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Senior consultant job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected senior consultant job growth rate is 11% from 2018-2028.
About 108,400 new jobs for senior consultants are projected over the next decade.
Senior consultant salaries have increased 8% for senior consultants in the last 5 years.
There are over 427,950 senior consultants currently employed in the United States.
There are 241,206 active senior consultant job openings in the US.
The average senior consultant salary is $100,188.
Year | # Of Jobs | % Of Population |
---|---|---|
2021 | 427,950 | 0.13% |
2020 | 392,690 | 0.12% |
2019 | 380,041 | 0.11% |
2018 | 399,669 | 0.12% |
2017 | 385,368 | 0.12% |
Year | Avg. Salary | Hourly Rate | % Change |
---|---|---|---|
2025 | $100,188 | $48.17 | +2.8% |
2024 | $97,445 | $46.85 | +2.0% |
2023 | $95,559 | $45.94 | +1.4% |
2022 | $94,233 | $45.30 | +1.4% |
2021 | $92,953 | $44.69 | +0.0% |
Rank | State | Population | # of Jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 848 | 122% |
2 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 510 | 48% |
3 | Vermont | 623,657 | 226 | 36% |
4 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 406 | 30% |
5 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 2,021 | 29% |
6 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 894 | 29% |
7 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 1,108 | 27% |
8 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 2,099 | 25% |
9 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 1,413 | 25% |
10 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 253 | 24% |
11 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 2,104 | 23% |
12 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 2,798 | 22% |
13 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 783 | 22% |
14 | Delaware | 961,939 | 207 | 22% |
15 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 192 | 22% |
16 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 2,552 | 20% |
17 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 1,978 | 19% |
18 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 369 | 19% |
19 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 142 | 19% |
20 | Alaska | 739,795 | 127 | 17% |
Rank | City | # of Jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. Salary |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Annapolis | 58 | 147% | $110,497 |
2 | Lansing | 69 | 59% | $96,524 |
3 | Hartford | 64 | 52% | $104,992 |
4 | Tallahassee | 57 | 30% | $87,456 |
5 | Atlanta | 121 | 26% | $97,402 |
6 | Des Moines | 53 | 25% | $89,092 |
7 | Boston | 160 | 24% | $107,799 |
8 | Washington | 99 | 15% | $115,264 |
9 | Sacramento | 72 | 15% | $105,492 |
10 | Minneapolis | 53 | 13% | $97,238 |
11 | Miami | 50 | 11% | $87,187 |
12 | Detroit | 69 | 10% | $96,862 |
13 | Indianapolis | 81 | 9% | $86,250 |
14 | Denver | 49 | 7% | $99,895 |
15 | Phoenix | 90 | 6% | $95,602 |
16 | Chicago | 125 | 5% | $100,341 |
17 | San Jose | 48 | 5% | $105,295 |
18 | San Diego | 54 | 4% | $99,593 |
19 | Los Angeles | 73 | 2% | $99,860 |
Davidson College
Spalding University
University of Alabama at Birmingham
University of Nevada - Las Vegas
The University of Texas Medical Branch
University of West Florida
Lewis-Clark State College
Duke University
Xavier University
Coastal Carolina University
Florida State University
UMass Lowell
Lasell University
Bucknell University
Kansas State University
Kent State University
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro
University of Central Missouri
Craig Kimble PHARMD, MBA, MS, BCACP, TTS: -Be open minded and willing to explore areas of practice. Many employers start you out in a high needs area and move you as positions come open.
-If you are not geographically restricted, the sky is the limit. Discuss what your goals are with recruiters.
-Be willing to learn new skills and put them to work. An entrepreneurial mindset will facilitate communication with supervisors. Present ideas and take their advice.
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?
Davidson College
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, And Group Studies
Katie Horowitz: With the rise of artificial intelligence, soft skills like interpersonal communication, conflict management, and critical thinking will become more important than ever before. These are assets that can’t be outsourced to AI, and they are fundamental to the work that Gender & Sexuality Studies majors do in college.
Katie Horowitz: Some research shows that women and members of marginalized racial groups are less likely to negotiate their salaries than their white male counterparts. When you get a job offer, don’t forgo the opportunity to advocate for a higher salary.
