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Management Consulting in the US - Market Research Report (2015-2030)

Alexander Govdysh Alexander Govdysh New York, United States Last Updated: February 2025 NAICS 54161

Revenue

$404.1bn

2025

$404.1bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$XX.Xbn

Employees

2m

Businesses

955k

Wages

$XXX.Xbn

Management Consulting in the US industry analysis

Management consultants continue to benefit from a robust demand stream for strategic planning and marketing services across the business and individual markets. Providing varied services to diverse downstream markets with unique needs allows management consultants to weather changing economic conditions. Core business interests, such as strategic planning, came into extra demand when inflationary spikes in 2022 and subsequent interest rate increases in 2023 accelerated the costs of business. Major consultancy firms such as Deloitte and Accenture Plc pivoted to business strategy and financial management consultation services due to businesses’ desire to secure capital and hedge against inflation when looking to pursue a new investment or acquisition. However, while economic turbulence did curtail consultants’ rate of growth, the high service diversification and accelerating adoption of new technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), reduced manual labor dependence and strengthened service quality across competitive sectors such as finance. These trends revenue to grow an annualized 3.5% to an estimated $404.1 billion over the past five years, including an estimated 1.2% growth rate in 2025 alone.

Trends and Insights

  • Product and market variety continues to generate consistent consultant performance.Serving diverse downstream clients, such as financial and industrial companies and offering services ranging from technical to strategic support ensures revenue growth for management consultants, even during economic fluctuations.
  • Providing corporate strategy services is a strong option. These services see the greatest demand among consulting offerings and could be a key driver of business growth.
  • Consulting firms are primarily located in population centers like the Southeast and West. As business activity clusters in these areas, firms follow to provide their services more effectively.
  • Competition will tighten overall profit margins in the industry. As technology impacts clients' businesses and boosts consulting demand, companies will need to spend more on skilled workers.

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  • Market estimates from 2015-2030
  • Critical performance data and rankings
  • Detailed analysis of competitive forces and the external environment
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2015-2030)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 3.5 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $404.1bn in 2025.

Trends and Insights

Provision of diverse services for a variety of downstream clients creates steady market for consultants

  • A core factor that generated steady demand for management consultants is the wide range of services offered to clients. Diverse service offerings to a range of downstream clients, such as businesses, governments, nonprofits and individuals, insulated consultants from volatility, as these clients respond in varying degrees to macroeconomic conditions. Because of the market uncertainty fueled by inflation spikes in 2022 and the present-day elevated interest rates, clients looked to procure qualified consultants that could assist in crafting short and long-term business strategy.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Management Consulting in the US
Revenue (2015-2030)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2025-2030)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Economic stabilization will offer niche opportunities for specialized consultants

  • Economic expansion and stabilization across the business and professional services space will be critical factors that influence future revenue growth. Consultants are heavily reliant on the quantity of physical businesses available, as it provides a wider range of service opportunities. With over 83% of consultants functioning as nomeployers, growth across individual businesses, which is poised to rise 1.0% over the next five years, will accelerate the market for newcomers into the industry.

Biggest companies in the Management Consulting in the US

Company
Market Share (%)
2025
Revenue ($m)
2025
Profit ($m)
2025
Profit Margin (%)
2025
Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu
9,677.1
1,487.4
15.4
Accenture Plc
8,466.2
1,279.5
15.1
Science Applications International Corporation
4,656.6
535.5
11.5

To view the market share and analysis for all 23 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Management Consulting in the US
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Strategic mangement consulting, and consulting combined with implementation, Financial management consulting, and consulting combined with implementation and Marketing management consulting, and consulting combined with implementation. Strategic mangement consulting, and consulting combined with implementation is the largest segment of the Management Consulting in the US.

Trends and Insights

High interest rates continue to curtail strategic management consulting service demand

  • The strategic management consulting and consulting combined with implementation segment makes up the most robust revenue stream for consultants. Core services include strategic advisory in the areas of general growth strategy, leadership development, performance improvement, mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and corporate portfolio design.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

Operators in the Management Consulting industry advise businesses, nonprofits, and public-sector agencies in areas such as organizational planning design, human resources policies, practices and planning, corporate strategy, information technology strategy, marketing and sales, financial planning and budgeting, and logistics.

What's included in this industry?

