MBA in Management Consulting Salary Trends 2024

MBA in management consulting salary ranges from 4.5 lakh to 1 crore+ per annum in India. I came across these mind-boggling numbers in a random conversation with a friend that led me to dig deeper into management consulting. Who is a management consultant and what is this person doing to earn crores were some of the questions that aroused my curiosity.

This Story also Contains

1. What is management consulting?
2. Types of Management Consulting
3. What does a management consultant do?
4. Responsibilities of Management Consultants
5. Top 5 Secrets of Management Consulting
6. Management Consulting Pros and Cons

What is management consulting?

Management consulting is a practice done by analysing the position of an organisation, identifying problems and providing solutions to improve business operations and maximise revenue. Consulting can be done for multiple sectors in an organisation like management, finance, marketing, HR, operations, etc. Management consulting mainly focuses on providing advice and assistance to organisations to help them operate more efficiently and effectively.

People also search for: MBA Consultancy Management

Types of Management Consulting

Management is required almost in every sector of an organisation. So it is important for a business to hire management consultants for its multiple departments for smooth functioning of the business. Management consultants can specialise in various sectors such as:

• Operations Consulting

• Marketing Consulting

• Human Resources Consulting

• Strategy Consulting

• Financial Consulting

• IT Consulting

What does a management consultant do?

Every business faces multiple challenges like increasing profits, adapting to new technology, regulation and compliance, etc. In this situation, the role of management consultants comes into play. They use their analytical and business skills to find solutions to these problems.

In simpler terms, management consultants are people with business acumen, experience and skills that they use to find best practices to improve the performance of an organisation. Management consultants work with the senior levels of organsation like managers and leaders to identify challenges and develop solutions.

Responsibilities of Management Consultants

The responsibilities of a management consultant can vary depending on the specific project and the needs of the client. Given below are some of the responsibilities of a management consultant:

• Problem Identification and Analysis

• Data Collection and Analysis

• Recommendation Development

• Project Management

• Client Interaction

• Client Education

Top 5 Secrets of Management Consulting

There are some interesting facts and a few shocking secrets that I discovered recently that I would like to share here. After going through these facts I can tell that along with exceptional benefits there are major drawbacks in this industry. Let's uncover these 5 secrets that not everyone knows about together.

1. Insane hike percentages: In general management consulting jobs there is a hike of about 25% to 35%. As per reports, the growth of pay is between 35% to 40% consistently for a good 5 to 10 years.

2. Data analysis on Excel: For analysis data of big companies there is absolutely no need to know any programming language. The analysis is done by these millionaire management consultants in MS Excel only.

3. Primary steps followed in this job: There are only 2 steps that management consultants follow to get their job done. First is analysing data on MS Excel and second is storytelling through PPTs.

4. Highest-paying job: As per reports, investment baking is the highest-paying job in the corporate world and management consulting is just below or equal to it.

5. Disappointing results: Even after working for 18 hours everyday for 6 months, sometimes management consultants do not receive the same outcomes they expect and result in failed projects.

Management Consulting Pros and Cons

The job of a management consultant is demanding and rewarding. There are benefits as well as drawbacks of this position offered in organisations. Check out the pros and cons of a management consulting job explained below.

Pros of Management Consulting Job

• Diverse Experience and Professional Growth: Consultants work on various dynamic projects across industries, gaining exposure to different business challenges. This helps them acquire valuable skills in problem-solving, communication and project management allowing professional growth.

• Networking Opportunities: Consultants have the chance to build a vast professional network by interacting with clients, colleagues, and industry leaders. This diverse experience and network open doors for future opportunities.

• High Salary: Management consultants often receive competitive salaries and benefits. Additionally, their bonuses and performance-based incentives are also very high.

• Impactful Contributions: Management consulting is a professionally rewarding job. Consultants play a crucial role in helping businesses by making a huge impact by overcoming challenges and improving their performance.

Cons of Management Consulting Job

• Long Working Hours and Challenging Work-Life Balance: Consultants often work long hours, especially during project deadlines. The nature of consulting can lead to unpredictable working hours, making work-life balance challenging.

• Frequent Travel: Consultants may need to travel extensively, spending time away from home. This can be exhausting and impact personal life.

• High Pressure and Stress: The need to meet client expectations, tight deadlines, and handle complex issues can result in high levels of stress and pressure.

How to become a management consultant?

Becoming a management consultant requires a combination of skills, education and experience. Additionally, a management consultant must have a business-driven mindset which allows them to tackle these challenges more effectively. Follow these tips to know how to become a management consultant.

1. Educational background

• Bachelor’s degree: It is beneficial for a person to have a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field like business, management, economics, finance, etc. Many people also have degrees in technical fields like engineering and computer science.

• Advanced Degree: Nowadays, having a master's degree or an MBA in management consultancy is given more importance over a bachelor’s degree alone. As the knowledge gained through an advanced degree is more practical and industry-relevant.

2. Relevant Experience

• Internships/Entry-Level Jobs: The business environment is dynamic and requires skills and experience to deal with organisational challenges. One must consider getting an internship or an entry-level job in consulting firms or related industries to make yourself more competitive in the job market.

3. Develop Key Skills

• Management consultants are very skilled in their work. They are very experienced and have various skills that help them analyse problems, find solutions and convey complex ideas clearly to the clients. A management consultant must possess relevant skills like:

  • Analytical Skills

  • Communication Skills

  • Problem-Solving

  • Project Management

Also read: How to become a management consultant?

Salary of management consultant in India

The management consultant's salary depends on various factors like company, location, educational qualifications, experience and skill set. Management consultant salary in India is always on the higher side.

• The starting salary of a freshly graduated management consultant with experience of 0-1 years is around 6 LPA to 7 LPA.

• Management consultants with more than 1 years of experience can earn upto 17 LPA as well.

• The average salary of management consultants is 23.4 LPA.

• The highest salary of management consultants with 5+ years of experience can go up to 63.3 LPA.

• In some cases, management consultants who have a strong educational background and experience in this field can receive a salary package of more than 1 CPA.

Why do management consultants earn so much?

The task of consulting is not at all easy. It requires accurate data analysis, comparisons and expertise from the end of a management consultant. The following factors are responsible for a higher salary package of management consultants:

• Every business faces challenges so there is a high demand for management consultants in the industry which results in higher pay.

• Management consultants are paid highly because of their expertise in solving complex business problems and providing transparent, cost-effective and valuable services to their clients.

• They also provide actionable recommendations and strategic insights to their clients to help them gain a competitive advantage.