Katie Horowitz: Don’t limit yourself. I’ve seen Gender & Sexuality Studies students land jobs in business consulting, nonprofit, medicine, law, and more. The beauty of this interdisciplinary field is that it intersects with virtually every sphere of human existence. You can bring your GSS skills to bear on any line of work that interests you.
Spalding University
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences
Jacey Maple MSN, RN: Looking at trends in healthcare I would focus on the following skills to hone over the next 3-5 years: Strong Communication and Interpersonal Collaboration, Emotional Resilience, Networking and building professional relationships.
J'Aime Jennings PhD: I believe that interpersonal and communication skills that aid you in interacting with individuals and teams and allow for you to convey important information coherently across varied stakeholder audiences will be crucial for any graduate pursuing a career in healthcare administration. In addition, adaptability is another vital skill. Healthcare is ever changing, and administrators must have a plan but also be ready for contingencies when new developments occur. Critical thinking and analytic skills, as well as knowledge about artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities will certainly be prevalent skills for the field.
University of Nevada - Las Vegas
Health And Medical Administrative Services
Jay Shen: Understand that your career is a marathon, not a sprint. Get any job in a healthcare organization and learn what you like and don’t like.
Jay Shen: There is a 2015 Carnegie Institute study that shows 85% of your financial success is based on your soft skills. As a healthcare executive you need to be able to bring diverse professionals together to solve complex problems for the good of the patient and the organizations. Continue to polish your soft skills, e.g., effective leadership, goal setting and achievement, leading meetings for positive results.
Dr. K. Garling-Nañez Pharm.D.: Resilience and self-awareness are currently essential and will continue to be necessary. Burnout is very high in healthcare-related fields. Therefore, it is vital to have the coping skills and the ability to communicate to ensure your job is healthy and productive.
Flexibility and a growth mindset will also be an asset to most industries. In healthcare, most opportunities exist where other people may feel unqualified or need more experience. The more out-of-the-box tasks and opportunities you take, the more tools you'll have to get significant positions in the future.
Don't be afraid of something you aren't familiar with or perceive that you are not 'good at' since those areas are often where you can thrive the most. Being fearless in your pursuits and learning from perceived failures will put you in the upper ranks of your peers.
Dr. Neil Eldin PhD, PE: Things don’t just happen. You must develop a career plan to maximize your salary potential when starting your career. Find the right employer for yourself. For example, if you are mobile and willing to travel, target employers with international projects. After working for a few years, you can request a transfer to an overseas assignment, and this will instantaneously almost double your salary. If you are not mobile and your circumstances do not allow your travel, seek employment with major corporations and seek positions that are done at the home office (e.g., estimating, procurement, and contracting).
Dr. Neil Eldin PhD, PE: Start on the right foot!! Start your career with the attitude that you need to give your job serious attention to build your technical skills, your people skills, and to establish a good name for yourself in the industry. Make sure you become known as a smart, hardworking person with high morals. Your technical skills will contribute half of your success. The other half you will get from learning how to sell your services. Focus on what the employers’ interests are. Explain how you can contribute to what is important to them. If you do not have what is important to them, go develop such skills.
Dr. Neil Eldin PhD, PE: Technology has always been a game changer and those who are good at it position themselves in high demands. Keeping up with the new technologies related to whatever your specialty is will help you tremendously. AI looks like the future’s big thing, and I believe it is here to stay. Developing skills in this field will be highly recommended.
Dr. Haris Alibašić Ph.D., MPA: My general advice is that embarking on a career in business or any other field demands a blend of practical skills, adaptability, and a continuous learning mindset. Graduates should prioritize the following strategies, including but not limited to: - Building a Strong Foundation of Business Fundamentals, including core business principles, finance, marketing, operations, and strategy to facilitate adaptability to changing markets. - Cultivating a growth mindset, embracing challenges, viewing failures as learning opportunities, cultivating resilience, and a willingness to step out of one's comfort zone. - Networking and building relationships with peers, mentors, and industry professionals open doors to opportunities and provide invaluable insights and guidance. - Staying informed of industry trends as the business landscape constantly evolves, which is obvious with the recent trend of expanded use of AI and ML.