Strategic management consulting, and consulting combined with implementation Financial management consulting, and consulting combined with implementation Marketing management consulting, and consulting combined with implementation Human resources management consulting, and consulting combined with implementation Operations and supply chain management consulting, and consulting combined with implementation Actuarial consulting (except for employee pensions and other benefits) IT technical design, consulting, and development services Organizational development

Companies

Deloitte Touche TohmatsuAccenture PlcScience Applications International Corporation

Purchase this report to view all 23 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTSTRATEGIC CONSULTINGHUMAN RESOURCES CONSULTINGDEFINED BENEFIT PENSION PLANDEFINED CONTRIBUTION PENSION PLAN

Industry Code

NAICS 2017

NAICS 54161 - Management Consulting in the US

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Product and market variety continues to generate consistent consultant performance.Serving diverse downstream clients, such as financial and industrial companies and offering ...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
  • Employees, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
  • Businesses, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
  • Profit, including historical (2015-2025)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Providing corporate strategy services is a strong option. These services see the greatest demand among consulting offerings and could be a key driver of business growth.

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2025
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2025
  • Major market segmentation in 2025

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

Consulting firms are primarily located in population centers like the Southeast and West. As business activity clusters in these areas, firms follow to provide their services...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each state
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2025

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each state in 2025
  • Number and share of revenue each state accounts for in 2025
  • Number and share of wages each state accounts for in 2025
  • Number and share of employees in each state in 2025

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across North America, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Competition will tighten overall profit margins in the industry. As technology impacts clients' businesses and boosts consulting demand, companies will need to spend more on ...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2020-2025
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

Major companies offer various services beyond management consulting, allowing them to outcompete smaller firms, particularly with larger clients. Major companies such as Delo...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2021 through 2025
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2025
  • Overview of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
  • Overview of Accenture Plc's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
  • Overview of Science Applications International Corporation's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
  • Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for 20 additional companies

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Accenture Plc, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Science Applications International Corporation, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description, key data and performance trends for 20 additional companies

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

Minimal barriers to entry spur competition for skilled employees in labor-intensive industries. With no significant obstacles to starting a business, the race for seasoned, h...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2015-2030) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2015-2030) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Wage costs will continue to impact profit. Although technology will enhance service quality, consulting remains labor-intensive, making wage expenses the most significant fac...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2025
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2025
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Industry Multiples (2018-2023)
  • Industry Tax Structure (2018-2023)
  • Income Statement (2018-2023)
  • Balance Sheet (2018-2023)
  • Liquidity Ratios (2018-2023)
  • Coverage Ratios (2018-2023)
  • Leverage Ratios  (2018-2023)
  • Operating Ratios (2018-2023)
  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2015-2030)
  • Revenue per Employee (2015-2030)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2015-2030)
  • Employees per Establishment (2015-2030)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2015-2030)
  • Average Wage (2015-2030)
  • Wages/Revenue (2015-2030)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2015-2030)
  • IVA/Revenue (2015-2030)
  • Imports/Demand (2015-2030)
  • Exports/Revenue (2015-2030)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2015-2030)
  • IVA (2015-2030)
  • Establishments (2015-2030)
  • Enterprises (2015-2030)
  • Employment (2015-2030)
  • Exports (2015-2030)
  • Imports (2015-2030)
  • Wages (2015-2030)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Management Consulting in the US industry in United States in 2025?

The market size of the Management Consulting in the US industry in United States is $404.1bn in 2025.

How many businesses are there in the Management Consulting in the US industry in 2025?

There are 955k businesses in the Management Consulting in the US industry in United States, which has grown at a CAGR of 1.2 % between 2020 and 2025.

Has the Management Consulting in the US industry in United States grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Management Consulting in the US industry in United States has been growing at a CAGR of 3.5 % between 2020 and 2025.

What is the forecast growth of the Management Consulting in the US industry in United States over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Management Consulting in the US industry in United States is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Management Consulting in the US market in United States?

The biggest companies operating in the Management Consulting market in United States are Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, Accenture Plc and Science Applications International Corporation

What does the Management Consulting in the US in United States include?

Strategic management consulting, and consulting combined with implementation and Financial management consulting, and consulting combined with implementation are part of the Management Consulting in the US industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Management Consulting in the US in United States?

The company holding the most market share in United States is Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu.

How competitive is the Management Consulting in the US industry in United States?

The level of competition is high and increasing in the Management Consulting in the US industry in United States.

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Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in the US include: 

  • US Census Bureau
  • US Bureau of Labor Statistics
  • US International Trade Commission

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

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