Consultants at McKinsey, BCG, and Bain utilize the MECE concept to define a method that helps them to think through problems and organize information. It helps them to be efficient and clear in their problem-solving process. Consequently, candidates that go through the case interview process with the top firms need to demonstrate they are able…
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The biggest competitors for McKinsey, BCG, and Bain when it comes to hiring are not tier-2 consulting firms but top-tier investment banks such as Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, and Morgan Stanley (besides big tech companies). Many applicants I work with consider going into top-tier consulting or investment banking. In this article, I want to break…
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Updated May 2026 · By Florian Smeritschnig, Former McKinsey Senior Consultant Bain & Company has six career levels: Associate Consultant, Consultant, Manager, Associate Partner, Partner, and Senior Partner. A first-year Associate Consultant in the US earns roughly $140,000 total compensation in 2026, climbing to $230,000 as a post-MBA Consultant, $360,000 as an Associate Partner, and…
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Updated May 2026 · By Florian Smeritschnig, Former McKinsey Senior Consultant A first-year BCG Associate in the US earns roughly $140,000 total compensation in 2026, climbing to $240,000 as a post-MBA Consultant, $410,000 as a Principal, and $500,000 to $1.2 million+ at the Partner and Senior Partner levels. Below is the full Boston Consulting Group…
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Updated May 2026 · By Florian Smeritschnig, Former McKinsey Senior Consultant A first-year Business Analyst at McKinsey & Company in the US earns roughly $140,000 total compensation in 2026, climbing to $245,000 as a post-MBA Associate, $290,000 as an Engagement Manager, $420,000 as an Associate Partner, and $500,000 to $1.2 million+ at the Partner and…
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Florian spent five years at McKinsey as a Senior Consultant and is a highly experienced consulting interviewer and problem-solving coach. Having conducted interviews with hundreds of candidates, he understands exactly what top-tier firms look for in successful applicants.
He founded StrategyCase.com to make top consulting careers more accessible by providing tailored, up-to-date insights into the recruiting process. Recognized as the most successful case and fit interview coach, Florian has helped his clients secure 700+ offers at MBB, Tier-2 firms, Big 4 consulting divisions, in-house consultancies, and boutique firms over the past four years.
He is the author of “The 1%: Conquer Your Consulting Case Interview,” “The 1%: Case Interview Workbook,” and “Consulting Career Secrets”, all available on Amazon.