Dr. Haris Alibašić Ph.D., MPA: "In the next 3-5 years, specific skills are poised to become increasingly important in business: Data Literacy, Digital Proficiency, Emotional Intelligence, Sustainability, Resilience, and Social Responsibility. However, the most necessary lasting skill that benefited my career is Effective Communication. Being able to communicate effectively is an indispensable skill."
Dr. Haris Alibašić Ph.D., MPA: To maximize salary potential early in their careers, graduates should consider the following strategies: Specialize in High-Demand Areas, Never Stop Learning/Pursue Additional Education, Negotiate Offers, and Seek Mentorship and Constructive Feedback."
Jenny Scott: -Relevant industry experience (for SR Business Consultant: 10 years)
-Project management
-Strategic Planning
-Team and Executive Leadership
Jenny Scott: -Emotional Intelligence
-Relevant industry experience (expertise)
-Written and oral presentation communication
-Ability to relate and connect . . .the best strategy in the world will live on paper only if the leader is not able to relate to their people (all stakeholder groups) and connect. Leadership involves three key elements: People - Influence - Goals. The most effective leaders are able to ethically influence their followers for the purpose of attaining the organization's mission and goals.
Jenny Scott: Emotional Intelligence is #1. The saying goes, "IQ gets you hired; EQ gets you promoted." Those that have a high level of emotional intelligence are able to first manage their own emotions and then the ability to manage the emotions of those they lead/supervise. It involves a combination of the practice of the four components of Emotional Intelligence: Self-awareness, Self-Management, Social Awareness, and Relationship Management. With workplace emotions running rampant in today's world, having a leader that can help manage those effectively will create and cultivate a calming and viable work environment.
Culture "fit" is also more important than some may think. While some may meet all qualifications of the job and can effectively do the job itself, how a person "fits" with the company culture is more important. Consider the company's core values, mission, and vision and whether that aligns with your own.
Critical thinking should never be underestimated. Depending on the amount of time allowed to make a decision or think through a strategy, apply critical thinking skills to consider all options and potential consequences. Consider varying perspectives and what route and outcome will aid in attaining the organization's goals and carrying out its mission.
Listening to the needs and desires of the organization or the project. Valuing some dissension and not total conformity leads to a highly cohesive team/organization.
Jenny Scott: Consulting requires knowing the job itself, so industry experience is paramount.
Both "big picture/systems" thinking, as well as the ability to identify and understand details (analytical skills), is key skill in business consulting.
Don't forget the value of written communication skills. With fewer in-person meetings, being able to professionally, succinctly, and effectively write is one of the most coveted and essential skills.
Presentation skills are still - if not more - important today. Being familiar with a variety of presentation tools and platforms can be helpful; however, finding one or a few where you can be highly proficient will help achieve both efficiencies of communications, message delivery, and desired outcome.
Duke University
Department of Political Science
Michael Munger: Political science is an ancient career synergy, one that explores the connections between ethical considerations and engineering policy that works. Someone who majors in Political Science is able to make arguments about the questions that have plagued philosophers for thousands of years while using the latest data techniques to scrape online sources of information on social media. So political science instructors have to combine ethics, knowledge of esoteric procedures and laws, and statistics!
Michael Munger: Working in groups. And that's hard to teach. The best teacher is experience. Often, students learn the most when their group fails or the other members don't pull their weight. The ability to work in unstructured environments and still achieve group success is a big part of many jobs. And Political Science teaches that.
Michael Munger: Political Science students should take at least one Computer Science class, be able to run a spreadsheet with skill, and be able to write crisp prose that gets to the point.
Michael Munger: The ability to lead a group by example and to get other people to feel that they are part of something larger than themselves. At its best, Political Science is like an entire little liberal arts curriculum. It's the perfect preparation for leadership, either in government or the private sector!
Xavier University
Management Department
Mike Halloran: -In today's economy, I think there are a number of key skills that a business management consultant should have, especially if working with a small business. Key skillsets/coursework in finance, marketing, and strategy is essential. In addition, I would recommend coursework in Innovation as today's business world continues to evolve so quickly.
-I would also suggest that experiential learning and/or internships are very important to success. Showing demonstrated experience is a great way to stand out in the job market, as well as give yourself and the employer confidence that you can apply what you have learned in school.
