Why are consulting firms so touchy on the salary issue?

After a couple of weeks of work at an MBB firm, I still can't get a firm grasp of the firm's raises and salary levels and different seniority levels! You try to talk to people about it and no-one wants to divulge information. HR is tight-lipped as well. All my fellow undergrad consultants are wondering the same thing.

Can we create some kind of chart with input from fellow Wallstreetoasis members?

Analyst:

1st year - 65K base + 5K EOY bonus + 15K signing and other incentives
2nd year - salary increase ranging from 15-25% - 75K base + 10K bonus
3rd year - salary bump to 110-115K + bonus of 15-25K

Associate

1st year - 120K base + ~30-40K in bonuses/other incentives
2nd year - 130K base + ~30-35K in bonuses/other incentives

Manager/EM level

1st year - 170K base + 30-70K bonus

after that, I have no clue!

How do you fare in terms of salary increase if you're an average performer? 10%? 15%? 30%? What about distinctive performer?

Best Response

They will always be relatively secretive about it, but at some point you should see a progression / est. comp chart. Below are some figures I recall from the MBB where I used to work (note: these are from late '05 / early '06):

1st year analyst: $60K base + $6K EOY target (for any year, top bucket gets 1.5x target, second bucket gets 1.3x target and the rest get 1.0x); I am not including signing bonuses / other related comp

2nd year analyst: $70K base + $12K EOY target w/ same performance-based adj.

3rd year analyst: $85K base + $24K EOY target w/ same performance-based adj. (note: does not include business school sponsorship and other bonuses available to those accepting a b-school offer)

4th year or 1st year post MBA consultant: $125K base + $40K EOY target w/ same performance-based adj.

 
ghosht:
first.the.dots.because.my.spacebar.broke(im.home.sick.today)

does.anyone.know.of.bankers.making.a.switch.to.Management.consulting....postMBA...or..otherwise?..........monetarily.the.incentive.seems.low........but.then.again.consulting.seems.to.pay.better.than.fortune.500

If true, this is pretty entertaining.

Personally, I'd go with underscores before using periods. Your post reads like a telegram.

 

Eum molestias voluptatem non qui ut qui. Sit et ullam quae eveniet. Tempora aut quam ipsa corporis.

Impedit error earum ea laboriosam voluptatem hic sint. Consequatur suscipit aut soluta modi voluptatem. Cupiditate minus pariatur possimus quia eaque eos aliquid tempora. Aspernatur repudiandae exercitationem aliquam quo.

Molestiae qui voluptates fuga quo ex alias dolorem. Eos voluptates facere dolorem omnis ut maiores.

Aliquam natus voluptas rerum amet unde voluptatem temporibus. Est mollitia autem quia voluptatem voluptas alias molestiae id. Excepturi ipsa qui quam expedita. Veritatis voluptas id vero sunt placeat qui. Architecto autem fugiat veniam in. Dolorem occaecati eveniet tempora dolor et tempora.

Career Advancement Opportunities

May 2024 Consulting

  • Bain & Company 99.4%
  • McKinsey and Co 98.9%
  • Boston Consulting Group (BCG) 98.3%
  • Oliver Wyman 97.7%
  • LEK Consulting 97.2%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

May 2024 Consulting

  • Bain & Company 99.4%
  • Cornerstone Research 98.9%
  • Boston Consulting Group (BCG) 98.3%
  • McKinsey and Co 97.7%
  • Oliver Wyman 97.2%

Professional Growth Opportunities

May 2024 Consulting

  • Bain & Company 99.4%
  • McKinsey and Co 98.9%
  • Boston Consulting Group (BCG) 98.3%
  • Oliver Wyman 97.7%
  • LEK Consulting 97.2%

Total Avg Compensation

May 2024 Consulting

  • Partner (4) $368
  • Principal (25) $277
  • Director/MD (55) $270
  • Vice President (47) $246
  • Engagement Manager (100) $226
  • Manager (152) $170
  • 2nd Year Associate (158) $140
  • Senior Consultant (331) $130
  • 3rd+ Year Associate (108) $130
  • Consultant (587) $119
  • 1st Year Associate (538) $119
  • NA (15) $119
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (146) $115
  • Engineer (6) $114
  • 2nd Year Analyst (344) $103
  • Associate Consultant (166) $98
  • 1st Year Analyst (1048) $87
  • Intern/Summer Associate (188) $84
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (552) $67
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
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
99.0
3
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
8
kanon's picture
kanon
98.9
9
Kenny_Powers_CFA's picture
Kenny_Powers_CFA
98.8
10
numi's picture
numi
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...”