Thinking of joining McKinsey & Company? Then a valid question is – do they pay overtime to their consultants and other professionals for all those extra hours you’ve heard about?
I did some of my own research and asked a few professionals at McKinsey and learned that it does not pay any overtime to its employees because they come under the ‘exempt’ category. This means they are not entitled to receive any compensation for extra work hours under FLSA.
In this article, I’ll give you:
- All you need to know about how McKinsey deals with overtime pay with its employees
- 5 reasons why the firm has no overtime pay policy in its compensation structure
Table of Contents
Does McKinsey Pay Overtime?
A super quick overview – McKinsey & Company is a top international management consulting firm founded in 1926.
They have with offices in over 65 countries. They provide strategic advice to government institutes, business corporations, and other organizations. (Source)
Due to its prestigious standing in the consulting industry, the firm attracts top talents for different service lines. (That’s probably why you are curious if it compensates its employees for extra hours of work.)
Well, although you may have to work beyond the standard schedule, McKinsey won’t pay you any overtime. (Source)
However, this policy might vary depending on:
- Your position
- The legal requirements of the country where the company is operating
Let’s find out a little more…
5 Reasons Why McKinsey Does Not Pay Overtime
Let me enlighten you with a few reasons why McKinsey does not pay you overtime for the extra hours you put into work.
1. Exempt Employees
If you work as a consultant or in any other professional position at McKinsey, you are categorized as an exempt employee. This means you are not entitled to get any overtime under the Fair Labor Standards Act.
The firm will give you a fixed salary per month and won’t pay you for working beyond the standard workweek of 40 hours. (Source)
That’s just the way it works.
However, McKinsey might pay its non-exempt employees for overtime, such as administrative assistants. (Source)
2. Work Expectations and Flexibility
If you are in a professional position, McKinsey expects you to work until the job is complete, no matter how long it takes.
This means there are no set working hours, and you, as a consultant, are not constrained by the clock. (Source)
What’s more worth noting is that the firm has a work-from-home policy that lets you complete your projects or tasks right from any location.
So, since the company is giving you so much work flexibility, it has not structured its policies to offer overtime pay for your extra working hours.
3. Better Salary
McKinsey pays substantially good salaries. And so it expects you to work beyond the standard 40-hour workweek without any additional compensation.
This straightforward approach meets the industry norms and shows that consulting roles often demand extended hours to meet deadlines and client needs.
The table below will give you the compensation structure at McKinsey for different positions, which reflects competitive salaries instead of hourly wages.
| Position | Salary per Year |
| Management Consultant | $161,706 |
| Development Manager | $209,839 |
| Account Executive | $239,797 |
| Associate Consultant | $155,536 |
| Consultant | $159,812 |
| Senior Business Consultant | $125,721 |
| Business Analyst | $108,333 |
| Delivery Analyst | $92,417 |
| Product Manager | $164,012 |
| Data Engineer | $124,145 |
| Account Executive | $239,797 |
| Senior Product Specialist | $139,194 |
| Client Specialist | $110,000 |
(Source)
4. Bonuses and Retirement Contributions
McKinsey not only gives you a better salary but also offers bonuses and retirement contributions.
If you are an MBA graduate, you can bag up to $45,000 in performance bonuses and a $30,000 signing bonus.
On the other hand, as a Master’s graduate, you enjoy performance bonuses capping at $30,000 with a $5,000 signing bonus. (Source)
McKinsey is also committed to supporting the long-term financial well-being of its workforce. For this purpose, it maintains a profit-sharing retirement plan wherein the employer makes annual contributions to your accounts.
On top of that, you can also opt to make additional contributions to the plan to increase your retirement fund.
These robust financial incentives make it difficult to justify overtime pay for employees who are already receiving considerable rewards.
5. Additional Benefits
McKinsey also provides you with a range of additional benefits that validate its reasons for not paying any overtime.
These additional perks are:
Health Coverage: McKinsey offers comprehensive healthcare coverage, which includes medical, dental, mental health support, and vision care insurance. This ensures you and your family have access to quality services without spending any out-of-pocket expenses.
Paid Time Off: McKinsey also has flexible policies when it comes to time away from work. The firm allows you to take paid-off time, along with days for volunteer and charitable causes.
There’s more! You receive 16 weeks of paid-off days after childbirth as a birth parent, while a non-birth parent gets 8 paid weeks of parental leave.
Learning Programs: The company heavily invests in the professional development of its staff. It gives you unlimited access to e-learning courses and mentorship or coaching programs.
McKinsey also encourages a work culture where you get feedback on your tasks from your seniors. (Source)
Networking Opportunities: McKinsey’s vast network of clients and alumni provides you with exceptional networking opportunities.
This helps you make valuable connections and increase future career prospects within the firm. (Isn’t it an amazing opportunity to grow professionally?)
Here’s what a Product Manager said on Indeed about the benefits offered at McKinsey, “It’s a great place to work, with very generous benefits, including parental leave and great healthcare coverage. The work-life balance is also a plus, with flexible work-from-home arrangements.” (Source)
Wrapping Up!
If you want to join McKinsey & Company as a consultant, be sure to weigh up all the factors above. Compare them with your:
- career goals
- financial priorities
- and work-life balance expectations to see if they make the firm a compelling career choice for you!
Want to find out a little more about working at McKinsey? I found the following Youtube video really useful:
