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Job outlook for senior business consultants in the United States
Senior business consultant job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected senior business consultant job growth rate is 11% from 2018-2028.
About 108,400 new jobs for senior business consultants are projected over the next decade.
Senior business consultant salaries have increased 8% for senior business consultants in the last 5 years.
There are over 129,419 senior business consultants currently employed in the United States.
There are 144,929 active senior business consultant job openings in the US.
The average senior business consultant salary is $105,184.
Are senior business consultant jobs in demand?
Senior business consultant job and salary trends over time
Senior business consultant jobs over time
Senior business consultant job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 129,419 | 0.04% |
| 2020 | 101,530 | 0.03% |
| 2019 | 97,756 | 0.03% |
| 2018 | 119,713 | 0.04% |
| 2017 | 114,592 | 0.03% |
Average senior business consultant salary over time
Senior business consultant salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $105,184 | $50.57 | +2.8% |
| 2025 | $102,305 | $49.18 | +2.0% |
| 2024 | $100,325 | $48.23 | +1.4% |
| 2023 | $98,933 | $47.56 | +1.4% |
| 2022 | $97,589 | $46.92 | +0.0% |
Senior business consultant jobs by state
Most common states for senior business consultants
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 716 | 103% |
| 2 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 309 | 36% |
| 3 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 363 | 34% |
| 4 | Vermont | 623,657 | 202 | 32% |
| 5 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 1,753 | 31% |
| 6 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 315 | 30% |
| 7 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 540 | 28% |
| 8 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 1,866 | 27% |
| 9 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 344 | 26% |
| 10 | Delaware | 961,939 | 252 | 26% |
| 11 | Alaska | 739,795 | 184 | 25% |
| 12 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 990 | 24% |
| 13 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 1,928 | 23% |
| 14 | Kansas | 2,913,123 | 668 | 23% |
| 15 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 687 | 22% |
| 16 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 1,848 | 21% |
| 17 | Missouri | 6,113,532 | 1,272 | 21% |
| 18 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 2,530 | 20% |
| 19 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 1,144 | 20% |
| 20 | Alabama | 4,874,747 | 996 | 20% |
Most common cities for senior business consultants
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | West Des Moines | 7 | 11% | $93,033 |
| 2 | Atlanta | 14 | 3% | $103,201 |
| 3 | Chandler | 8 | 3% | $95,252 |
| 4 | Des Moines | 6 | 3% | $93,171 |
| 5 | Tampa | 6 | 2% | $84,656 |
| 6 | Phoenix | 9 | 1% | $95,412 |
| 7 | Denver | 8 | 1% | $98,442 |
| 8 | Washington | 8 | 1% | $110,228 |
| 9 | Boston | 6 | 1% | $113,688 |
| 10 | Sacramento | 6 | 1% | $120,905 |
| 11 | Minneapolis | 5 | 1% | $99,526 |
| 12 | San Francisco | 5 | 1% | $121,354 |
| 13 | Detroit | 4 | 1% | $95,750 |
| 14 | Miami | 4 | 1% | $82,596 |
| 15 | Chicago | 11 | 0% | $107,443 |
| 16 | Los Angeles | 8 | 0% | $108,190 |
| 17 | Indianapolis | 4 | 0% | $88,188 |
| 18 | San Diego | 4 | 0% | $106,184 |
Senior Business Consultant job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of senior business consultant experts
Oklahoma State University - Oklahoma City
University of North Dakota
Western Kentucky University
University of La Verne
Southern Connecticut State University
Kent State University
New York University
What Senior Business Consultant skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Swagata Banerjee PhD: Digital literacy: As technology continues to evolve, proficiency in digital tools and platforms will become increasingly essential. Adaptability: The ability to quickly learn new skills and adapt to changing circumstances will be crucial in a rapidly evolving industry landscape. Data literacy: Understanding and analyzing data will become more important for making informed decisions and optimizing strategies. Interdisciplinary skills: The ability to work across different disciplines and collaborate effectively with diverse teams will be highly valued. Emotional intelligence: Soft skills such as empathy, communication, and teamwork will continue to be in demand as workplaces become more interconnected and dynamic.
