Consulting is an occupation that attracts attention for its high earning potential.
Indeed, the consulting industry offers higher salary levels compared to other industries, and it is not uncommon for people in their 20s to earn over 10 million yen annually. However, salaries can vary greatly depending on the firm, area of specialization, and career stage.
This article provides a thorough breakdown of average consultant salaries by industry type, company, and age group, backed by data. It also covers the reasons why consultants command high salaries, and specific strategies for increasing your income.
Whether you are considering a career change or looking to advance your current consulting career, this article has something valuable for you.
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Overall Average Salary for Consultants
According to the “Reiwa 6 Basic Survey on Wage Structure,” the average annual salary for “other management, finance, and insurance professionals,” which includes consultants, was approximately 11.34 million yen.
Given that the average annual salary in Japan is approximately 4.78 million yen, this highlights just how high salaries are in the consulting industry.
Reference: Reiwa 7 Basic Survey on Wage Structure
Reference: Reiwa 6 Private Sector Salary Survey
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【By Industry Type】Average Consultant Salaries
The consulting industry is divided into a wide range of specializations including strategy, IT, HR, finance, and operations improvement, and average salaries vary significantly depending on the type.
Below, we introduce average salaries by major consulting role.
Strategy Consultants
The average annual salary for strategy consultants is around 7 million yen.
Even at an early stage, starting salaries exceed 5 million yen, and it is not uncommon for individuals to approach 10 million yen by their third year. At the manager level, salaries can exceed 20 million yen.
At foreign firms, a strict “Up or Out” promotion system is in place, and some professionals reach over 15 million yen in their late 20s.
Due to the high project fees involved, combined with the heavy responsibility of supporting major decisions for senior management, strategy consultants are in a position to earn high salaries.
IT Consultants
The average annual salary for IT consultants is approximately 6 to 9 million yen, placing them at the top of IT-related roles. While some new graduates start in the 3 million yen range, there are cases where individuals surpass 6.5 million yen by their second year.
Additionally, those with strengths in specific areas such as ERP and SAP have been reported to exceed 10 million yen annually. In fact, it is not uncommon for IT consultants in their 20s and 30s to break the 10 million yen mark.
As they are involved in a wide range of work from system implementation to DX support, this is a role where salary levels are expected to continue rising alongside growing demand.
General Consultants
The average annual salary for general consultants is approximately 7 to 9 million yen, which is both high and stable within the consulting industry. Starting salaries for new graduates are generally in the 5 to 7 million yen range, and some exceed 10 million yen upon promotion to manager.
Furthermore, at the partner level, some reach high incomes exceeding 20 million yen.
As they are involved in a broad range of tasks, salary growth tends to be steady, making it easier to build a stable career.
Management Consultants
The average annual salary for management consultants is approximately 7 to 9 million yen. At the junior level, salaries range from around 5 to 8 million yen, but as experience is gained, many surpass 10 million yen, and some reach close to 20 million yen after around 10 years.
Average salaries at foreign firms are even higher, with an environment that supports earning high income early on, and partner-level compensation can reach tens of millions of yen.
As they are involved in the “entire management” of a company, their influence is significant, and building long-term trust tends to raise compensation levels.
Financial Consultants
The average annual salary for financial consultants is approximately 7 to 8 million yen, which is high even among consulting roles. Particularly in the FAS (Financial Advisory Services) domain covering M&A and business restructuring, compensation levels are high, and it is not uncommon for salaries to grow significantly in a short period based on results.
Since performance-based pay is strongly emphasized, results are reflected even more directly than in other consulting fields. While advanced knowledge of finance and accounting is essential, that high level of expertise translates into high earnings.
HR Consultants
According to jobtag from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, the average annual salary for HR consultants is approximately 6 million yen. Salaries tend to grow steadily with age: 4 to 6 million yen in one’s 20s, 6 to 8 million yen in one’s 30s, and 8 to 10 million yen in one’s 40s.
Fields such as recruitment, training, and HR system design are relatively resilient to economic fluctuations and have stable demand. In particular, projects involving HR system reform and talent management tend to be long-term in nature, making this a role where high compensation can be earned over the long run.
