Best Management Consulting Firms in Austria

Consulting recruitment in Austria follows the global industry template, with local variations. Here is what to expect:

• 1

  Application with CV, cover letter, and transcripts

  MBB and Big 4 firms expect a European-format CV (Lebenslauf) with photo, a tailored cover letter, university transcripts, and A-level or equivalent school grades. Target universities include WU Vienna, TU Wien, Uni Wien, INSEAD, LBS, and top US MBAs.

• 2

  Online tests and problem-solving screen

  McKinsey uses the Solve (Imbellus) gamified assessment. BCG uses the Casey chatbot or Potential Test. Big 4 firms typically run numerical, verbal, and logical reasoning tests. Pass rates are roughly 30 to 50 percent at this stage.

• 3

  Case interviews (2 to 3 rounds)

  First round is typically 2 back-to-back case interviews with associates or managers. Final round (held in the Vienna office) includes 3 cases with partners plus a fit interview. Cases follow the standard market sizing, profitability, and market-entry frameworks. Preparing with 30 to 50 practice cases is standard.

• 4

  Offer and contract (Dienstvertrag)

  Successful candidates receive an offer within 1 to 2 weeks of final round. Austrian employment contracts specify base salary, bonus structure, probation period (usually 1 month), notice period, and Kollektivvertrag classification. See our Austrian job platforms guide for broader hiring context.

• 5

  Work visa for non-EU candidates

  Non-EU hires need a Red-White-Red Card, typically under the "Very Highly Qualified Workers" or "Skilled Workers in Shortage Occupations" category. MBB and Big 4 firms run in-house mobility teams to handle this in 6 to 8 weeks.

Consulting salaries in Austria are among the highest in the white-collar market. Figures below are gross per year, including 13th and 14th month, as of April 2026:

• MBB Analyst / Associate Consultant: EUR 75,000 to 90,000 base + 10 to 20 percent bonus (McKinsey, BCG).
• MBB Associate (post-MBA): EUR 110,000 to 140,000 base + 20 to 40 percent bonus.
• Big 4 Consultant / Senior Consultant: EUR 45,000 to 70,000 at PwC, KPMG, EY, Deloitte.
• Big 4 Manager: EUR 80,000 to 110,000 + 10 to 15 percent bonus.
• Horvath / mid-tier consultant: EUR 55,000 to 85,000 at consultant to manager level.
• Partner / Principal: EUR 250,000 to 600,000+ total compensation at MBB; EUR 180,000 to 350,000 at Big 4.

Not all Austrian consultancies hire in English. Here is the realistic picture by firm type:

• MBB (McKinsey, BCG): Fully bilingual. English is the working language, German is needed only for a subset of Austrian public-sector and Mittelstand clients. Vienna offices regularly staff expats on regional CEE/DACH teams.
• Big 4 (PwC, KPMG, EY, Deloitte): Mixed. International Tax, Transaction Services, IT Audit, and Forensics regularly operate in English. Audit, domestic Tax, and Management Consulting usually require B2 German given Austrian SME client mix.
• Horvath and mid-tier (Oliver Wyman, Roland Berger): Mostly German-speaking given DACH focus. Expect B2 or C1 German for consultant roles.
• Learning German in parallel: Many expat consultants start with English-only roles and upskill to B2 within 12 to 24 months. See our German language guide for accelerated learning paths.

Key Terms to Know

• Kollektivvertrag IT / Unternehmensberatung: The collective agreement for management consultants sets minimum salaries by experience. MBB and Big 4 pay well above the minimum.
• Dienstreise (business travel): Austrian consulting still involves heavy Monday to Thursday travel, especially for CEE project work. Expect per diems of EUR 26.40 per full day plus hotel reimbursement.
• Up-or-out: MBB firms still operate up-or-out, meaning consultants who do not progress within 2 to 3 years at each level are counselled out. Big 4 is less strict.