Rankings derived from survey of consultants recognize leading firms around the globe
NEW YORK, Feb. 12, 2025 -- Vault, the leader in data-driven employer rankings and verified employee reviews, today released its 2025 rankings of the Best Consulting Firms to Work For in the North America, Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA), and Asia-Pacific (APAC) regions. For each region, Vault ranks the Best Overall Consulting Firms to Work For, Most Prestigious Consulting Firms, Best Consulting Firms by Practice Area, and Best Consulting Firms by Employment Factor.
According to Eric Stutzke, SVP & General Manager of Vault, "Our consulting rankings are unique in that they allow readers to compare firms within specific regions across dozens of categories. The global business landscape is rapidly changing, and we saw some notable changes in the rankings this year, including at the top of the Best Overall Consulting Firm to Work For in North America list."
To obtain data for the rankings, Vault distributed a survey in the fall of 2024. Approximately 12,000 verified consulting professionals at all levels from around the world participated. Survey respondents rated their firms across many categories, including compensation, culture, diversity, hours, work/life balance, leadership, and innovation. Consulting professionals were also asked to rate firms, excluding their own, based on perceived prestige.
Key findings from Vault's survey of consultants and rankings include:
Boston Consulting Group (BCG) is the Best Overall Consulting Firm to Work For in North America. BCG edged out last year's top-ranked firm in North America, Bain & Company. BCG, which has 32,000 employees globally, has North American offices in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. It is the only North American firm that appears in the top 10 of every quality of life (employment factor) category. In all three regions, BCG is #2 in prestige, behind McKinsey & Company.
Bain & Company is the Best Overall Consulting Firm to Work For in EMEA. Bain & Company, which is headquartered in Boston, has offices in 26 cities in the EMEA region. In all three regions, Bain & Company is the top firm in both Formal Training and Informal Training. The #2 EMEA firm, Roland Berger, is headquartered in Munich.
Bain & Company is also the Best Overall Consulting Firm to Work For in APAC. Bain & Company, which has offices in 17 APAC cities, also took the top spot in APAC. The #2 APAC firm is Kearney, which has had a presence in the region since 1972, when the Chicago-based firm opened an office in Tokyo.
Firm culture, type of work, and compensation are important considerations for consultants when choosing an employer. In all three regions, firm culture is the top factor. In North America and EMEA, type of work is an extremely close #2 behind firm culture. In APAC, compensation is the #2 factor.
Consultants across the globe obtained their education at a concentrated number of highly ranked colleges and universities. 78% of midlevel and senior consultants in Vault's survey have an advanced degree, most often a master's degree or MBA. The most popular undergraduate majors among consultants are Economics and Business Administration.
Boutique firms can offer focused work and early exposure to firm leadership and clients. Aminad Consulting, a small firm in Arlington, VA that serves federal clients, is the top firm in North America in several categories including Firm Culture, Relationships with Supervisors, Leadership, and Work-Life Balance. Chicago-based leadership advisory boutique ghSMART took the top spot in North America for Level of Challenge and Interaction with Clients.
The Top 10 Consulting Firms to Work For in North America for 2025:
- Boston Consulting Group
- Bain & Company
- Alvarez & Marsal
- Putnam
- Roland Berger
- ghSMART
- Kearney
- Analysis Group
- Cornerstone Research
- Bates White Economic Consulting
The Top 10 Consulting Firms to Work For in EMEA for 2025:
- Bain & Company
- Roland Berger
- Oliver Wyman
- OC&C Strategy Consultants
- Kearney
- Alvarez & Marsal
- Strategy&, Part of the PwC Network
- Arthur D. Little
- Stax
- hy-the Axel Springer Consulting Group
The Top 10 Consulting Firms to Work For in APAC for 2025:
- Bain & Company
- Kearney
- Roland Berger
- Oliver Wyman
- Arthur D. Little
- L.E.K. Consulting
- Alvarez & Marsal
- Kmind
- BPM Advisory
- Viscadia
View all the Vault Consulting Rankings.
About Vault
Vault is the leader in career research, exploration and discovery for professionals and early talent. Through our proprietary data-driven Vault rankings, verified employee and intern reviews, and an extensive network of campuses and universities, we are the trusted provider of career intelligence solutions for emerging talent for over two decades. Our exclusive company rankings, in-depth employer profiles, and valuable employee/intern reviews encompass a wide range of industries, including Law, Banking, Accounting, Consulting, and the top Internship programs.
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