What will help Senior Business Consultants increase their earning potential?
Dr. Swagata Banerjee PhD: Network extensively: Build relationships with professionals in your field, attend industry events, and join relevant professional organizations. Continuously learn and adapt: Stay updated on industry trends, new technologies, and best practices through courses, workshops, and online resources. Seek mentorship: Find experienced professionals who can offer guidance and advice as you navigate your career path. Be proactive and resourceful: Take initiative, seek out opportunities for growth, and don't be afraid to step outside your comfort zone.
What general advice would you give to a Senior Business Consultant?
Sam Engel: Zippia is a job search site with over 5 million visits a month, We were hoping you could answer the following questions:
What Senior Business Consultant skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Sam Engel: Zippia is a job search site with over 5 million visits a month, We were hoping you could answer the following questions:
What Senior Business Consultant skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Rebecca MacGowan: Business graduates encompass a broad set of majors, each of which has their own set of best practices and different applied tools that they use. I highly recommend students become familiar with the dominant trends in their fields including decision making processes (how do individuals in their field draw conclusions about what to do) and what software applications are the most prevalent (what they use for supply chain is going to be different from the applications they use for accounting, and so forth) so that they can ensure they are practicing their domain-specific aptitudes prior to graduation. They can do this via their college courses, outside learning opportunities, or via an internship with applied experience. Regardless of their specific major, all business students benefit from the development of their soft skills – rarely in a business environment will you work independently, the majority of the time you are going to be working in groups and teams, nested within departments, nested within organizations, nested within industries. As such, learning strong communication and conflict management skills, gaining an understanding of the strengths of your personal leadership style as well as an understanding of your weaknesses, and figuring out the best way to maintain your personal motivation and how to motivate others, are all skills that transcend time and are helpful across different positions and organizations. Additionally, as AI becomes more prominent in white-collar positions, the ability to interface with AI engines will continue to emerge as an important general skill to have.
Penny Ridenour
Dean of School of Health SciencesOklahoma State University - Oklahoma City
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences
What Senior Business Consultant skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Penny Ridenour: Commit to lifelong learning in healthcare due to its innovative nature. Technological proficiency is crucial for adapting to changes.
What will help Senior Business Consultants increase their earning potential?
Penny Ridenour: Pay attention to soft skills such as listening, empathy, and communication. Develop skills in resiliency to excel in healthcare.
Prof. Mohammad Elahee Ph.D.
Perlroth Professor of Int’l. BusinessWhat Senior Business Consultant skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Prof. Mohammad Elahee Ph.D.: A combination of both hard and soft skills will be needed to survive in this ‘dog eat dog world’. Hard skills that will be in high demand are familiarity with new AI- and machine-driven technologies and quantitative reasoning. Soft skills that employers will be looking for include emotional intelligence, communication and interpersonal skills and a “can do attitude”. Paradoxical though it may sound, AI would actually create more demand for people with emotional and social intelligence.
What general advice would you give to a Senior Business Consultant?
Dr. Laura Gonzalez Ph.D.: Technology, and in particular Artificial Intelligence, are becoming ubiquitous in all professions. New positions are being created and those who know how to use Artificial Intelligence will not be replaced by AI. This requires minimum programming knowledge, and it is useful to have some data analytics knowledge as well.
What Senior Business Consultant skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Laura Gonzalez Ph.D.: My first advice would be to celebrate and then rest a little, because graduation is just the beginning. It is imperative to continue professional and skill development even after finding a job. Interviewing takes both practice and skills. It is also important to stay in touch with the alma mater and attend alumni events to network. Networking within the alma mater circles is a key source of information, recommendations and referrals.
What will help Senior Business Consultants increase their earning potential?
Dr. Laura Gonzalez Ph.D.: The most effective way to negotiate contracts and promotions is to have multiple options and offers. Moreover, compensation is a package with multiple components that can be negotiated, including reallocation bonus and different benefit providers. In addition to common minimum components in compensation packages, some employers can negotiate stock options besides bonuses, and assist with accommodation and/or mortgage conditions.
What general advice would you give to a Senior Business Consultant?
