What Is a Digital Consultant? Salaries and Differences from IT Consultants Explained

“Can someone with a humanities background become a digital consultant?” “How much do digital consultants earn?” — do you have questions like these?

This article addresses those questions in the following order:

• What digital consultants do and how much they earn
• Digital consultants with humanities backgrounds
• Skills required and useful certifications for digital consultants

This article is useful for anyone aspiring to become a digital consultant. Please read to the end.

※Information on companies, job openings, and certifications mentioned in this article is current as of 2025.

What Is a Digital Consultant?

A digital consultant is a consultant who uses digital technology to help clients solve their challenges.

By incorporating the latest technologies such as AI, VR, and big data to advance clients’ digital transformation (DX), digital consultants aim to resolve issues, expand revenue, and drive business growth.

In recent years, DX has been accelerating across various industries, and demand for digital consultants has been rising accordingly.

Differences from IT Consultants

The difference between an IT consultant and a digital consultant lies in the scope of their work.

IT consultants are often involved in “overall system development (downstream of projects),” whereas digital consultants handle “strategy planning (upstream of projects).”

While IT consultants primarily support clients in solving existing problems, digital consultants more often leverage cutting-edge technology to create entirely new businesses.

What Digital Consultants Do

What exactly does a digital consultant do?

Below are the main responsibilities of a digital consultant.

Digital Strategy Planning

The first responsibility of a digital consultant is “digital strategy planning.” A digital strategy refers to a plan for using IT technology to create new business value (sometimes called a DX strategy).

For example, when a client requests help “creating a new business,” a digital consultant might propose a new venture leveraging AI technology.

Digital consultants must have knowledge of technology, but they also need to develop strategies that account for industry trends, regulations, and the latest information.

Proposing Digital Tools

The second responsibility is “proposing digital tools.” This involves recommending specific technologies, tools, and systems to address the client’s challenges.

For example, in response to a client’s need to “streamline customer data management,” a digital consultant might recommend a CRM tool.

Whether to adopt an off-the-shelf product or develop a custom solution depends on the client’s situation, so comprehensive evaluation is required.

Project Management

A third key responsibility is “project management.”

When developing systems, tools, or applications, project management becomes essential. This includes managing budgets, schedules, progress, team members, and tasks.

At system launch time, team members often juggle many tasks at once, so making individual workloads visible and organizing workflows is also part of the role.

IT Due Diligence

The final responsibility covered here is “IT due diligence.”

IT due diligence (IT DD) refers to the evaluation of a target company’s IT assets when executing a merger or acquisition (M&A).

When formulating M&A strategies, buyers often engage digital consultants for their specialized knowledge of digital assets.

Monetary valuation is required, making deep digital expertise essential.

Digital Consultant Salaries

The average annual salary for a digital consultant is approximately 6.5 million yen.

According to the National Tax Agency’s “2024 Private Sector Wage Survey,” the national average is 4.78 million yen, meaning digital consultants can expect to earn above the national average.

However, a digital consultant’s salary varies depending on individual skills and experience, the size of the consulting firm, and the scale of the projects involved.

Reference: National Tax Agency “2024 Private Sector Wage Survey“

Digital Consultant Salaries at Major Consulting Firms

Here we introduce salary information for two major consulting firms: PwC Consulting and Accenture.

PwC Consulting

Average annual salaries for digital consultants at PwC Consulting are as follows:

Age Group	Average Annual Salary
20s	Approx. 7.89–10 million yen
30s	Approx. 8.41–16 million yen
40s	Approx. 15.29–25 million yen

In your 40s, earnings exceeding 25 million yen per year are also possible.

Accenture

Average annual salaries for digital consultants at Accenture are as follows:

Year	Average Annual Salary
Year 1	Approx. 4.3 million yen
Year 5	Approx. 7–10 million yen
Year 10	Approx. 10–15 million yen

At Accenture, after approximately five years of experience as a consultant, annual earnings exceeding 10 million yen are possible.

Can Someone with a Humanities Background Become a Digital Consultant?

Many people wonder, “Don’t you need a technical background?” or “Is this career path closed to humanities graduates?” The following addresses these concerns.

Humanities Graduates Can Become Digital Consultants

To put it simply, digital consulting is a career path open to humanities graduates.

One reason humanities graduates shy away from digital-related roles is that they “can’t write code.”

