Hi. Ive just read on another forum that a PC at PA Consulting, earns approx 55-60k. Now to reach PC from grad can be done in 6/7yrs minimum but more likely 8/9. Is 55-60k not absymal for someone with 8/9 work experience at supposedly at top firm? If im mistaken please enlighten me. How much would some with7 yrs experience earn at say ACN or deloitte (hv delib not included pure strat firms) regards

As a Senior in IBM, PRG8, you'd make about the same, but without the 15-30% bonus you get at PA

Really, omg. Thats dross!!!. Thats less than law and investment banking. I think, i should be looking at banking. I could make that after 3-4 years as a graduate. The lifestyle isnt much dissimilar, relatively long hours, tight schedules and deadlines, no real time for a social life during the week. Also banking doesnt require travelling. How do consulting firms hang on to really bright candidates, the cream of the crop, who know they could be earning at least double elsewhere?

If making money is your main motive, why not try a career at plumbing, or become an estate flogging flats in Budapest ? People work in consulting for a variety of reasons: personally, I enjoy the travel, and would hate to be an angry desk monkey who comes on to a consulting website to slag off the career choice of the readers

Im not slagging off consulting at all. I respect people who do it, and actually believe they are amongst the most intelligent people i know and currently working. Im personally motivated by money but i accept some people are not. That is totally fine, I was just suprised thats all. Excuse my ignorance. Its my personal opinion but for the levels of intelligence and sacrifices consultants make i thought they'd be paid more and I still believe they derserve to be paid more. I meant no offence in anyway to the profession. Sorry if you took it in this way.

When I was a new grad in consulting, I remember an older hand explaining it this way: he said banking has to pay you a 'boredom bonus'. There's more to it than just the challenge and feeling that you're doing something worthwhile, of course - like the working environment and the breadth of career opportunities 3-4 years down the line if you want to switch - but whether you're excited by the work you do is definitely a key part of it for most of the people I've worked with. And 60k+ three years out of college wasn't exactly uncomfortable either :-)

So, explain me this... since consulting is an exciting job is cool to get paid per hour what entry level clerks make. If you complain you'll get the "we don't do it for the money" shit I was getting in graduate school from senior scientists that wanted me to work like a dog for little more than the excitement of science. Oh sure in consulting you get to sneer at everybody else and that is definitely a bonus.....

Your right - that does seem low. A manager at ACN (4-6 years) gets 70k, though there is considerable variation based on performance, and a snr manager(7-9 years) 100k+.

You know, you are right. Don't do it. - Please.

Just to add a note; I joined a consultancy 7 monts ago as a grad on the usual 35k... an investment bank head hunted me, offering 40k basic + 20 sign on + 45 end year = 105k. as soon as i told my employer that i was leavvingg for the bank, they said absolutely not and offered me 35k more! so now i am still an analyt making 140k. brilliant. exceptional. i suggest you guys all try out the scare technique - it works!

Ha ha!! Good one... If that is true (and it's not) your company needs their heads examined, mate.

Sounds like the inflation rate in my own glorious republic. Are you being paid in Zim dollars ?

It does sound a bit weird to say the least but i wouldnt rule anything out. Perhaps there were elemnts in the contract you mis understood, mayb your bonueses for the next few years are capped etc. I cant believe an investment bank gauranteed you more than 100% of your base salary in bonus at the end of the year without seeing what you can do. I doubt the consulting firm then decided to give you 35k on top of that. Was this in the UK or US. How old are you? whats your experience?

Thats sounds more what i thought to be honest. I guess PA do massively under pay! even with 'generous' bonuses your still not doing amazingly

im 21, just graduated from uni in london. the firm pays me in pound sterling. the performance bonus is daily, so 35k a day.. mate - send in an application if you want. its ibm bcs - have you heard of them?

That just provided a nice big belly laugh... You have a future in stand-up comedy if you can ever drag yourself away from the mighty IBM BCS - a company that is losing staff by the bucketload, and whose morale is in the toilet. (Incredible, given their ability to pay 21-year olds with no experience such generous packages!) Ho, ho....

Oh man! I just turned them down, I thought it was a joke! Boll---s, I'll just have to keep washing dem cars for now then.

Well you put my mind at ease, not because clearly your having a bubble but becos even if IBM BCS offered me that id turn them down!!!

A bubble?

Anon, sorry 'bubble' refers to having a laugh. Its cockney slang... bubble bath....laugh