Jennifer Barr PhD: All of the skills noted in my response to Q1. However, as business professionals advance in their respective careers, they must have a keen understanding about the impact of technology on every aspect of an organization. It is also essential to stay abreast of emerging technologies and understand their implications for business practice.
Professional development should be an ongoing priority. Attend conferences and seminars, complete certificate programs, etc. Build your personal brand and value at every level.
Hone leadership skills for middle management positions including collaboration, thinking and acting systemically, resiliency and learning agility. Never forget the importance of humanity when interacting with subordinates. Lead by example always.
Recognizing the role of data capture, analytics and technology in advancing organizations, creating competitive advantage and delivering exceptional user experiences is paramount.
Hire well. Employees are considered the most valuable asset of every organization. Abilities, knowledge and experience matter but the soft skills in terms of how someone works and interacts with others should be top priorities.
What general advice would you give to a Senior Business Consultant?
David Hart: So the field of Business Analyst can encompass interacting with different department managers on a daily bases. Quite often they will be required to interpret large amounts of data from the various departments each day to look at trends either in sales or procurement. Working with IT is a must so that data mining of the correct data to help the company achieve their business goals is critical.
What will help Senior Business Consultants increase their earning potential?
David Hart: This field has become more valuable ever since the supply chain interruption due to Covid. The analyst is challenged every day with supply chain issues and deployment of the right resources to their prospective areas. Every day can be a new challenge so the work is rarely mundane.
Dany Doueiri
ProfessorWhat Senior Business Consultant skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dany Doueiri: Have a team mentality, share, keep learning, and seek all professional development opportunities available to you, through your work or individually.
Craig Kimble PHARMD, MBA, MS, BCACP, TTS
Associate ProfessorWhat will help Senior Business Consultants increase their earning potential?
Craig Kimble PHARMD, MBA, MS, BCACP, TTS: -Be willing to be flexible (shifts, locations, etc..). Be willing to cover extra shifts if needed. Consider floating if needed as well. This is very needed by many employers
-Ask a recruiter/interviewer, what a successful employee looks like for that organization. Spell out success.
-Set goals with your new supervisor. What do we need to achieve and what are some stretch goals?
Angel Armenta
What Senior Business Consultant skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Angel Armenta: I think I should be able to get you my answers by tomorrow. Quick question. If I do this, will some or all of my answers be for sure featured in the article?
What Senior Business Consultant skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Adam Roth: I recommend that students start by identifying a specific skill in demand within your field, such as data analysis or social media marketing, and focus on developing expertise in that area. Research salary ranges and living costs in particular areas where you’re interested in working to ensure your compensation aligns with the local market. Always negotiate a salary and consider other aspects of the offer, such as funds for continuing education, technology and more. Continuing to network and establish demand for your services is essential; attend industry events, join professional associations, and engage with professionals in your field. Never miss an opportunity to reach out to and check in with your professional contacts. Pursue additional learning opportunities and education, such as certifications or advanced degrees, to provide a competitive advantage and increase your earning potential over time.
What general advice would you give to a Senior Business Consultant?
Bradley Andrew Ph.D.: So-called soft skills are still in demand by employers, based on recent surveys, because a smaller percentage of graduates possess them. These include:
Showing up and on time;
Having a strong work ethic;
Critical thinking skills
Social skills, including the ability to get along well with people, motivate and encourage them, and leadership skills. Also be able to schmooze with clients over dinner or drinks, or just in your office. A personal touch and connection is something software can’t provide.
Creativity—Apple products, for example, appeal to many people because of their combination of form and function.
The ability to work AI in order to increase one’s productivity will become more important over the next 5 years.
What Senior Business Consultant skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Bradley Andrew Ph.D.: I’m going to change the question based on the evidence gathered by labor economists. Overall, income rises most in a person’s 20s and 30s, stagnates in one’s 40s and actually falls from age 50 on. Moreover, people who are willing to change jobs more frequently have greater salary growth. If this is your goal, then spending your twenties and thirties working hard on your skills and credentials, being willing to move from one position to another and being geographically flexible will increase your lifetime income.
What will help Senior Business Consultants increase their earning potential?