Additionally, qualifications such as Certified Social Insurance and Labor Consultant or Career Consultant are well-regarded, and developing expertise further can be expected to boost income.
Think Tank Consultants
The average annual salary for think tank consultants is approximately 7 to 8 million yen, representing a stable level. It is common to start at around 5 to 6 million yen when joining as a new graduate, and some reach 10 million yen by their 30s.
At major firms, Nomura Research Institute offers an average salary of approximately 9.8 million yen, while Mitsubishi Research Institute is also around 8.8 million yen — both reflecting a high overall standard.
As research ability and analytical skills are highly valued, developing expertise makes it easier to earn a stable high income over the long term.
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【By Company】Top 5 Consultant Salary Rankings
Consultant salaries also vary greatly depending on the firm or company one belongs to. In particular, foreign firms and global companies tend to have higher levels, with many exceeding 10 million yen. Here, we introduce the top 5 companies in the salary ranking based on data from OpenWork.
Reference: OpenWork “Consultant Salary Information | Average Salary Ranking by Company, Base Pay, Overtime, Bonuses, etc.“
1st Place: Globing Co., Ltd.
The average annual salary at Globing Co., Ltd. is approximately 19.5 million yen.
Despite being a relatively new firm established in 2017, it has grown rapidly by leveraging the fusion of strategy and digital capabilities, achieving a compensation structure that surpasses even top-tier foreign firms. A strict meritocracy is in place where individual performance is directly reflected in salary and bonuses, making it an attractive environment where even young professionals can achieve high incomes at an exceptional pace.
2nd Place: Boston Consulting Group GmbH & Co. KG
The average annual salary at Boston Consulting Group GmbH & Co. KG is approximately 16.93 million yen.
BCG, known as a leading name in strategy consulting, boasts top-tier salary levels in the industry. Since even junior staff are involved in high-value projects, the environment is set up for professionals to aim for over 10 million yen in income early in their careers. The performance-driven culture is strong, and significant salary increases based on results can be expected.
3rd Place: McKinsey & Company Japan
The average annual salary at McKinsey & Company Japan is approximately 15.84 million yen.
McKinsey, a globally renowned strategy consulting firm, also maintains a very high salary level. A key feature is the large scale of projects and the opportunity to work on global engagements. As results are directly evaluated, it is well-suited for those seeking to build a high-level career.
4th Place: Gartner Japan Ltd.
The average annual salary at Gartner Japan Ltd. is approximately 15.1 million yen.
As one of the world’s largest IT research and advisory firms, it delivers consulting services backed by an overwhelming volume of information and analytical capability. Due to its highly specialized focus on IT strategy, its market value is extremely high, and incentive ratios tend to be high in addition to the base salary. It is characterized by the ability to earn stable high compensation while developing expertise and maintaining a healthy work-life balance.
5th Place: Bain & Company Japan, Incorporated
The average annual salary at Bain & Company Japan, Incorporated is 14.64 million yen.
The firm is a world-class strategy consulting firm founded in 1973, with its Japan office established in 1982. Guided by a results-driven philosophy, it places emphasis not merely on providing recommendations, but on actually improving the enterprise value of its clients.
【By Age Group】Consultant Salaries
Here is an overview of consultant salaries by age group, based on data from OpenWork.
| Age | Estimated Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 25 | Approx. 5.36 million yen |
| 30 | Approx. 7.19 million yen |
| 35 | Approx. 8.84 million yen |
| 40 | Approx. 10.15 million yen |
| 45 | Approx. 11.1 million yen |
| 50 | Approx. 11.79 million yen |
| 55 | Approx. 12.41 million yen |
This data shows that consultant salaries tend to grow rapidly from one’s 20s to 30s, with many reaching a level exceeding 10 million yen by their late 30s. Growth continues into one’s 40s, and it is generally the case that salaries reach around 11 to 12 million yen by one’s 50s, exceeding 12.4 million yen at age 55.
