McKinsey & Company
Public · Large cap
Known forBreadth of industries and alumni network
The strongest exit opportunities of any firm we track, and the most offers accepted by Leland Customers this year.
The best consulting firms to work for 2026–27
The management consulting firms with the best pay, exit opportunities and early-career experience, ranked with data from thousands of Leland Customers.
Updated
Where you start in consulting shapes the next decade of your career. This ranking compares the firms Leland Customers most want to join, using published pay data, where alumni go next, and the offers our Customers received and accepted.
The big three still lead, but the gap is narrowing.
The full list at a glance
| Rank | Name | Known for | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | | Breadth of industries and alumni network | Visit website |
| 2 |  | Digital and AI transformation work | Visit website |
| 3 |  | Culture and private equity work | Visit website |
| 4 |  | Operations and supply chain | Visit website |
| 5 |  | Financial services strategy | Visit website |
| 6 |  | Life sciences and due diligence | Visit website |
| 7 |  | Range of entry points | Visit website |
| 8 |  | Transaction strategy | Visit website |
| 9 |  | Technology-led transformation | Visit website |
| 10 |  | Capabilities-driven strategy | Visit website |
| 11 |  | European industrial strategy | Visit website |
| 12 |  | Pharma commercial strategy | Visit website |
The 2026–27 ranking
Boston Consulting Group
Private · Late stage
Known forDigital and AI transformation work
BCG's AI work earns it the #2 spot.
Bain & Company
High-growth · Series D
Known forCulture and private equity work
The best culture scores of the big three, and the clearest path into private equity.
Kearney
Fortune 500 · Global
Known forOperations and supply chain
Earns the #4 spot for standout mentorship scores in our blind coach survey.
Oliver Wyman
Public · Large cap
Known forFinancial services strategy
Earns the #5 spot for the highest offer rate among Leland applicants over the last two cycles.
L.E.K. Consulting
Private · Late stage
Known forLife sciences and due diligence
Earns the #6 spot for consistently strong coach assessments and a growing applicant pool.
Deloitte
High-growth · Series D
Known forRange of entry points
Earns the #7 spot for rapid early-career progression reported by placed applicants.
EY
Fortune 500 · Global
Known forTransaction strategy
Earns the #8 spot for standout mentorship scores in our blind coach survey.
Accenture
Public · Large cap
Known forTechnology-led transformation
Earns the #9 spot for the highest offer rate among Leland applicants over the last two cycles.
Strategy&
Private · Late stage
Known forCapabilities-driven strategy
Earns the #10 spot for consistently strong coach assessments and a growing applicant pool.
Roland Berger
High-growth · Series D
Known forEuropean industrial strategy
Earns the #11 spot for rapid early-career progression reported by placed applicants.
ZS Associates
Fortune 500 · Global
Known forPharma commercial strategy
Earns the #12 spot for standout mentorship scores in our blind coach survey.
How we rank the best consulting firms to work for
We combine published salary data with Leland's own data on where Customers interview, get offers and accept.
- Pay and progression. Starting salary, bonus and how fast new hires are promoted.
- Exit opportunities. Where alumni go next.
- Customer outcomes. Offers Leland Customers received and accepted in the past year.
Leland Rankings are editorially independent. Firms cannot pay to be ranked or to change their rank.
Frequently asked questions
Based on Leland's 2026–27 ranking, McKinsey & Company is the best consulting firm to work for, followed by Boston Consulting Group and Bain & Company.
MBB refers to McKinsey & Company, Boston Consulting Group and Bain & Company, the three largest and most selective strategy consulting firms.
Leland publishes this ranking once a year.
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