Author: Taylor Warfield, Former Bain Manager and interviewer

Last Updated: March 16, 2026

Big four consulting firms are Deloitte, PwC, EY, and KPMG. These four professional services giants generated a combined $219 billion in revenue in 2025 and employ over 1.5 million people across more than 150 countries.

 

This guide covers their consulting practices, salaries at every level, the interview process, career paths, exit opportunities, and how Big Four consulting compares to MBB.

 

But first, a quick heads up:

 

The Big Four and other top consulting firms accept less than 1% of applicants each year. If you want to triple your chances of landing interviews and 8x your chances of passing them, watch my free 40-minute training.

 

Who Are the Big Four Consulting Firms?

 

The Big Four are the four largest professional services organizations in the world. Originally founded as accounting firms in the 1800s, they have expanded into massive global operations offering consulting, tax, audit, and advisory services.

 

Together, the Big Four generated $219 billion in revenue in 2025, according to their annual financial reports. They employ a combined 1.5 million professionals across more than 150 countries.

 

Here is a quick overview of each firm.

 

Firm	FY2025 Revenue	Employees	Headquarters	Founded	Strategy Arm
Deloitte	$70.5B	~470,000	London, UK	1845	Monitor Deloitte
PwC	$56.9B	~364,000	London, UK	1998*	Strategy&
EY	$53.2B	~406,000	London, UK	1989*	EY-Parthenon
KPMG	$39.8B	~276,000	Amstelveen, NL	1987*	Global Strategy Group

 

*PwC, EY, and KPMG were formed through mergers of firms dating back to the mid-1800s.

 

Deloitte

 

Deloitte is the largest of the Big Four with $70.5 billion in FY2025 revenue and roughly 470,000 employees. The firm is headquartered in London and operates in more than 150 countries.

 

Deloitte was founded by William Welch Deloitte in 1845. It grew through several major mergers, including with Haskins & Sells in 1972 and Touche Ross in 1989. In 2013, Deloitte acquired Monitor Group, a prominent strategy consulting firm, to form Monitor Deloitte.

 

Deloitte recorded 4.8% revenue growth in FY2025, according to its annual report. Its consulting services span strategy, technology, human capital, and operations, making it the largest consulting practice among the Big Four. To learn more about interviewing at Deloitte, check out our Deloitte case interview prep guide.

 

PwC

 

PwC is the second largest Big Four firm with $56.9 billion in FY2025 revenue and approximately 364,000 employees. It is headquartered in London.

 

PwC was created in 1998 through the merger of Price Waterhouse (founded 1849) and Coopers & Lybrand (founded 1854). PwC acquired Booz & Company in 2014, which became Strategy&, its dedicated strategy consulting arm.

 

PwC reduced its global headcount by 5,600 in FY2025, according to its annual report. Its consulting practice focuses on strategy, digital transformation, risk management, and deals advisory. For interview preparation, see our PwC Strategy& case interview guide.

 

EY

 

EY is the third largest of the Big Four with $53.2 billion in FY2025 revenue and about 406,000 employees. It is headquartered in London.

 

EY was formed in 1989 through the merger of Ernst & Whinney and Arthur Young & Co. In 2014, EY acquired the Parthenon Group to strengthen its strategy consulting capabilities, forming EY-Parthenon.

 

EY saw a 5.2% increase in consulting revenue and a 30% rise in AI-related service revenues in FY2025, according to its annual report. EY-Parthenon now has over 9,000 strategy consultants worldwide, making it the largest Big Four strategy practice. For more details, see our EY-Parthenon case interview guide.

 

KPMG

 

KPMG is the smallest of the Big Four with $39.8 billion in FY2025 revenue and roughly 276,000 employees. It is the only Big Four firm not headquartered in London, operating instead from Amstelveen, Netherlands.

 

KPMG was created in 1987 through the merger of KMG (Klynveld Main Goerdeler) and Peat Marwick. Unlike its peers, KPMG built its strategy consulting practice in-house through the Global Strategy Group rather than acquiring an established firm.

 

KPMG recorded 5.1% revenue growth in FY2025, according to its annual report. In 2025, KPMG became the first of the Big Four to set up a legal division in the United States. For interview tips, see our KPMG case interview prep guide.

 

What Consulting Services Do the Big Four Offer?

 

The Big Four offer far more than traditional accounting and auditing. Each firm provides four main categories of professional services: audit and assurance, tax, consulting, and advisory.

 

For candidates interested in management consulting, it is important to understand that "consulting" at the Big Four covers a wide range of work. Not all of it resembles the strategy consulting done at McKinsey, BCG, and Bain.

 

What Types of Consulting Do the Big Four Do?

