Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Job outlook for solutions consultants in the United States
Solutions consultant job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected solutions consultant job growth rate is 11% from 2018-2028.
About 108,400 new jobs for solutions consultants are projected over the next decade.
Solutions consultant salaries have increased 8% for solutions consultants in the last 5 years.
There are over 6,738 solutions consultants currently employed in the United States.
There are 103,093 active solutions consultant job openings in the US.
The average solutions consultant salary is $94,839.
Are solutions consultant jobs in demand?
Solutions consultant job and salary trends over time
Solutions consultant jobs over time
Solutions consultant job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 6,738 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 6,436 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 6,223 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 6,002 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 5,780 | 0.00% |
Average solutions consultant salary over time
Solutions consultant salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $94,839 | $45.60 | +2.8% |
| 2024 | $92,242 | $44.35 | +2.0% |
| 2023 | $90,457 | $43.49 | +1.4% |
| 2022 | $89,202 | $42.89 | +1.4% |
| 2021 | $87,990 | $42.30 | +0.0% |
Solutions consultant jobs by state
Most common states for solutions consultants
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 522 | 75% |
| 2 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 403 | 38% |
| 3 | Vermont | 623,657 | 222 | 36% |
| 4 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 1,956 | 29% |
| 5 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 1,143 | 28% |
| 6 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 356 | 27% |
| 7 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 789 | 25% |
| 8 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 219 | 25% |
| 9 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 185 | 24% |
| 10 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 1,940 | 23% |
| 11 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 244 | 23% |
| 12 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 1,172 | 21% |
| 13 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 2,517 | 20% |
| 14 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 1,797 | 20% |
| 15 | Delaware | 961,939 | 190 | 20% |
| 16 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 638 | 18% |
| 17 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 304 | 18% |
| 18 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 2,175 | 17% |
| 19 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 1,754 | 17% |
| 20 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 1,231 | 17% |
Most common cities for solutions consultants
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Annapolis | 24 | 61% | $99,153 |
| 2 | Dover | 17 | 45% | $89,589 |
| 3 | Lansing | 24 | 21% | $86,554 |
| 4 | Hartford | 20 | 16% | $98,363 |
| 5 | Springfield | 16 | 14% | $85,913 |
| 6 | Topeka | 16 | 13% | $67,613 |
| 7 | Little Rock | 17 | 9% | $58,730 |
| 8 | Baton Rouge | 18 | 8% | $83,442 |
| 9 | Montgomery | 17 | 8% | $89,936 |
| 10 | Tallahassee | 16 | 8% | $70,503 |
| 11 | Boston | 45 | 7% | $103,750 |
| 12 | Atlanta | 33 | 7% | $84,927 |
| 13 | Des Moines | 15 | 7% | $74,657 |
| 14 | Sacramento | 20 | 4% | $120,344 |
| 15 | Indianapolis | 21 | 2% | $75,544 |
| 16 | Washington | 16 | 2% | $107,508 |
| 17 | Phoenix | 24 | 1% | $82,714 |
| 18 | Chicago | 23 | 1% | $89,051 |
Solutions Consultant job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of solutions consultant experts
Oklahoma State University - Oklahoma City
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
Coastal Carolina University
Florida State University
UMass Lowell
Bucknell University
Clarion University of Pennsylvania
Indiana University South Bend
St. Olaf College
Drexel University
The University of Findlay
Fordham University Gabelli School of Business
Penny Ridenour
Dean of School of Health SciencesOklahoma State University - Oklahoma City
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences
What Solutions 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 Solutions 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.
Craig Kimble PHARMD, MBA, MS, BCACP, TTS
Associate ProfessorWhat will help Solutions 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?
Katie Horowitz
Associate Professor of Gender & Sexuality StudiesDavidson College
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, And Group Studies
What general advice would you give to a Solutions Consultant?
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.
What Solutions Consultant skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
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.
What will help Solutions Consultants increase their earning potential?
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.
Jacey Maple MSN, RN
Assistant ProfessorSpalding University
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences
What Solutions Consultant skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Jacey Maple MSN, RN: Starting out I would consider and implement the following practices: Acquire relevant education and build up certifications, research salary trends to communicate them at interviews, continue to polish and build your resume and/or CV, stay updated on industry changes, and lastly seek out all opportunities to grow your experience and expertise in your field.
What will help Solutions Consultants increase their earning potential?
Jacey Maple MSN, RN: My best advice for those entering any health service field is to seek out mentorship and guidance. Find mentors who can guide you in your career journey. Look for experienced professionals who can offer insights, advice, and support. A mentor can help you navigate challenges, make informed decisions, and provide valuable connections.