In other words, salary progression in the consulting industry follows a structure of “rapid growth during the early years, peaking in mid-career, and remaining at a high level thereafter” — a performance-based compensation model where income varies significantly depending on ability and position.
Reference: OpenWork “Consultant Salary Information | Average Salary Ranking by Company, Base Pay, Overtime, Bonuses, etc.“
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Why Consultants Earn High Salaries
Here, we explain the specific reasons why consultants tend to earn high incomes.
High Project Fees
The biggest reason behind consultants’ high salaries is the high value of project fees.
Especially in strategy firms, given the complexity and scale of management challenges, contracts worth hundreds of millions to billions of yen per engagement are not uncommon. Even for operational process improvement projects, fees of 10 to 20 million yen are standard.
The continued existence of such high-value engagements naturally elevates employee salary levels. Furthermore, since the services provided — such as improving management efficiency and formulating market strategies — are directly linked to a company’s long-term growth, clients do not hesitate to pay the high fees involved.
The business model, which carries no inventory and directly translates the expertise of its people into revenue, also contributes to the high level of compensation.
Performance-Based Compensation
Consultant compensation is fundamentally performance-based, with project outcomes and individual contributions directly reflected in evaluations.
In particular, when significant results are achieved on large-scale or strategic projects, success bonuses and high bonuses are often paid out. Under this system, compensation is determined entirely by merit regardless of age or gender, making it possible for even young professionals to exceed 10 million yen based on their results.
Furthermore, upon promotion to manager or above, salaries increase dramatically, and at the partner level, compensation in the tens of millions to even hundreds of millions of yen is not uncommon.
This performance-driven culture provides a strong motivation for consultants to continuously sharpen their skills and maintain high performance.
Demand for Specialized Expertise
Behind the high salaries of consultants is the high level of specialized expertise that companies seek. Today’s companies face intensifying competition and rapidly changing market conditions, and many have management challenges they cannot solve on their own.
What is needed are specialized insights into areas such as M&A, business process reform, digital transformation, and overseas expansion strategy. Consultants with rare and highly valued knowledge and experience work directly with senior management and boards of directors, exerting significant influence over key decisions.
As a result, companies determine that it is worth paying a premium to engage these professionals. Additionally, the fact that expertise-driven proposals are directly linked to a company’s growth and profitability makes them easy to recognize as high-value services — another key factor that contributes to high salaries.
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3 Ways to Increase Your Salary as a Consultant
There are several concrete approaches to increasing your salary as a consultant.
By thinking strategically about your career path, achieving a higher income becomes entirely possible. Below, we explain in detail three effective methods for boosting your salary.
Advance to a Higher Position
The most reliable way for consultants to increase their salary is to advance to a higher position.
In general, firms typically start at the associate or consultant level, and salaries increase substantially as professionals advance to senior consultant, manager, senior manager, and partner.
At Japanese firms, reaching the senior consultant level typically brings a salary increase of 1.5 to 3 million yen, while at foreign strategy firms, managers can reach 15 to 20 million yen. At the partner level, earning over 50 million yen annually is not uncommon.
Advancing in rank requires not only consistently delivering results, but also deepening your expertise and demonstrating leadership in leading a team.
Move to Another Consulting Firm
Transitioning to a firm with a higher salary benchmark than your current one is also an effective way to increase your income.
Moves from domestic to foreign firms, or from general consulting to strategy consulting, are particularly impactful, with salaries increasing significantly in some cases. This is because foreign and strategy firms tend to have higher project fees and a more thorough meritocracy.
To succeed in a job change, it is important to clearly communicate your track record on past projects and your strengths in your area of specialization. Additionally, using an industry-specific recruitment agency gives you access to non-public job listings and selection preparation support, enabling more efficient salary negotiations.
Identifying which area your skills are most valued in is the key to achieving a higher salary through a job change.
Sharpen Your Skills and Expertise
Increasing your individual market value is also essential for raising your salary.
For example, improving your English opens up opportunities to participate in global projects, expanding your access to higher-value work. Broad qualifications such as an MBA or PMP are valued across a wide range of fields and are advantageous for both promotions and job changes.