 

Big Four consulting and advisory services generally fall into four categories:

 

• Strategy consulting: High-level corporate strategy, growth planning, and market entry decisions. This is the most similar to MBB work but makes up a relatively small share of Big Four consulting revenue.

 

• Implementation and transformation consulting: Helping companies execute strategies, restructure operations, or manage large-scale organizational change. This is the largest segment of Big Four consulting by revenue.

 

• Technology consulting: Cloud migration, cybersecurity, data analytics, and AI implementation. This is the fastest-growing segment, with EY reporting a 30% increase in AI-related revenues in FY2025 alone.

 

• Transaction advisory: Supporting M&A deals, due diligence, valuations, and restructuring. The Big Four blend their deep accounting expertise with consulting skills for this work.

 

Which Big Four Groups Do Strategy Consulting?

 

If you want to do pure strategy consulting at the Big Four, target these specific groups:

 

• Monitor Deloitte (at Deloitte)

 

• Strategy& (at PwC)

 

• EY-Parthenon (at EY)

 

• KPMG Global Strategy Group (at KPMG)

 

These strategy arms operate like firms within a firm. They recruit separately, run their own case interview processes, and work on projects similar to those at MBB firms.

 

In my experience coaching candidates, EY-Parthenon is the largest and most established of these groups with over 9,000 consultants globally. Strategy& is known for corporate strategy and business model transformation. Monitor Deloitte has strengths in competitive strategy and innovation. KPMG's Global Strategy Group is the newest and smallest, having been built in-house starting in 2019.

 

If you are preparing for case interviews at any of these strategy arms, my case interview course walks you through the exact frameworks and strategies that work for Big Four strategy interviews.

 

How Do the Big Four Compare to MBB?

 

MBB stands for McKinsey, BCG, and Bain. While the Big Four are larger by total revenue and headcount, MBB firms are widely considered more prestigious for pure strategy consulting.

 

Having worked at Bain and coached hundreds of candidates targeting both MBB and the Big Four, here are the key differences I see between these two groups.

 

Category	Big Four Consulting	MBB
Primary focus	Implementation, technology, and advisory (with some strategy)	Pure strategy consulting
Typical clients	Fortune 500 to mid-market companies, middle management	Fortune 500, C-suite executives, governments
Project length	6 months to several years	3 to 6 months
Entry-level salary	$85,000 to $100,000	$110,000 to $120,000
Time to partner	~13 to 17 years	~10 to 12 years
Specialization	Specialize early (within 1 to 2 years)	Stay generalist for many years
Scope of services	Strategy + implementation + technology + tax + audit	Strategy and operations only
Work-life balance	Generally better (50 to 60 hours/week)	More demanding (60 to 80 hours/week)

 

What Is the Biggest Difference Between Big Four and MBB?

 

The biggest difference is the type of work. MBB firms are hired almost exclusively for high-level strategy: should a company enter a new market, acquire a competitor, or restructure its operations? The Big Four, outside of their dedicated strategy arms, focus more on helping companies execute and implement those decisions.

 

This means Big Four consultants often work with middle management on longer-term projects. MBB consultants typically work directly with C-suite executives on shorter, high-stakes engagements.

 

Do the Big Four Pay Less Than MBB?

 

Yes. At every career level, Big Four consulting salaries are lower than MBB salaries. According to Glassdoor data, entry-level Big Four consultants earn roughly $85,000 to $100,000 in base salary, while MBB associates start at $110,000 to $120,000.

 

The gap widens at senior levels. Big Four partners typically earn $250,000 to $1 million per year, while MBB partners can earn $1 million to $5 million or more. However, Big Four salaries are still very competitive compared to most other industries.

 

Is the Big Four a Good Alternative to MBB?

 

Absolutely, especially if you are interested in technology consulting, implementation work, or a more balanced lifestyle. The Big Four strategy arms (EY-Parthenon, Strategy&, Monitor Deloitte) also offer strategy work that is increasingly competitive with MBB.

 

In my experience, the talent gap between the Big Four strategy practices and MBB has narrowed significantly over the past decade. Several former MBB partners now lead Big Four strategy teams, and the quality of client work has improved.

 

What Are Big Four Consulting Salaries?

 

Big Four consulting salaries are competitive and increase significantly with seniority. According to Glassdoor data and recent compensation surveys, consulting roles consistently pay the highest among Big Four service lines, above audit, tax, and advisory.

 

Salary varies more by function and office location than by which specific Big Four firm you join. A consulting associate in New York will generally out-earn an audit associate in Dallas, regardless of the firm.

 

Here are the typical salary ranges for Big Four consulting roles in the United States.