-I often can look at a student's LinkedIn profile and tell whether they have the skills and experience-based upon how well they market themselves, describe their experiences, and talk about career objectives
Mike Halloran: -Leadership
-Working well with others
-Oral and written communication
- Thinking analytically, creatively, and strategically
-Leadership
-Time management
- Motivation and drive
Mike Halloran: Excel
-Digital communication
-Budget management
Coastal Carolina University
Finance and Economics Department
Sourav Batabyal Ph.D.: Problem-solving, Creative thinking, Data Analytics, Competitive Strategies, Communication, Leadership and Team Building, Decision making.
Sourav Batabyal Ph.D.: Discipline related expertise, Industry-specific certification, Data Science and Analytics, Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, Cloud Computing, Project Management, Mobile Application Development, Software Programming, and Testing, Leadership and People Management, Digital (Social Media) Marketing, User Experience (UX) Design, Content Creation and Open Learning Resources.
What's a common interview question, and would you prepare to answer it?
One of the most common interview questions is "Why are you interested in this position?"
By asking this question, your employer tries to understand that you have a true connection to the company and a passion for the job you have applied for. You should start your answer by explaining why you are the best-fit candidate in terms of professional skills. Research about the organization's culture before your interview and articulate how you embrace that mission personally and add values towards that mission. Show your enthusiasm and confidence while answering the interview questions.
Florida State University
Department of Management and the Center for Human Resource Management
C. Darren Brooks Ph.D.: Requisite skills relevant for management consulting roles that should be visible to employers can be grouped into the following three broad categories : (1) functional expertise and/or specialization of knowledge in particular areas or disciplines, (2) strong business analytics skills, and (3) the ability to lead projects or teams. Considering the broad nature of management, and particularly management consulting, skills should reflect the specific needs of the organization or industry of practice. For example, individuals working in executive compensation would require a different set of demonstrated skills on their resume than someone engaging in performance systems analysis to support process re-engineering within a manufacturing setting. Additionally, since management professionals work in and/or lead teams, being personable, engaging, proactive, demonstrated leadership, and an ability to handle difficult situations are all skills and competencies highly sought after. In sum, regardless of the industry or sector, most employers look for skills displayed both on a resume and then demonstrated during the selection process that shows the applicant possesses the capability to work within a team, has sound analytical skills, the ability to communicate complex information, resolve conflict and solve problems.
C. Darren Brooks Ph.D.: While advancements in technology, artificial intelligence (AI), and data analytics occupy center stage in many areas of management practice, soft skills continue to be seen as equally or even more important skills for success in the field of management. Soft skills are typically described as personal attributes, qualities, and characteristics that enable us to interact more effectively with others. In most fields of management, our ability to communicate, work with, and interact with other people constitutes a significant portion of the work we do. Consequently, employers are focused on identifying candidates who possess strong skills are areas of communication (verbal, written, and non-verbal), leadership and followership, collaboration, an ability to work in teams, intellectual curiosity, adaptability, conflict management, problem-solving, creativity.
UMass Lowell
Department of Marketing, Entrepreneurship & Innovation
Michael Ciuchta Ph.D.: In addition to the above, in today's environment, it is important that people are adept at improvising. For long-term career success in any field, sound leadership skills are critical. It is important to be able to formulate, communicate and execute a compelling vision for where you want to take your organization.
Lasell University
School of Communication and The Arts
Dr. Brian Wardyga: That answer is dependent on the specific market, really. Any combination of the above and the more of those skills, the better chance at negotiating higher earnings.
Bucknell University
Management and Organizations Department
Neil Boyd Ph.D.: Previous consulting experience, whether it is early exposure during management consulting courses and experiential learning in college or via professional project exposure, is very helpful for understanding the obvious and nuanced issues in consulting. I've found that technical skills like project management, statistical analysis, and others are important, but most important are the so-called "soft skills" and the ability to connect with humans in a way that they know you are there to help. When talking to early-career consultants, I'm most impressed when they discuss the psychological considerations of running an opening meeting with a client or how they handled a murky situation through conversation instead of functional answers about survey design or billable hours.