Bradley Andrew Ph.D.: Once you have your first job, ask about or determine the 20% of your supervisor’s job that they hate and start doing that for them. They will love you for it and it will quickly get you recognition. You’ll also be well on your way to learning your boss’s job. Continue doing this as you progress in your career (Kudos to Theo Epstein, former GM for the Red Sox, for this recommendation)
No matter the task you’re given, do it to the absolute best of your abilities. In the professional world, you may often be given menial tasks or tasks that you don’t believe are part of your job description. Doing those tasks to the absolute best of your ability leads to increased trust, recognition and responsibility and will put you “above class.” If asked, the coffee you bring should be the best your boss has ever had. You never know who’s watching.
Don’t expect credit and don’t ask for credit when things go right; give the credit to others.
Yvette Koepke
Associate Dean for Academic SuccessUniversity of North Dakota
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, And Group Studies
What general advice would you give to a Senior Business Consultant?
Yvette Koepke: Advice: Be open! Your knowledge and skills could be valuable to any position in any field, so don’t limit yourself to jobs with certain titles or organizations---but you need to be able to make your case. Also be open to opportunities that might arise unexpectedly through talking with people around you about your background and interests.
What Senior Business Consultant skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Yvette Koepke: Salary: Preparation is key. Prepare by taking advantage of opportunities and experiences through projects, jobs, internships, organizations, or volunteering. Prepare by doing homework about the field and the position, and research showing the value of diversity. And prepare by practicing how best to make the case for what you can contribute.
Xiaowen Chen Ph.D.
Assistant ProfessorWestern Kentucky University
Psychology
What general advice would you give to a Senior Business Consultant?
Xiaowen Chen Ph.D.: New graduates are recommended to consider whether the company/organization can provide career development opportunities, a learning-oriented organizational culture, transparency in decision-making, and equal accessibility to information. Leadership with an ethical and open mindset and adherence to high standards of professional conduct are super important.
What Senior Business Consultant skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Xiaowen Chen Ph.D.: Present your knowledge, skills, competencies, and experience by showing your research and applied projects so that employers will know what you have accomplished and the potential value you can bring to their organization.
What will help Senior Business Consultants increase their earning potential?
Xiaowen Chen Ph.D.: · Don’t stop learning new skills, technologies, and knowledge. Your skillsets and knowledge should continuously develop in line with the rapidly changing world. There isn't a single skill or certificate that can keep you competitive for years. · You may not be a computer scientist or data scientist, it's beneficial to understand the basics of machine learning and artificial intelligence and try to use AI-assistant tools.
What Senior Business Consultant skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
William Luse PhD.: While mastering artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming increasingly important, I believe the timeless skills of effective communication will remain critical. Whether it's crafting clear emails, delivering impactful presentations, or engaging in meaningful conversations, these skills are indispensable across all career paths. Another skill that will become crucial is learning to interact with AI through conversational prompts. This ability to communicate effectively with AI not only enhances your productivity but also opens up new avenues for leveraging technology in innovative ways.
What will help Senior Business Consultants increase their earning potential?
William Luse PhD.: Begin with two strategies to maximize your salary: negotiation and openness. First, become an informed negotiator by researching compensation trends and the value of specific skills in your field. This preparation is essential long before actual salary discussions occur, and often pays off immensely. Second, embrace opportunities that push you beyond your comfort zone. By engaging in new experiences, you not only gain valuable skills but also build relationships that are crucial for sustainable career advancement and higher compensation.
What general advice would you give to a Senior Business Consultant?
Zheni Wang Ph.D.: Being an intrapreneur is the way to maximize your salary potential when starting your career in your field.
What Senior Business Consultant skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Zheni Wang Ph.D.: I think the most important and prevalent skill in the field in the next 3-5 years is unlearning and learning continuously. We are living in an era of change now. Having a degree in business shows your ability to learn. But the best competitiveness you can reserve for yourself is to unlearn what others have done (i.e., the case studies and benchmarks you’ve been given in the classroom) and learn to create new standards and solutions when facing constant changes in the business world. By doing so, you can create values for others to remain successful.
What will help Senior Business Consultants increase their earning potential?
