Management, scientific, marketing & technical consultant earnings

Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Occupations Part I

Most management, scientific, and technical consulting services are fairly specialized; still, the industry comprises a variety of occupations (table 2). Some of these occupations, such as environmental engineers, are specific to only one segment of the industry, whereas others, such as secretaries and administrative assistants, can be found throughout the industry.

Table 2. Employment of wage and salary workers in management, scientific, and technical consulting services by occupation, 2004 and projected change, 2004-14. (Employment in thousands)

Occupation	Employment, 2004		Percent change
	Number	Percent	2004-14
Total, all occupations	779	100.00	60.5
Management, business, and financial occupations	258	33.1	67.6
Top executives	34	4.4	64.8
Marketing and sales managers	8	1.1	77.2
Human resources, training, and labor relations specialists	27	3.5	69.4
Management analysts	95	12.3	66.2
Accountants and auditors	15	2.0	65.6
Financial analysts and advisors	7	0.9	57.0
Professional and related occupations	202	25.9	67.3
Computer programmers	9	1.2	35.6
Computer software engineers	23	2.9	98.0
Computer support specialists	9	1.2	66.2
Computer systems analysts	13	1.6	82.9
Engineers	26	3.4	66.8
Drafters, engineering, and mapping technicians	7	0.9	67.4
Environmental scientists and specialists, including health	11	1.5	16.9
Market research analysts	13	1.7	66.2
Environmental science and protection technicians, including health	6	0.7	54.4
Designers	7	0.9	65.0
Service occupations	15	1.9	62.9
Sales and related occupations	55	7.1	55.8
Sales representatives, services	16	2.0	64.1
Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing	9	1.2	66.2
Telemarketers	13	1.7	30.1
Office and administrative support occupations	205	26.3	46.1
Supervisors, office and administrative support workers	14	1.7	50.7
Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks	18	2.3	49.6
Customer service representatives	27	3.4	69.6
Secretaries and administrative assistants	52	6.7	41.2
Data entry and information processing workers	10	1.3	22.9
Office clerks, general	36	4.7	48.0
Transportation and material moving occupations	20	2.6	57.7

Note: May not add to totals due to omission of occupations with small employment

Compared with other industries, the management, scientific, and technical consulting services industry has a relatively high proportion of highly educated workers. About 42 percent have a bachelor's degree, compared with 20 percent of workers throughout the economy. Around 30 percent have a master's or higher degree, compared with 10 percent of workers throughout the economy. Certain jobs may have stringent entry requirements. For example, some management consulting firms prefer to hire only workers who have a master's degree in business administration (MBA). Other positions can be attained only after many years of related experience.

In management, scientific, and technical consulting services, workers in management and business and financial operations occupations, and in professional and related occupations, combined make up 59 percent of employment. These same occupational groups account for about 30 percent of workers across the entire economy. These groups of workers comprise a disproportionate share of jobs in the industry, because workers with education and experience in business management and workers with scientific, engineering, and other technical backgrounds conduct most of the consulting work in this industry.

Top executives, the largest managerial occupation in the industry, includes both the highest-level managers—such as chief executive officers and vice presidents—and many top managers with diverse duties. In consulting firms, top executives with partial ownership and profit-sharing privileges might be referred to as partners.

Part II

Source:

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Career Guide to Industries, 2006-07 Edition, Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco/cg/cgs037.htm (visited November 16, 2006).