How much PTO do strategy consultants take?

In a new addition to our 13^th annual strategy consulting compensation study, our team conducted a deep dive into how much paid time off (PTO) strategy consultants took, on average, during 2022.

In slide 10 of our 2023 Strategy Consulting Compensation Study, we see that over a quarter of survey respondents took 10 days or less of PTO last year, which we found surprising given the amount of PTO most firms allot their consultants. We believe there are a few factors specific to the 2022 market that contributed to this trend.

Since consultants had lower travel requirements last year and were able to work remotely, they were able to enjoy a better work-life balance. Also, 2022 was another banner year for consulting firms. Several of the top firms were sold out, teams were stretched and there were simply fewer opportunities to take PTO.

Looking ahead to 2023, we anticipate a reversal of these trends and expect the number of consultants taking less than two weeks of PTO to decrease. As travel picks up and we return to a slightly more in-office culture, we believe the need to take PTO will be critical for consultants to truly unplug. Also, as the economy / job market finally cools off a little after a white-hot three years, we anticipate the case load for some consultants will lighten and there will simply be more opportunities to take PTO.

If you’re interested in exploring more data from current strategy consultants, be sure to download our free 2023 Strategy Consulting Compensation Study. Also, subscribe to our monthly Strategy Newsletter for more insights and to stay updated on upcoming compensation studies and offer reports.

If you’re interested in learning more about our recruiting capabilities in the strategy space, please reach out to any member of our Strategy Practice.