Starting salaries for consultants at the Big Four – Deloitte, EY, KPMG and PwC – which tend to be lower, have stagnated, showing no increase since 2022.
Top consultancies have frozen starting salaries for the third consecutive year as artificial intelligence starts to reshape the industry, forcing firms to reconsider their traditional “pyramid” structure.
Job offers sent by firms including McKinsey and Boston Consulting Group for 2026 show that pay for graduates is being held at the same level as this year, according to Management Consulted, which coaches students through the interview process, and people familiar with the offers.
The offers suggest a cautious approach to hiring from firms that are among the largest recruiters of graduates and MBA students.
“There are real productivity improvements from AI implementation inside firms,” said Namaan Mian, chief operating officer of Management Consulted, adding that the ability to wring more value
Continue Reading on The Irish Times
This preview shows approximately 15% of the article. Read the full story on the publisher's website to support quality journalism.