6 Comments
 
Most Helpful

BA - SBA: 1yr - 2yrs, 18 months most common

SBA - M: 1yr - 2.5yrs, 18-24 months most common

M - SM: 18months - 3yr, 2-3 years most common. This can be done in 1 year, but its very difficult and at this point it will require as much luck as skill.

BA - SBA and SBA - M are 'easy' promotions because they do not actually mean a change in 'scope' in the BA job family. Both of these roles, unless you are going for a 'flex' manager role, are individual contributors. Meaning that you are not expected to be leading a team or heading up other associates development. You will lead projects with the assistance of BA & SBAs, but fundamentally you are still an individual contributor. There does have to be the budget for the promotion in the org, but in normal years & circumstances that really isn't an issue. There are some flex cases for manager, where you might be a PL for a bit before getting to SM, but that in that case you are likely in a 'flex' role (a role designed for the position above yours that you are taking on to try to prove that you are ready for the next level). 

SM+ is a bit tricky as at that point there needs to be scope for the role. An SM is usually expected to start leading associates within a year of their promotion, so there has to be a line of sight to that. By and large the manager level is the end of the IC level for BAs, and there are very few SM ICs. I'd say the 3 biggest leaps promotion wise in the company are; M -> SM, SM -> D, and Sr. D -> VP. 

As for pay, it depends on Geo. This is probably inline with a yearly promotion, which would skew you towards the bottom of the range, but puts you ahead 2yrs minimum of most of your peers:

Associate: 107k (no adjustments this year by the looks of it to associate salary. However if there is an adjustment for the '25 class you will get bumped up to that level in Jan '25).

Sr Associate: 120k

Manager: 150k (manger promotion will almost always be the comp ratio promo because the BA and SA job families do not have the PA role between  SA and M).

Sr. Manger: 180k


When promoted your salary is going to be adjusted one of 2 ways; either a 10% increase in addition to whatever merit increase earned for the year (3 - 6% IIRC), or you will be moved to .90 of the midpoint of the level's comp band in addition to your merit increase, whichever is greater.

If you want to be promoted though you need to have that discussion with your manager and make your goals clear. You could be a top performer, but if you aren't starting the promo conversation you are unlikely to be promoted early.

 

Et culpa aut dolores accusantium deserunt non. Vel alias porro cupiditate. Ex libero explicabo sit ea dolores. Itaque qui cupiditate illo reprehenderit.

Career Advancement Opportunities

July 2026 Consulting

  • Boston Consulting Group 99.5%
  • Bain & Company 99.0%
  • McKinsey and Co 98.4%
  • Oliver Wyman 97.9%
  • LEK Consulting 97.4%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

July 2026 Consulting

  • Cornerstone Research 99.5%
  • Bain & Company 99.0%
  • Boston Consulting Group 98.4%
  • McKinsey and Co 97.9%
  • Oliver Wyman 97.4%

Professional Growth Opportunities

July 2026 Consulting

  • Bain & Company 99.5%
  • Boston Consulting Group 99.0%
  • McKinsey and Co 98.4%
  • Oliver Wyman 97.9%
  • LEK Consulting 97.4%

Total Avg Compensation

July 2026 Consulting

  • Partner (4) $361
  • Principal (30) $294
  • Director/MD (58) $274
  • Vice President (53) $247
  • Engagement Manager (113) $232
  • Manager (171) $173
  • 2nd Year Associate (185) $142
  • 3rd+ Year Associate (116) $135
  • Senior Consultant (354) $132
  • Consultant (642) $122
  • 1st Year Associate (577) $121
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (164) $121
  • NA (16) $114
  • Engineer (6) $114
  • 2nd Year Analyst (391) $104
  • Associate Consultant (176) $101
  • 1st Year Analyst (1163) $90
  • Intern/Summer Associate (208) $83
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (634) $68
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
6
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
10
Jamoldo's picture
Jamoldo
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”