On the other hand, certifications such as Certified Public Accountant, Tax Accountant, Certified Social Insurance and Labor Consultant, and SME Management Consultant demonstrate strength in specialized areas such as finance, HR, and management.
Furthermore, accumulating experience in high-growth areas such as AI, sustainability, and M&A increases your scarcity value and makes it easier to secure higher-value projects. Balancing general skills with deep expertise is the key to sustaining high income over the long term.
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Consultant Job Responsibilities and Required Skills
Here, we introduce the main responsibilities and required skills of a consultant.
What Consultants Do
The work of a consultant is to identify the challenges facing a company or organization and guide them toward solutions. Rather than providing advice alone, consultants play a broad role spanning research and analysis, proposals, and implementation support. The key responsibilities can be summarized in the following three points.
- Issue Analysis and Identification: Identifying the client company’s challenges through market research and interviews, and clarifying the root causes
- Developing and Proposing Solutions: Formulating specific strategies to resolve identified challenges and presenting them to senior management
- Implementation Support and Improvement: Advancing projects based on the proposal, evaluating outcomes, and supporting the achievement of objectives
Through these activities, consultants support the sustainable growth and enhanced competitiveness of companies. For those who want to learn more about job responsibilities by specialty — such as strategy, IT, and HR — please refer to the article below.
Required Skills for Consultants
Delivering high performance requires not only specialized knowledge but also general transferable skills. The three most emphasized are as follows.
- Logical Thinking: The ability to organize complex issues and identify their root causes
- Communication Skills: The ability to build trust with people at all levels — from senior management to frontline staff — and gain their understanding and buy-in on proposals
- Problem-Solving Ability: The ability to translate identified challenges into executable initiatives and drive results
These three skills are foundational requirements shared by consultants across all specializations and are key factors that directly contribute to high evaluations and salary increases.
How to Transition into a Consulting Career
Transitioning into consulting is an attractive career change for many, but given the high level of expertise required, a strategic approach is essential.
Below, we provide a detailed explanation of concrete steps for making this transition.
Build a Network with Active Consultants
To succeed in transitioning to a consulting career, building a network with active consultants is an effective approach.
This is because you can gain real insider knowledge about the industry that books and the internet cannot provide, as well as potential connections to non-public job openings and referral hiring. Learning firsthand about the nature of the work, the skills required, and the culture of different firms allows you to sharpen your interview preparation.
Ways to build this network include attending industry seminars and events, engaging on business social networks like LinkedIn, getting introductions through friends and acquaintances, and conducting alumni informational interviews. Making connections with active consultants through these activities is an effective way to improve your chances of a successful transition.
Use a Recruitment Agency
If you are considering a move into consulting, leveraging a recruitment agency is highly effective.
Specialized agencies have access to non-public job openings not listed elsewhere and can introduce positions that match your experience and skills. They are also well-versed in the hiring policies and selection criteria of individual firms, and can provide practical support such as resume review and case interview preparation.
They can also handle salary negotiations on your behalf, increasing the chances of securing better terms than you could on your own. Especially for those making the leap without prior experience or those who are too busy to dedicate time to job hunting, using an agency allows you to pursue your job search efficiently and improves your chances of success.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Consultants
When considering a move into consulting, you may have questions beyond salary — such as about required skills and working conditions.
Here, we have compiled frequently asked questions about consultants along with their answers.
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Summary
Consulting is an occupation where salaries vary greatly depending on the type of work, the company size, and age group.
By industry type, strategy and foreign firms tend to be at the higher end, while by company, larger firms generally offer a higher salary range. Looking at age groups, rapid growth from one’s 20s onward is common, with many able to aim for over 10 million yen in their 30s.
While high earnings are to be expected, the performance-driven culture and demanding nature of the work are also realities, so it is important to consider the balance with your own career plans and lifestyle.
ConsulNext.jp provides comprehensive support from career counseling to document preparation and interview coaching, and has helped many professionals successfully transition to consulting firms. If you are considering a move into consulting, we encourage you to make use of our services.
