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Do PA Consulting pay well?

AI Industry-Specific Solutions > AI for Professional Services7 min read

Key Facts

  • PA Consulting publishes annual gender and ethnicity pay gap reports to promote inclusion and transparency.
  • Starting salaries for management consultants remained flat in 2025, marking only the third year of no increase in 17 years.
  • Only 5-10% of consultants achieve the maximum performance bonus annually, according to industry data.
  • Consultant utilization increased in 2024 and is projected to rise further in 2025 due to AI and remote efficiencies.
  • U.S. median full-time salaries range from $50K in Mississippi to $103K in Washington D.C., though not consulting-specific.
  • PA Consulting integrates disability, neurodiversity, and mental health initiatives into its inclusion strategy for 2025.
  • AI-driven productivity gains are enabling consulting firms to do more with less, impacting salary growth trends.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do PA Consulting pay well compared to other management consulting firms?
Direct salary data for PA Consulting is not available in the sources, but broader industry trends show flat starting salaries in 2025 due to AI-driven productivity gains. While U.S. consultant salaries generally outpace international peers, specific comparisons for PA Consulting versus competitors are not provided.
Why isn’t there clear salary information for PA Consulting online?
Salary aggregation sites like Glassdoor have limited data due to access blocks (CAPTCHA restrictions), and PA Consulting only publishes transparency reports on gender and ethnicity pay gaps—not actual salary figures—aligning with UK voluntary reporting frameworks.
Is pay transparency at PA Consulting a sign of fair compensation?
PA Consulting emphasizes pay transparency by publishing annual gender and ethnicity pay gap reports, which signals a commitment to equity and inclusion. However, the absence of specific salary ranges means transparency does not confirm whether compensation is competitive.
Are consulting salaries going up or down in 2025?
Starting salaries for management consultants remained flat in 2025 compared to 2024—the third such year in 17 years—driven by higher productivity from AI and remote work, with projected increases not expected until 2026.
Can AI really improve profitability in consulting firms without raising salaries?
Yes, firms are achieving 'more with less' by using AI to increase consultant utilization and output per team, reducing the need for higher pay to attract talent. Automation of tasks like scheduling and documentation supports this efficiency, though specific ROI metrics were not found in sources.
What’s the difference between using off-the-shelf tools and building custom AI for consulting operations?
Off-the-shelf tools often fail due to poor integration and lack of compliance handling, while custom AI systems—like those AIQ Labs builds—offer owned, scalable solutions that automate client onboarding, scheduling, and communication with better security and long-term value.

Turn Operational Friction into Strategic Advantage

The real question isn’t whether PA consulting firms pay well—it’s whether their operations are optimized to maximize value. Manual client onboarding, scheduling inefficiencies, and compliance-heavy documentation drain billable hours and limit scalability, creating hidden costs that erode profitability. AIQ Labs addresses these challenges with tailored AI solutions: a compliance-aware intake workflow, an intelligent scheduling and follow-up engine, and a personalized client communication system powered by firm-specific knowledge. Unlike off-the-shelf tools that fail to integrate or comply, AIQ Labs builds owned, production-ready AI systems—like our in-house platforms Agentive AIQ and Briefsy—that evolve with your firm. These aren’t plug-ins; they’re strategic assets delivering 20–40 hours saved weekly, payback in 30–60 days, and measurable gains in client satisfaction. The path forward starts with auditing your current tool stack, identifying repetitive workflows, and assessing compliance risks. To determine where AI can deliver the fastest, most sustainable impact, request a free AI audit from AIQ Labs—and begin transforming fragmented tools into a unified, intelligent practice.

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