Zheni Wang Ph.D.: For people who just graduated with a degree in business and are starting their careers in the field, my best advice includes being fearless, proactive, and future-oriented.
1. Act bravely when you are young and less experienced. This means finding ways to be heard about your ideas, values, and ethical principles.
2. Work proactively when not assigned important roles. This means you must actively observe, critically think, and constantly learn at the workplace. If you absorb and immerse yourself in the daily work, you will shine whenever a light is on you.
3. Plan the future as if the past shaped who you are now. This means working as if you’ve been teleported from the future, where you want to be will guide you clearly in what and how to do today.
What general advice would you give to a Senior Business Consultant?
Kalisha Waldon Ph.D.: Stay committed to lifelong learning. Build Meaningful Relationships. Give Yourself Grace.
What Senior Business Consultant skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Kalisha Waldon Ph.D.: Digital literacy, cultural competence, inclusivity.
What will help Senior Business Consultants increase their earning potential?
Kalisha Waldon Ph.D.: Set goals, consider cost of living, return to school or obtain additional certifications.
What general advice would you give to a Senior Business Consultant?
Dr. Vaneet Kaur: You can maximize your salary potential by keeping yourself differentiated from your peers. You must identify, develop, and hone your unique selling proposition (USP). You want to show your prospective employer that you bring a unique value to their organization which is far superior to what other candidates can bring. You can achieve this by demonstrating to your prospective employer that you go above and beyond what is usually required and expected. More specifically, in addition to earning your degree, you should attain certifications, micro-credentialing, or badges in any niche area that you are passionate about. This will significantly add to your area specialization. Additionally, you should undertake internships or projects with faculty/business community as these will help demonstrate your working knowledge to the prospective employers. I exhort my students to continue to excel in these areas as these will not only communicate to the prospective employers that these select individuals have the drive and willingness to succeed, making them a perfect candidate to be inducted to their company, but this will also keep graduates highly relevant, marketable, and above par at all times in their career.
What Senior Business Consultant skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Vaneet Kaur: There are two sets of skills I will highly encourage graduates to proactively start building. Firstly, business graduates need to develop higher-order skills and capabilities like knowledge-based dynamic capabilities. These will help them to (a) constantly collect knowledge about emerging opportunities (and threats) in the industry, (b) mobilize themselves and their resources to bring identified opportunities into fruition, and (c) constantly renew their skills to effectively respond to the changes in the environment. Developing such knowledge-based dynamic capabilities will automatically prepare them for the different waves of skill set requirements that will keep arising in the job market. Secondly, it is no secret that we are living in the times of artificial intelligence and automation. So, in this day and age, it is extremely important that graduates learn to ride the wave of automation rather than being discouraged by it. Business graduates are set to contribute to the world with their business acumen and expertise, what they can do to complement it is to develop low-code, no-code skills. Such skills will help graduates to automate routine processes so that their time and energies can be strategically channelized towards those activities and processes that can add significant value to their organizations.
What will help Senior Business Consultants increase their earning potential?
Dr. Vaneet Kaur: For a fresh graduate, the real world can at first appear to be somewhat fuzzy. So, my advice is to step into their career with a mindset that allows them to be open to learning. It would also be extremely beneficial for young professionals to consider each encounter with their colleagues as well as early touchpoints with clients as an opportunity to enhance their repertoire of knowledge. For that matter, networking is highly important, especially at the onset of the career. So, dear graduates, please take time to network. Find a mentor, from a peer support group, and build a webwork of collaborators. Once you find or form a community of bright minds with whom you feel you belong, you will find it easier to start working smart which will help you to seize each day while making a difference every day.
What general advice would you give to a Senior Business Consultant?
Vasant Dhar: It isn't always the best idea to go for the highest paying job, but for one with the maximum growth potential, meaning challenging problems and the right people. I advise students to evaluate and follow the people they like to work with. Over the longer term, the relationships pay off.
What will help Senior Business Consultants increase their earning potential?
Vasant Dhar: It is rare to find people with the right balance of business and analytical skills. Hard skills help get your foot in the door, whereas the other skills, namely, business thinking and soft skills give you mobility.