park
Assistant Professor, Advertising and Marketing CommunicationsWebster University
Communications & Journalism
What skills stand out on Digital Consultant resumes?
Sung Eun Park: Companies hiring marketing consultants look for someone with strong communication and leadership skills that can translate to great candidates. In addition, a strong background in data analysis will definitely stand out from other candidates. Unlike many beliefs, people who get jobs as marketing consultant comes from various education backgrounds including advertising and English major. It is an indication that companies are open to people with diverse perspectives that can bring fresh eyes to the team. The resumes showcasing a person with various experiences highlighting strong leadership skills (not just strictly marketing) in a team environment will get noticed.
Dr. Richard Conde Ph.D.
Assistant ProfessorUniversity of Houston - Downtown
Marilyn Davies College of Business
What soft skills should all Digital Consultants possess?
Dr. Richard Conde Ph.D.: The need for soft skills are consistent through time. With our societal focus on social media, texting, emojis, etc. It appears to me companies are looking for the following:
- Active listening skills
- Willingness to be self-reflective and accept feedback
- Accept different perspectives. The collision of ideas creates knowledge
- Communicate to the listener (at their level). Flex communicators
- Cultural intelligence. Demographics changes will require better understanding of team member's, boss', customer's, etc. cultural context
J. Ian Norris Ph.D.
Professor of Marketing and Fellow, American Council on EducationBerea College
Economics and Business Department
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Digital Consultants?
J. Ian Norris Ph.D.: Digital marketing skills are essential for any area of marketing. Luckily there are many online certifications available for this purpose. On the research side, Google Analytics offers a certification. It will also be valuable to know the analytics platforms on social media sites such as facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Conversely, all of these sites also offer training on digital advertising and promotion, such as Google AdWords. Any coursework in digital marketing that provides instruction in Search Engine Marketing (SEM) will also be highly valuable. Finally, digital video and editing skills are also quite valuable, as all kinds of companies and organizations are using the short video format for storytelling and brand advertising.
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Digital Consultants?
DJ Wagner Ph.D.: I would have to say that the biggest impact is due not to the courses a student takes but to what professional opportunities outside of the classroom the student pursues. The employers with which I've spoken suggest that evidence of independent research projects and of the ability to work collaboratively are very important considerations in the hiring process. Networking is also key. At Grove City College, we encourage our physics majors to get involved in research starting their freshman year, and we provide many opportunities for them to network with alumni in the field and by attending conferences. Research builds several critical skills of value to employers: the ability to take ownership of a project and follow it through over a period of time, the ability to work as a team toward a common goal, the ability to operate and trouble-shoot apparatus (for experimental research), the ability to extract meaning from data, etc. Interacting with professionals in the field gives students a wide perspective about possible career paths, connections within those careers, and an understanding of the current state of the field not typically obtained in college courses.
When I have heard professionals speak to students at conferences, they often recommend that physics majors take communication and management courses in addition to their required physics curriculum. The skills and knowledge gained in those courses can help graduates navigate the corporate world successfully.
Dr Rick Baldwin
Associate Professor of PracticePrairie View A&M University
Management and Marketing Department
What general advice would you give to a Digital Consultant?
Dr Rick Baldwin: To begin their career, I suggest that the graduate pursue their career as an entrepreneur. Based on the career interest, actually develop a business plan to launch this career as a business. I would use this as a platform in beginning the career as entrepreneur, consultant, or as an employee of a marketing organization.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Digital Consultants in the next 3-5 years?
Eileen P. Acello: I see artificial intelligence and virtual technology as huge growth areas in the field of marketing. Many companies are using this type of technology already, but I see it becoming mainstream.
How do you envision technology impacting Digital Consultants in the next 5 years?
Cherie Lynch: Online living has escalated, and with this, there is a greater reliance on digital platforms for service and for marketing. Our employer partners are talking about key trends such as digital convergence, personalization, content marketing, video, and AI.
Jeff Tanner
Dean and Professor of MarketingOld Dominion University
Strome College of Business
How do you envision technology impacting Digital Consultants in the next 5 years?
Jeff Tanner: I think the technology moves will be more about rationalizing what we already have, finding ways to combine data sets, eliminating redundant tools, and using what we have more effectively. The vendors will excite the AI and AR apps, which will undoubtedly grow in use, but the way companies are likely to pay for it is by eliminating redundancies in tech.