What general advice would you give to a Solutions Consultant?
J'Aime Jennings PhD: These are not concrete rules, but individuals at the start of their career can maximize their salary potential by gaining experience and growing their skillset to be of benefit to their respective organizations. In the beginning say “yes” to participating on projects whether you are excited about them or not. The knowledge gained may be invaluable to the next project that does excite you. Consider various certifications (e.g., LEAN Six Sigma, Project Management, etc.) that help you grow your knowledge base while also helping you stand out from others.
What Solutions Consultant skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
J'Aime Jennings PhD: My general advice would be to pursue all the opportunities available to you and don’t shy away from the challenging tasks. Additionally, graduates should know that the learning never ends; the classroom gives you the foundation upon which to build your knowledge and skills, but it cannot capture the myriad of scenarios and tough decisions you are bound to face throughout your career.
Jay Shen
Professor and Association DeanUniversity of Nevada - Las Vegas
Health And Medical Administrative Services
What general advice would you give to a Solutions Consultant?
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.
What Solutions Consultant skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
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.
What will help Solutions Consultants increase their earning potential?
Jay Shen: Don’t chase salary. Do what you love and get the best you can be. Salary fails to motivate past getting your basic needs met.
What general advice would you give to a Solutions Consultant?
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.
What will help Solutions Consultants increase their earning potential?
Dr. K. Garling-Nañez Pharm.D.: When seeking a position, it's crucial to physically visit the facility or location and interact with the employees before applying or interviewing. This personal touch provides a realistic view of the working conditions and internal culture and introduces you to your potential coworkers, aiding in your decision-making process.
Always apply to positions that fit your ideals and how you want to practice in your career. For example, it may only be possible if you value relationships with clients/patients in relatively low-volume or less busy locations. Research the values and goals of the company or discuss upcoming changes or aims with management.
Lastly, pay attention to the potential of rural locations. They often provide exceptional opportunities for standing out, growing, and advancing in your career, which is a significant advantage for recent graduates.
What will help Solutions Consultants increase their earning potential?
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."
What skills will help Solutions Consultants earn the most?
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.
Michael Munger
Director of Undergraduate Studies, Director, PPE ProgramDuke University
Department of Political Science
What skills stand out on Solutions Consultant resumes?
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!
What soft skills should all Solutions Consultants possess?
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.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Solutions Consultants?
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.
What skills will help Solutions Consultants earn the most?
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!
Sourav Batabyal Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Finance and EconomicsCoastal Carolina University
Finance and Economics Department
What skills stand out on Solutions Consultant resumes?
Sourav Batabyal Ph.D.: Problem-solving, Creative thinking, Data Analytics, Competitive Strategies, Communication, Leadership and Team Building, Decision making.
C. Darren Brooks Ph.D.
Assistant Department Chair and Executive Director, Center for Human Resource ManagementFlorida State University
Department of Management and the Center for Human Resource Management
What soft skills should all Solutions Consultants possess?
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.
Michael Ciuchta Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Program Coordinator, Masters of Science in EntrepreneurshipUMass Lowell
Department of Marketing, Entrepreneurship & Innovation
What soft skills should all Solutions Consultants possess?
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.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Solutions Consultants?
Michael Ciuchta Ph.D.: Many people would consider communication a "soft" skill, but there is a technical aspect of it that is overlooked. Programming and data analytics are probably the most marketable skills right now.
Neil Boyd Ph.D.
David J. & Deborah West Professor of Management; Chair, Management and Organizations DepartmentBucknell University
Management and Organizations Department
What skills will help Solutions Consultants earn the most?
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.
What technical skills for a Solutions Consultant stand out to employers?
Dr. Miguel Olivas-Luján Ph.D.: Of course, there is variation across industries, but the long lockdown months have highlighted the need for skills that make telecommuting and work from home more efficient and effective. The ability to use not just technologies but also work habits that allow collaboration mediated by information and communication tools has only become more valuable. With this, I mean that it is important to use Zoom, Teams, Skype, and similar technologies, but even more than that, scheduling, collaboration, creative, professional-grade, and timely delivery (in the absence of face-to-face interaction) is vital. If a higher proportion of work-from-home becomes predominant (as many commentators expect), these skills are likely to differentiate high-performers from their counterparts.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Solutions Consultant job market given the pandemic?
