Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Small business consultant salary
Quoted expert
Angela Grotto Ph.D.
Average small business consultant salary
$47,982
$23.07 hourly rate
Entry-level small business consultant salary
$34,000 yearly salaryUpdated January 8, 2025
On this page
Small business consultant salary by:Â
Let Zippi find your next small business consultant job
Let Zippi find your next small business consultant job
Average small business consultant salary by state
Highest paying states for small business consultants
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $70,381 | $33.84 |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $63,155 | $30.36 |
| 3 | Illinois | $57,972 | $27.87 |
| 4 | Missouri | $50,157 | $24.11 |
| 5 | Wisconsin | $50,671 | $24.36 |
| 6 | Nevada | $48,391 | $23.26 |
| 7 | Washington | $70,247 | $33.77 |
| 8 | California | $58,911 | $28.32 |
| 9 | New York | $61,443 | $29.54 |
| 10 | Virginia | $61,116 | $29.38 |
| 11 | Alabama | $48,409 | $23.27 |
| 12 | Ohio | $48,795 | $23.46 |
| 13 | New Jersey | $52,768 | $25.37 |
| 14 | Louisiana | $50,162 | $24.12 |
| 15 | Massachusetts | $55,025 | $26.45 |
| 16 | Maryland | $61,637 | $29.63 |
| 17 | Pennsylvania | $53,431 | $25.69 |
| 18 | South Dakota | $44,271 | $21.28 |
| 19 | New Hampshire | $49,404 | $23.75 |
| 20 | Utah | $44,015 | $21.16 |
| 21 | Oregon | $49,532 | $23.81 |
| 22 | Colorado | $51,277 | $24.65 |
| 23 | Montana | $43,752 | $21.03 |
| 24 | Texas | $48,877 | $23.50 |
| 25 | Iowa | $43,711 | $21.01 |
| 26 | Connecticut | $46,750 | $22.48 |
| 27 | Michigan | $43,100 | $20.72 |
| 28 | North Carolina | $45,017 | $21.64 |
| 29 | Hawaii | $53,318 | $25.63 |
| 30 | Delaware | $47,254 | $22.72 |
| 31 | Tennessee | $42,148 | $20.26 |
| 32 | Georgia | $45,687 | $21.96 |
| 33 | Nebraska | $41,009 | $19.72 |
| 34 | Oklahoma | $41,545 | $19.97 |
| 35 | South Carolina | $43,988 | $21.15 |
| 36 | New Mexico | $41,625 | $20.01 |
| 37 | Wyoming | $43,438 | $20.88 |
| 38 | Minnesota | $43,517 | $20.92 |
| 39 | Indiana | $40,800 | $19.62 |
| 40 | Idaho | $43,086 | $20.71 |
| 41 | Rhode Island | $42,161 | $20.27 |
| 42 | Arizona | $43,553 | $20.94 |
| 43 | Vermont | $41,006 | $19.71 |
| 44 | Kansas | $38,201 | $18.37 |
| 45 | Mississippi | $38,944 | $18.72 |
| 46 | Arkansas | $37,034 | $17.80 |
| 47 | North Dakota | $40,844 | $19.64 |
| 48 | West Virginia | $38,582 | $18.55 |
| 49 | Kentucky | $35,522 | $17.08 |
| 50 | Florida | $37,926 | $18.23 |
| 51 | Maine | $34,156 | $16.42 |
Small business consultant salary details
A small business consultant's salary ranges from $34,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $66,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a small business consultant's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $66,000 | $5,500 | $32 |
| 75th Percentile | $57,000 | $4,750 | $27 |
| Average | $47,982 | $3,999 | $23 |
| 25th Percentile | $40,000 | $3,333 | $19 |
| 10th Percentile | $34,000 | $2,833 | $16 |
Highest paying small business consultant jobs
The highest paying types of small business consultants are strategy consultant, senior business consultant, and business developer.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business Developer | $101,635 | $8,470 | $48.86 | 193,469 |
| Business Sales Representative | $58,288 | $4,857 | $28.02 | 226,438 |
| Business Advisor | $96,469 | $8,039 | $46.38 | 125,154 |
| Program Consultant | $73,021 | $6,085 | $35.11 | 116,982 |
| Business Account Manager | $68,498 | $5,708 | $32.93 | 212,532 |
| Consultant | $78,912 | $6,576 | $37.94 | 171,733 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for small business consultants, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Angela Grotto Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Management, Manhattan College
- In general, the starting salaries for business graduates are outstanding. Still, they can vary greatly, depending on major (e.g., finance vs. marketing), location (higher in metro areas), industry (e.g., tech vs. retail), and experience (think internships). Do your homework - use sites such as Salary.com or Payscale to learn the starting salaries for jobs you are interested in, and then use it when you get to the negotiation stage.
- Even if you start on the low end of a salary range for a job, there is always the potential to increase your salary in any industry. You can improve your salary through vertical advancement (i.e., promotions) and lateral advancement and development (e.g., more years of experience, obtaining an MBA, developing new skill sets, expatriate assignments, etc.).
- Remember that your starting salary sets the trajectory for your future salary prospects, so do your homework to determine appropriate compensation for the job, given your experience, education, and location. Then, hone your negotiation skills - especially if you do not feel comfortable or confident negotiating - to get the salary you deserve right from the start, and it sets you on the right path.
Top companies hiring small business consultants now:
Wage gap by gender, race and education
$48,000$47,400$46,800$46,200$45,600$45,000
MaleFemale
Small business consultant salary trends
The average small business consultant salary has risen by $5,019 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average small business consultant earned $42,963 annually, but today, they earn $47,982 a year. That works out to a 8% change in pay for small business consultants over the last decade.
Compare small business consultant salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average small business consultant salary over time
Compare small business consultant salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Small business consultant salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $48,000 | $23.07 | +2.7% |
| 2024 | $46,700 | $22.44 | +1.9% |
| 2023 | $45,800 | $22.00 | +1.4% |
| 2022 | $45,100 | $21.70 | +1.4% |
| 2021 | $44,500 | $21.40 | +0.0% |
Recently added small business consultant salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Banner Bank | Small Business Consultant | Riverside, CA | 06/14/2025 | $56,537 |
| Unitedhealth Group | Small Business Account Consultant-Hybrid-New | New Haven, CT | 05/17/2025 | $45,142 |
| Unitedhealth Group | Small Business Account Consultant-Hybrid-New | Newark, NJ | 05/17/2025 | $45,142 |
| Unitedhealth Group Inc. | Small Business Account Consultant-Hybrid-New | New York, NY | 05/16/2025 | $45,142 |
| Banner Bank | Small Business Consultant-3Rd & Stevens Branch | Spokane, WA | 05/06/2025 | $46,582 |
| Banner Bank | Small Business Consultant | Fine, NY | 05/02/2025 | $46,582 |
| Banner Bank | Small Business Consultant | Escondido, CA | 05/02/2025 | $56,537 |
| Banner Bank | Small Business Consultant | Escondido, CA | 04/30/2025 | $56,537 |
| Suncoast Schools Federal Credit Union | Bilingual Small Business Consultant | Orlando, FL | 04/18/2025 | $70,000 |
| University of South Carolina | Consultant for Small Businesses In Hispanic/Latino Communities | Columbia, SC | 04/13/2025 | $45,914 |
Small business consultant salary FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common business and financial questions.
Search for small business consultant jobs
Updated January 8, 2025