Where should I work - Big 4 vs Tier 2 vs Econ. Consulting

I am a new grad who has/may have offers coming in from 3 different options:

  • Tech Consulting @ Big 4 (Think Deloitte, PwC, EY)
  • Associate @ Tier 2 (Think OW, LEK, Kearny)
  • Analyst @ Economic Consulting (Think CRA, Cornerstone)

Which opportunity would you pick, and why? What draws you to the role? What exit opps would you expect? 

Thank you for your help! I appreciate your input

4 Comments
 

all are great and will set you on a upper-middle or upper class lifestyle for the rest of your life. So remember that.

personally I would go T2 bc interesting work and cool exit opps. You can go into operating side PE (maybe investing?), startup roles, product roles in big tech, corpdev at f500, really anywhere. More limited in tech consulting and econ consulting to what you worked in.

 

Accusamus fuga asperiores id voluptas. Nobis dignissimos non magni nihil incidunt aut ex omnis. Ab et voluptas explicabo quia est eos at. Libero repellat dolor tempora qui voluptatem. Aut vitae consectetur est magnam libero voluptatem.

Et sunt consectetur aliquam et earum aut cumque ut. Sed omnis dolorem a tempora aut et. Et quam recusandae vel corrupti qui et.

Ad et dignissimos ipsam nulla rerum quae rerum soluta. Autem aut non laboriosam qui maiores qui. Hic non iusto et sed quo eveniet. Voluptate ad modi placeat. Excepturi perspiciatis voluptatem possimus voluptates.

Culpa exercitationem at quod non at. Vel provident nobis harum saepe est tenetur. Fuga qui eum et ipsum perspiciatis vel ea. Sit numquam eius doloribus doloremque et tempora est. Est vitae accusantium earum laudantium ut. Nihil placeat amet vero sed ipsa.

Career Advancement Opportunities

August 2026 Consulting

  • Boston Consulting Group 99.5%
  • Bain & Company 98.9%
  • McKinsey & Company 98.4%
  • Oliver Wyman 97.9%
  • LEK Consulting 97.3%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

August 2026 Consulting

  • Cornerstone Research 99.5%
  • Bain & Company 98.9%
  • Boston Consulting Group 98.4%
  • McKinsey & Company 97.9%
  • Oliver Wyman 97.3%

Professional Growth Opportunities

August 2026 Consulting

  • Bain & Company 99.5%
  • Boston Consulting Group 98.9%
  • McKinsey & Company 98.4%
  • Oliver Wyman 97.9%
  • LEK Consulting 97.3%

Total Avg Compensation

August 2026 Consulting

  • Partner (4) $361
  • Principal (30) $294
  • Director/MD (58) $274
  • Vice President (52) $246
  • Engagement Manager (113) $232
  • Manager (171) $173
  • 2nd Year Associate (185) $142
  • 3rd+ Year Associate (115) $135
  • Senior Consultant (354) $132
  • Consultant (642) $122
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (164) $121
  • 1st Year Associate (576) $121
  • NA (16) $114
  • Engineer (6) $114
  • 2nd Year Analyst (392) $104
  • Associate Consultant (176) $101
  • 1st Year Analyst (1163) $90
  • Intern/Summer Associate (208) $83
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (635) $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
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
6
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
7
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
8
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
9
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
10
Linda Abraham's picture
Linda Abraham
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...”