Neil Boyd Ph.D.: A combination of hard and soft skills, but at the end of the day, soft skills are critical to truly helping clients. And, for sure, they can be learned. This is a challenge for management education, but places like the Freeman College of Management at Bucknell work hard to develop soft skills in students primarily through coaching, experiential and community-based pedagogies, and professional development programming.
Brett Horton Ph.D.: - The enduring impact is the opportunity to experience first hand coming out of a major hospitality economic downturn. Many hotels and hospitality operations are rebounding from near or complete closure. Such an amazing time to get in on the fast track to the top of an organization. There will be numerous opportunities that did not exist in March of 2020.
- Graduates are positioned to thrive more than the graduates in 2020 in that the number of open positions is huge. They have the opportunity to start with a career with great companies and great leaders and grow as fast as they so desire.
- The only downside may be moving up too fast and now being completely grounded in the basics due to being hired and put in positions of authority before they may be fully prepared.
Brett Horton Ph.D.: - Willingness to take on increased responsibility
- Willingness to move locations
- Willingness to work in different departments to learn and grow with the organization
Brett Horton Ph.D.: The successful leaders are those who:
- Have a degree in hospitality management and understand what just occurred.
-There are few certifications necessary for work in the hospitality. Food safety is required for some positions, but this has likely been obtained while in school. Additional certifications may be obtained in the first 5 years of employment.
Michael Ellis Ph.D.: Most economics undergraduates obtain jobs as analysts, especially in the financial and non-financial business industries, because of their skills in analyzing data. The pre-coronavirus pandemic trend of increasing job opportunities for those who can analyze data will not be reversed by the pandemic and in fact may increase the growth of such job opportunities.
Michael Ellis Ph.D.: Data analytics courses develop highly desired skills in the job market and would have the biggest positive impact on economics majors job prospects. A data analytics minor or certification combined with an economics major would be an excellent combination. If a data analytics minor or certificate is not available, students could take courses in econometrics, computer programing, coding and, in order to interpret data, economic theory.
Michael Ellis Ph.D.: It is important to continue learning throughout one's career as changes in industry and technology occur. This will promote career advancement and increase earning potential.
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Department of Marketing, Entrepreneurship, Hospitality & Tourism
Dr. Dianne Welsh: Finding opportunities that evolve in a myriad of situations. These can be while a graduate in entrepreneurship works for a small/medium enterprise, a non-profit, or a larger company or even themselves. All businesses need entrepreneurs which is "to be creative and innovative in anything that creates value" (Welsh 2014). From my book Creative Cross-Disciplinary Entrepreneurship (Palgrave-Macmillan). Entrepreneurs are needed in every organization. By finding opportunities, bringing them to the attention of companies or individuals, or pursuing the opportunity themselves, an entrepreneur increases their earning potential. Finding opportunities is a daily endeavor.
Dr. Dan Jensen: There will be a combination of opportunities and losses across the next 3-5 years because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many industries will find it difficult to recover such as hospitality (hotels, restaurants, etc.), entertainment (movie theatres, night clubs, casinos, etc.), manufacturing, and educational services. But many industries and career pathways are opening up because of the use of online technologies. Positions that include remote work that leverage technology will remain and probably increase across time. Supply chain, project management, eCommerce, computer science, data science ("big data"), digital content, and artificial intelligence specialists will continue to increasingly be in demand. The healthcare industry has been in flux because of increasing costs but will emerge on the other side of the pandemic with opportunities for nurses, healthcare support staff, and related technologies (e.g., the "electronic healthcare record"). Irrespective of the pandemic, careers in sales or customer relationship management (CRM) will continue to be a popular launching point for recent college graduates.
The recruitment/hiring process is likely to become much longer than in the past and will rely on virtual interviews instead of face-to-face. With a high unemployment rate, it will be more difficult for younger, less experienced candidates to get hired. This is not great news for recent college graduates, but all is not lost.
Networking has always been the number one way that people find work opportunities. The skill is more important than ever. My recommended approach is to: identify a list of companies where you would like to work; research job postings within the company (and apply!) while simultaneously identifying contacts at the company (LinkedIn is a great tool to do this); then reaching out to contacts by using your existing network for an introduction (identify someone you know is already connected to the person you want to meet and ask them to forward a letter of introduction on your behalf). This leads to an "informational interview" (not a job interview); a chance to speak with someone about the company and its culture.