 

Level	Years Exp.	Base Salary	Total Comp (incl. bonus)
Analyst / Associate	0 to 2	$85,000 to $100,000	$95,000 to $115,000
Consultant / Sr. Associate	2 to 4	$100,000 to $130,000	$115,000 to $155,000
Manager	4 to 7	$140,000 to $180,000	$165,000 to $220,000
Senior Manager / Director	7 to 12	$190,000 to $300,000	$230,000 to $390,000
Partner / Managing Director	13+	$250,000 to $700,000+	$400,000 to $5,000,000+

 

These figures are U.S. averages based on Glassdoor data and compensation surveys. Salaries in cities like New York and San Francisco can be 10% to 20% higher due to cost-of-living adjustments.

 

In addition to base salary, Big Four consultants receive performance bonuses (typically 10% to 20% of base), signing bonuses for MBA hires, and benefits including 401(k) matching, health insurance, and tuition reimbursement.

 

What Are the Career Levels at Big Four Consulting Firms?

 

Big Four consulting firms follow a structured career progression with clear levels. Titles vary slightly by firm, but the general path from entry level to partner takes approximately 13 to 17 years.

 

Here is the typical career ladder:

 

• Analyst / Associate (0 to 2 years): Entry-level role for undergraduates. You will support project teams by gathering data, building models, and preparing presentations.

 

• Consultant / Senior Associate (2 to 4 years): Entry point for MBA graduates. You own workstreams, manage analyses, and present findings to clients.

 

• Manager (4 to 7 years): You lead project teams, manage client relationships day to day, and oversee the quality of deliverables.

 

• Senior Manager / Director (7 to 12 years): You manage multiple projects simultaneously, develop client relationships, and start contributing to business development.

 

• Partner / Managing Director (13+ years): You own major client accounts, drive revenue growth, and shape the firm's strategic direction. Partners share in the firm's profits and can earn well into seven figures.

 

Career progression at the Big Four is slower than at MBB, where the path from entry level to partner typically takes about 10 to 12 years. However, the Big Four's larger size means there are more partner slots available, and the promotion process can feel less competitive.

 

What Is the Big Four Consulting Interview Process?

 

The Big Four consulting interview process typically involves four to five stages and takes two to eight weeks from application to offer. The exact process varies by firm, office, and role, but the general structure is consistent.

 

Step 1: Online Application

 

Submit your resume, cover letter, and transcripts through the firm's online portal. For campus recruiting, this often starts in September for the following year's positions. Experienced hires can apply year-round through LinkedIn or the firm's careers page.

 

Big Four firms tend to screen heavily on GPA (typically 3.3 to 3.5 minimum) and university prestige, though they are increasingly flexible on both.

 

If your resume is not landing interviews, my resume review service includes unlimited revisions with a 24-hour turnaround to help you stand out.

 

Step 2: Online Assessment

 

Most Big Four firms require candidates to complete an online assessment. This typically includes numerical reasoning, verbal reasoning, logical reasoning, and sometimes a personality or situational judgment test. The assessment usually takes 30 to 60 minutes.

 

Step 3: Behavioral Interviews

 

Behavioral or "fit" interviews assess whether you are a good cultural match. Interviewers will ask about your motivations ("Why consulting?"), leadership experiences, teamwork examples, and how you handle challenges.

 

Common questions include: Tell me about yourself. Why do you want to work at this firm? Describe a time you led a team through a difficult situation.

 

If you are short on prep time, my fit interview course covers 98% of the questions you could be asked in about 3 hours.

 

Step 4: Case Interviews

 

For consulting roles (especially at the strategy arms), you will face one or more case interviews. The format is the same as at MBB: you are given a business problem and asked to develop a structured approach to solving it.

 

Some Big Four firms also use written case studies or group case exercises where candidates work together to analyze a packet of information and present a recommendation. According to recruiting reports, roughly 50% to 60% of candidates are eliminated at the case interview stage.

 

Step 5: Final Round

 

The final round typically involves interviews with senior leaders, such as Senior Managers, Directors, or Partners. Some firms conduct a "Super Day" where candidates complete all final-round interviews in a single day.

 

Final-round interviews often combine another case interview with deeper behavioral questions. Interviewers at this stage are assessing whether they would feel comfortable putting you in front of a client.

 

What Are the Exit Opportunities After Big Four Consulting?

 

Working at a Big Four firm opens doors to many career paths. The brand recognition and training you receive make you attractive to employers across industries.

 

The most common exit opportunities after Big Four consulting include:

 

• Corporate strategy roles: Many Fortune 500 companies hire former Big Four consultants for internal strategy, operations, and finance positions. These roles often come with better work-life balance and competitive pay.

