How much does a strategy consultant cost?
In Australia in 2026, independent strategy consultants typically charge AUD $500–$1,750 per day from analyst to director level, with VP, interim C-suite and board-level experts ranging from about $1,650 to $3,650. Rates fall for longer engagements and are lower when you engage a consultant directly rather than through a firm.
What do strategy consultants charge per day? (2026 Australian benchmark)
The biggest driver of a strategy consultant's cost is seniority. The table below shows typical daily rates for an independent consultant on a standard project (around 2–3 months), engaged directly, in Australian dollars.
| Seniority level | Typical day rate (AUD) |
|---|---|
| Analyst / Associate | $500–700 |
| Senior Analyst / Specialist | $650–850 |
| Manager | $900–1,100 |
| Senior Manager / Associate Director | $1,100–1,400 |
| Director / Head of | $1,350–1,750 |
| VP / SVP | $1,650–2,250 |
| Interim C-suite (CFO / COO) | $2,050–2,850 |
| CEO / Board Director | $2,650–3,650 |
For most strategy consulting projects, the relevant range is analyst through director/VP. The interim C-suite and board-level rates apply to executive and interim-leadership engagements.
What drives a strategy consultant's rate?
Beyond seniority, three factors move the number:
- Engagement length. Longer commitments earn a discount. A manager-level consultant might run ~$1,150/day for an urgent 1–2 week job but closer to ~$925/day on a 12-month engagement.
- Direct vs. through a firm. When you engage a consultant through a firm, the firm takes a margin and adds its own on top for the client. Going direct removes that layer.
- Urgency. Immediate-start and ultra-short engagements carry a premium for the consultant clearing their schedule at short notice.
Day rate vs. total project cost
To estimate a project, multiply the day rate by the number of working days. A few worked examples (a 4-week project is roughly 20 working days):
- A manager-led 4-week project: ~20 days × ~$1,000 ≈ $20,000.
- A director-led 4-week project: ~20 days × ~$1,550 ≈ $31,000.
- An analyst-supported 2-week task: ~10 days × ~$600 ≈ $6,000.
Compare that with a traditional firm, where the same scope is priced as a fixed project fee that often starts in the low six figures — much of which is brand premium and overheads rather than additional consultant time.
Direct vs. through a consulting firm
This is where the model you choose matters most. The day rates above are for engaging a consultant directly. Route the same person through a firm and two things happen: the consultant typically nets less (the firm takes a subcontract margin), and the client pays more (the firm adds its margin on top). You end up paying more for the same person — just with a logo attached.
That gap is exactly why Pear exists. You engage vetted, ex-top-tier consultants and boutique firms directly, with transparent, market-based pricing and the lowest markups in market — so your budget goes to the work, not the brand.
Methodology
These figures are drawn from Pear's 2026 Australian independent consulting day-rate benchmark, which compiles market rate data — including published sources such as Morgan McKinley — across seniority levels, engagement lengths, and engagement types (direct vs. via a firm). Rates are indicative, quoted in AUD, and vary by sector, specialisation, and demand. Use them as a starting point, not a quote.