However, programming can be learned even without prior experience. In fact, many successful digital consultants come from humanities backgrounds, so there is no need to worry.

Salary Differences Between STEM and Humanities Graduates in IT

According to a survey conducted by the Skills Up Research Institute, there is no significant salary gap between STEM and humanities graduates.

While the IT industry is often perceived as dominated by STEM graduates, the current shortage of IT talent has created more opportunities for humanities graduates to thrive.

Of course, working toward a high income requires continuous skill development and staying informed, but being a humanities graduate is not a particular disadvantage.

Reference: Skills Up Research Institute “Survey on the Reality of Humanities Graduates Transitioning to the IT Industry”

Major Consulting Firms Hiring Digital Consultants

Here is an overview of major consulting firms that are hiring digital consultants.

Accenture

Accenture is one of the world’s largest management consulting firms, headquartered in Dublin, Ireland.

With approximately 742,000 employees worldwide, the company delivers services leveraging its extensive global network.

Accenture recruits digital consultants, who are expected to serve as specialists in areas such as cloud computing, Industry X, big data, and robotics.

McKinsey & Company (McKinsey Digital)

McKinsey & Company is a consulting firm headquartered in the United States. It was founded in 1926 by James O. McKinsey, a professor at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

McKinsey & Company is currently hiring digital talent including digital consultants, data scientists, and data engineers.

For mid-career hires, prior experience at a digital or IT consulting firm is considered desirable.

Boston Consulting Group

Boston Consulting Group is a consulting firm headquartered in the United States, with offices in more than 50 countries and approximately 30,000 employees worldwide.

DigitalBCG, the firm’s domestic digital practice, is currently recruiting digital consultants. Specific responsibilities include digital transformation strategy planning and new digital business strategy development.

Deloitte Tohmatsu

Deloitte Tohmatsu LLC is a member firm of the Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu group. The Deloitte network operates in 150 countries worldwide and provides consulting services leveraging its global reach.

Deloitte Digital, the firm’s dedicated digital arm, delivers services combining strategy, creativity, and technology, and is recruiting consultants specializing in IT and digital domains.

KPMG Consulting

KPMG Consulting is an accounting and management consulting firm with roots in William Barclay Peat & Co., founded in the UK in 1870. It operates in 146 countries with approximately 230,000 employees worldwide.

In 2022, the firm launched a “Digital Talent Development Service,” expanding its consulting services focused on the digital domain.

The firm is actively recruiting consultants with deep expertise in digital domains, so be sure to check their listings if you are interested.

PwC Consulting

PwC Consulting LLC is a consulting firm headquartered in London, UK. It was established in 2016 following the separation and consolidation of PricewaterhouseCoopers Japan.

PwC Consulting is currently recruiting digital consultants. For new graduate hiring, applications are open regardless of academic background (STEM or humanities), and concurrent applications for other roles are also permitted.

EY Advisory & Consulting

EY Advisory & Consulting is a consulting firm headquartered in London, UK. In Japan, services are delivered through EY Japan.

EY Japan is recruiting technology consultants who use technology to solve clients’ management challenges.

Skills Required of Digital Consultants

The skills required of digital consultants are as follows:

Below, we explain the situations in which each skill is applied.

Logical Thinking

Logical thinking (logical reasoning) is the ability to think through a clear chain of reasoning from premise to conclusion.

The challenges clients face are often complex and not immediately apparent, requiring logical thinking to reach a solution. In practice, business frameworks and logic trees are used to work toward problem resolution.

Logical thinking is a skill shared not just by digital consultants, but by consultants of all kinds. It is also a skill that can be developed through practice and training.

Communication Skills

Communication skills refer to the ability to grasp the key points of what others are saying and to convey information clearly from the perspective of the listener.

Digital consultants interact with a wide range of people — clients, project team members, engineers, and more. Strong communication skills are therefore essential for working smoothly with people in different roles.

During the hiring process, communication skills are also assessed, so it is important to understand the intent behind questions and respond clearly.

Digital Knowledge and Skills

Digital consultants are expected to have strong knowledge and skills in digital domains. As specialists making proposals in the digital field, a lack of digital knowledge will prevent clients from being satisfied.

Beyond foundational digital skills, it is also essential to stay continuously informed about the latest technologies, including AI.

Mental and Physical Resilience

It may come as a surprise, but mental and physical resilience are indispensable for performing the work of a digital consultant.