Dr. Miguel Olivas-Luján Ph.D.: As the economy "reopens" (thanks to appeased fears of contagion driven by vaccination, herd immunity, people worn out by the lockdowns, warmer weather, etc.), we should see workforce adjustments across industries and occupations. Already in March, unemployment was returning to 6% (from a high of 14.8% in April 2020, but after a low of 3.5 in February 2020; https://data.bls.gov/timeseries/LNS14000000). Barring unexpected resistance in the virus variants or other influences, the summer and fall months should give us better job market numbers, but this recovery seems to be benefitting some population segments more than others. The unemployed rate for teenagers was at 13%, followed by Blacks (9.6%), Hispanics (7.9%), Asians (6%), adult men (5.8%), and adult women (5.7%; more detail is available at https://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0.htm).
What's a good job out of college for Solutions Consultants?
Huanan Xu Ph.D.: I believe a good job could offer you the opportunity to empirically apply what you have acquired in school at the same time connect to your long-term career goal.
It's not always easy to locate a dream job at the first attempt out of college. Some first job might be tedious, and some might be too challenging. But this is the first opportunity where a student could apply theories learned from book to real world cases. I would recommend taking this opportunity to bring fresh ideas to team that may transfer into real productivity. I would also recommend making a short-term (1-year) and a long-term (5-year) career plan to vision clearly what is the path you want to follow. Comparing your current achievement at work with your long-run goal can help to see discrepancies and figure whether what you are doing would lead to where you want to be in the future.
What soft skills should all Solutions Consultants possess?
Allison Luedtke Ph.D.: A couple of years ago, a recruiter for a major investment bank emailed me to ask if she could speak with my economics class about the job prospects at her firm. I was somewhat surprised because her firm has a lot of name recognition and was not particularly local. She said that they were desperate to hire graduates from liberal arts colleges because these graduates have the technical skills (programming, statistics, etc.) but they also have "soft" skills like clear communication, abstraction, problem solving, and team building. Students should seek out opportunities to build these skills, especially if they do not typically do this. For example, I did not particularly enjoy group projects when I was a student, but I am so grateful for the courses in which I had to work in a group to complete an assignment, because it made me a better economist, researcher, and teacher.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Solutions Consultants?
Lauren D’Innocenzo Ph.D.: The coronavirus pandemic has certainly tightened the job market, with fewer available jobs in many sectors such as the service industry, but at the same time, has created many other opportunities for graduates in fields such as healthcare and supply chain. For new graduates, strategically considering opportunities may help to overcome some of the challenges presented in the current economy.
For example, if you are looking to gain experience in service, applying to service-oriented positions in IT or healthcare may offer more opportunities and give you more breadth of experience. I believe the potential for an enduring impact exists in a graduate's ability to adapt to changing demands and willingness to cast a wider net for available positions. Graduates who are myopically focused and unwilling to test their knowledge in different areas may not see the same opportunities, and over time, the lack of opportunities can add up. Now is a great time to work on your resilience and flexibility.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Solutions Consultants to find work opportunities?
Christopher Sippel Ed.D.: A silver lining to the pandemic may be that the location of an individual in many industries no longer dictates which company or organization someone can work for. When travel restrictions begin to ease, successful candidates will be willing to go wherever they are asked to go. In these challenging times, organizations will need people that are open to working where they are needed.
What experience really stands out on Solutions Consultant resumes?
Anthony DeFrancesco: Knowledge and experience with sales technology tools and effectively navigating Omnichannel hybrid sales environments. Social selling and analytical skills are also highly important. Product and industry knowledge for the targeted verticals also stands out. Experience with specific industry vertical prospecting tools can be a major differentiator. Finally, important to complement the aforementioned ATS keywords are leadership and team collaboration.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Solutions Consultants?
Anthony DeFrancesco: Yes, there will. Many businesses are changing their headquarters, operational infrastructure and buying communications protocols. Effective vertical prospecting, networking and selling skills will still be as important as ever as sales engagements will continue to become more complex. According to McKinsey sales engagements of course have moved mostly to digital and remote which is a trend that started before the pandemic. A McKinsey survey of B2B companies finds that, "Almost 90 percent of sales have moved to a videoconferencing(VC)/phone/web sales model, and while some skepticism remains, more than half believe this is equally or more effective than sales models used before COVID-19." (The B2B digital inflection point: How sales have changed during COVID-19) April 30, 2020 McKinsey Article)
What experience really stands out on Solutions Consultant resumes?
Anthony DeFrancesco: Knowledge and experience with sales technology tools and effectively navigating Omnichannel hybrid sales environments. Social selling and analytical skills are also highly important. Product and industry knowledge for the targeted verticals also stands out. Experience with specific industry vertical prospecting tools can be a major differentiator. Finally, important to complement the aforementioned ATS keywords are leadership and team collaboration.