 

• Industry specialist roles: If you specialized during your time at the Big Four, you can transition into a leadership role in that industry. For example, a healthcare consultant might move into hospital administration or pharma strategy.

 

• MBA programs: Big Four consulting experience strengthens MBA applications significantly. Some Big Four firms even sponsor MBA degrees for top performers after 2 to 3 years.

 

• Private equity and venture capital: Exit opportunities in PE and VC are more common from MBB, but Big Four strategy arm consultants (especially from EY-Parthenon and Strategy&) increasingly move into these roles.

 

• Other consulting firms: It is relatively common to move from Big Four consulting to MBB or Tier 2 firms like Oliver Wyman or Roland Berger, especially after gaining 2 to 4 years of experience.

 

In my experience, exit opportunities are strongest for consultants who worked in the Big Four strategy arms. Consultants in implementation or technology roles tend to exit into industry roles in their area of specialization rather than into finance or PE.

 

Is Big Four Consulting Worth It?

 

Big Four consulting is worth it for most candidates, but whether it is the right fit depends on your goals. Here is how I think about it after years of working in consulting and coaching hundreds of candidates.

 

What Are the Pros of Big Four Consulting?

 

• Strong brand recognition: Having Deloitte, PwC, EY, or KPMG on your resume carries significant weight with future employers, MBA admissions, and recruiters.

 

• Better work-life balance than MBB: Big Four consultants typically work 50 to 60 hours per week, compared to 60 to 80 at MBB. Travel requirements can also be lighter.

 

• Broader range of work: The Big Four's size and scope mean you can explore strategy, technology, deals, risk, and more without changing firms.

 

• Competitive compensation: While lower than MBB, Big Four consulting salaries still place you in the top 10% of earners for most age groups.

 

• Global mobility: With offices in 150+ countries, the Big Four make international transfers more accessible than almost any other employer.

 

What Are the Cons of Big Four Consulting?

 

• Lower prestige than MBB: For pure strategy roles, MBB firms still carry more weight on a resume. This matters most for PE and VC exits.

 

• Early specialization: You will likely specialize in an industry or service line within 1 to 2 years, which limits the variety of your work compared to MBB generalist roles.

 

• Slower career progression: The path to partner takes 13 to 17 years at the Big Four versus 10 to 12 at MBB.

 

• More implementation-focused: Unless you are in one of the dedicated strategy arms, much of the consulting work involves execution rather than high-level strategic thinking.

 

Who Should Target Big Four Consulting?

 

Big Four consulting is an excellent fit if you want strong training, a recognizable brand, and more balance than MBB offers. It is also ideal if you are interested in technology consulting, digital transformation, or a specific industry where the Big Four has deep expertise.

 

If your top priority is maximum prestige, the fastest path to partner, or private equity exits, MBB is the better target. But for most candidates, the Big Four offers a rewarding career with excellent long-term prospects.

 

If you want personalized guidance on which firms to target and how to prepare, my 1-on-1 coaching helps you build a strategy tailored to your background and goals.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

Is Big Four Consulting Prestigious?

 

Yes, Big Four consulting is considered prestigious. These firms serve Fortune 500 companies globally, have rigorous hiring processes, and carry strong brand recognition. While MBB firms rank higher in pure strategy consulting prestige, the Big Four are widely respected and open doors to excellent career opportunities.

 

What GPA Do You Need for Big Four Consulting?

 

Most Big Four firms look for a GPA of 3.3 to 3.5 or above, though this varies by office and role. Strategy arms like EY-Parthenon and Strategy& tend to be more selective, sometimes expecting a 3.5 or higher. A strong GPA is important, but leadership experience, relevant internships, and networking can offset a slightly lower number.

 

Can You Move from Big Four to MBB?

 

Yes, it is possible to move from Big Four consulting to MBB. This transition is most common after 2 to 4 years of experience, especially for consultants coming from the Big Four strategy arms. You will need to go through the standard MBB interview process, including case interviews. Having strong performance reviews and a track record of strategy work strengthens your candidacy.

 

What Is the Acceptance Rate at Big Four Firms?

 

Acceptance rates at Big Four consulting firms are estimated to be between 2% and 5%, depending on the firm, office, and role. Strategy arms like EY-Parthenon and Strategy& are more selective, with acceptance rates closer to 1% to 3%. For comparison, MBB firms typically accept less than 1% of applicants.

 

How Long Do People Stay at Big Four Consulting Firms?

 

The average tenure at a Big Four consulting firm is 2 to 4 years for junior consultants. Many people leave after reaching the Manager or Senior Manager level to pursue industry roles, MBA programs, or other consulting firms. Those who stay long-term and make partner typically have 13 to 17 years of experience.

 

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