Digital consultants must handle multiple tasks simultaneously. On top of that, they must develop proposals under pressure to meet client expectations.

The ability to endure significant pressure — both mentally and physically — is therefore a critical attribute.

Management Skills

In the context of consulting, management skills refer to the ability to oversee and manage an entire project. Developing management skills is essential for digital consultants who aspire to advance to a manager-level position.

Managing tasks, schedules, budgets, and team members while maintaining project quality and delivering on time demands a high level of management capability.

Business and Management Knowledge

Having knowledge of business operations and management will broaden your potential as a digital consultant.

Many projects involve using digital technology to address clients’ management and operational challenges. Knowledge of business and management enables you to propose solutions that are both practical and achievable.

How to Pursue a Career as a Digital Consultant

So how does one actually become a digital consultant?

Here are some concrete paths to consider.

Work in the IT Division of a Consulting Firm

One path to becoming a digital consultant is joining an IT-focused consulting firm or the IT division of a general consulting firm.

Working at a consulting firm allows you to build not only digital knowledge, but also the broader skills and mindset of a consultant.

In particular, as demand for DX has grown in recent years, more and more consulting firms are actively expanding their IT divisions.

Gain Experience at a Systems Integrator (SIer)

A systems integrator (SIer) is a company that takes full responsibility for system development.

Working at a SIer allows you to develop knowledge and skills in system development, enabling you to make more informed proposals to clients as a digital consultant.

If you work at a SIer, it is recommended that you actively engage with upstream project phases in order to develop the proposal skills and communication abilities needed as a consultant.

Build Experience in the IT Industry

Building experience in the IT industry more broadly is another viable path to becoming a digital consultant. When applying for digital consultant positions at consulting firms, some form of IT experience is typically required.

For example, experience as a systems engineer, programmer, infrastructure engineer, or UX/UI designer can all serve as strong selling points in the hiring process.

In particular, management experience tends to be highly valued, so gaining experience as a project manager is also a worthwhile option.

Obtain IT Certifications

Obtaining IT certifications may be a good way to build your knowledge and skills in digital areas. For those pursuing digital consulting from scratch, earning IT certifications provides a solid foundation.

Relevant certifications include the Fundamental Information Technology Engineer Examination, IT Coordinator, CompTIA Project+, and ITIL Foundation. These are introduced in more detail below.

Useful Certifications for Digital Consultants

Below are certifications useful for digital consultants.

Fundamental Information Technology Engineer Examination

The Fundamental Information Technology Engineer Examination is a national qualification certified by the Information-technology Promotion Agency, Japan (IPA). It is positioned as “the entry-level certification for IT engineers” and demonstrates a foundational understanding of IT.

It covers knowledge useful for IT strategy planning, system conceptualization, requirements definition, design, development, and operations — making it a relevant certification for digital consultants.

IT Coordinator

The IT Coordinator certification is awarded by the IT Coordinators Association.

Recognized by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, obtaining this certification demonstrates the ability to support IT-driven management and the realization of DX. This knowledge is directly applicable to the work of digital consultants.

There are two types of examinations: the “IT Coordinator Examination” and the “Specialized Skills Special Recognition Examination.” The IT Coordinator Examination is open to anyone, while the Specialized Skills examination is only available to those holding specific qualifications.

The exam covers required PGL-related questions as well as management topics (business strategy, business reform, IT strategy) and information technology topics (IT strategy and IT utilization).

CompTIA Project+

CompTIA Project+ is a certification offered by The Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA).

Earning this certification demonstrates foundational knowledge of project management. For digital consultants who frequently work on upstream project phases, CompTIA Project+ knowledge is highly applicable.

Beyond digital consulting, this is a certification valued in roles such as IT project manager, project coordinator, and IT support manager.

ITIL Foundation

ITIL Foundation is a certification offered by the British company AXELOS (a subsidiary of PeopleCert).

Earning this certification demonstrates knowledge and skills related to IT service management. Since it tests foundational knowledge, it is a certification that is achievable with proper preparation.

Knowledge of IT services can be applied when developing proposals as a digital consultant.

Summary

This article has explained the job responsibilities, salary, required skills, and useful certifications for digital consultants — for those interested in pursuing this career.

In recent years, the expansion of online markets and the advancement of DX have increased demand for digital consultants. However, as deep digital expertise is required, those without a background in the field should focus on developing their skills.

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