What Do Principal Consultants Do?
Wondering what the job is really like for principal consultants?
You've come to the right place.
Keep reading to find detailed information about what principal consultants do, including the type of work they are tasked with on a daily basis, industries in which they work, and the specific skills needed for a successful career.
Principal Consultants Overview & Description
Let's get started with the basics about principal consultants by taking a look at a simple description and popular job titles.
Principal Consultants conduct organizational studies and evaluations, design systems and procedures, conduct work simplification and measurement studies, and prepare operations and procedures manuals to assist management in operating more efficiently and effectively. Includes program analysts and management consultants.
Popular Job Titles For Principal Consultants
Sample of Reported Job Titles
- Business Analysts
- Program Analysts
- Business Process Analysts
- Management Analysts
- Consultants
- Business Consultants
- Principal Consultants
- Lead Business Analysts
- Management and Program Analysts
- Solutions Consultants
- Salesforce Business Analysts
- Business Services Analysts
Read on for insight into the industries where the highest concentration of jobs for principal consultants can be found.
Best Industries for Principal Consultants
Principal Consultants Jobs By Industry
- Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services: 26.3%
- Federal Government, Civilian: 9.1%
- Computer Systems Design and Related Services: 7.3%
- State Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals: 7%
- Management of Companies and Enterprises: 5.3%
- Insurance Carriers: 4.9%
- Other: 40.1%
When it comes to jobs in the United States, the largest single category of principal consultants can be found working in the Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services sector. In 2022, about 26.3% of all jobs for principal consultants were found there.
Other top industries by percentage include Federal Government, Civilian (9.1%), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (7.3%), State Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals (7%), Management of Companies and Enterprises (5.3%) and Insurance Carriers (4.9%).
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Degree Options for Principal Consultants
Maximize prior learning credit or transfer credit and earn a transfer-friendly online A.A.S. in Business Administration.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
With an associate of science in business administration degree, you’ll dig into the functional areas of business and learn how to connect each function with the others to advance business goals and further outcomes while you prepare for a variety of roles in operations, sales, management and coordination.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
Build in-demand skills in programming, data management and cloud computing with Franklin’s online data science bachelor’s degree.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
Integrate data-driven insights into business processes and strategies with Franklin’s online business analytics degree.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
Excel in the rapidly growing healthcare industry with comprehensive training in healthcare management, informatics and systems.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
Gain college credit for your training and work experience and prepare to move into management or grow your small business.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
- Accreditation: IACBE
Build a strong foundation of real-world business knowledge suitable for a variety of career options in your industry of choice.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
- Accreditation: IACBE
Become a transformative, motivational leader in any work environment using performance-improvement and team-building methods.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
- Accreditation: IACBE
- Class Type: 100% online
- Years To Complete: 3
- Class Type: Face-to-face, Online coursework
- Months To Complete: 12
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Blend business essentials with leading-edge analytics and become an innovative leader with Franklin’s 18-month online STEM MBA.
- Class Type: Face-to-face, Online coursework
- Months To Complete: 18
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Get theory-to-practice knowledge in data management, data visualization and data-informed decision making to improve efficiency and effectiveness in all areas of business with Franklin’s online accredited MBA with a Specialization in Business Analytics.
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Create a high-performance culture by broadening your knowledge of leadership theory, change management and managerial psychology through Franklin’s online accredited MBA with a Specialization in Organizational Leadership.
- Accreditation: IACBE
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Develop into a well-rounded, adaptive and strategic business leader with a comprehensive mindset.
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Earn your master's degree online and earn real-world skills to advance your career within public service.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 14
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 14
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Earn a 14-month online Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree with a Specialization in Healthcare and gain interdisciplinary communication and decision-making skills alongside specialized knowledge on healthcare policies, operations and analytics.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 14
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Earn your Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree with a Specialization in Human Resources and build the leadership skills to advance a government or public service agency alongside an emphasis on strategic HR best practices.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 14
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 14
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
What Do Principal Consultants Do on a Daily Basis?
So you have a high-level understanding of what principal consultants do and the types of industries in which they work - but what do they really do each day?
A great way to understand the type of work principal consultants do is to examine actual job postings and focus on the specific skills that employers are seeking. That will help paint a clearer picture of the tasks that principal consultants tackle each day.
Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for principal consultants, as well as common skills - interpersonal qualities and attributes - that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Principal Consultants
Based on 370,107 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Principal Consultants
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Project Management | 104,692 | 28% |
| Business Process | 81,108 | 22% |
| Data Analysis | 65,070 | 18% |
| Business Requirements | 61,657 | 17% |
| Finance | 59,099 | 16% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Principal Consultants
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communications | 179,542 | 49% |
| Management | 151,544 | 41% |
| Problem Solving | 92,604 | 25% |
| Leadership | 92,602 | 25% |
| Operations | 90,855 | 25% |
Based on 370,107 job postings related to principal consultants, project management was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 28% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for business process, data analysis, business requirements, finance and agile methodology were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communications was the most desired skill found in job postings for principal consultants, followed by management, problem solving, leadership, operations and microsoft excel.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Project Management | 104,692 | 28% |
| Business Process | 81,108 | 22% |
| Data Analysis | 65,070 | 18% |
| Business Requirements | 61,657 | 17% |
| Finance | 59,099 | 16% |
| Agile Methodology | 56,495 | 15% |
| Business Analysis | 52,638 | 14% |
| SQL (Programming Language) | 50,167 | 14% |
| Process Improvement | 49,139 | 13% |
| Workflow Management | 43,850 | 12% |
| Computer Science | 40,953 | 11% |
| Accounting | 37,431 | 10% |
| Management Consulting | 36,984 | 10% |
| Marketing | 32,093 | 9% |
| Auditing | 31,316 | 8% |
| Change Management | 29,515 | 8% |
| Scrum (Software Development) | 26,754 | 7% |
| User Story | 25,768 | 7% |
| Microsoft Visio | 25,658 | 7% |
| Automation | 25,194 | 7% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communications | 179,542 | 49% |
| Management | 151,544 | 41% |
| Problem Solving | 92,604 | 25% |
| Leadership | 92,602 | 25% |
| Operations | 90,855 | 25% |
| Microsoft Excel | 86,613 | 23% |
| Planning | 80,245 | 22% |
| Writing | 75,550 | 20% |
| Presentations | 70,284 | 19% |
| Research | 69,035 | 19% |
| Customer Service | 62,963 | 17% |
| Microsoft PowerPoint | 61,718 | 17% |
| Detail Oriented | 61,556 | 17% |
| Consulting | 56,259 | 15% |
| Microsoft Office | 55,867 | 15% |
| Sales | 51,289 | 14% |
| Verbal Communication Skills | 45,616 | 12% |
| Coordinating | 45,499 | 12% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 44,809 | 12% |
| Analytical Skills | 39,544 | 11% |
Most In-Demand Jobs for Principal Consultants
Top 5 Posted Job Titles
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Business Analysts | 161,494 | 58.3% |
| Program Analysts | 23,644 | 8.5% |
| Business Process Analysts | 11,454 | 4.1% |
| Management Analysts | 10,064 | 3.6% |
| Consultants | 9,354 | 3.4% |
According to job postings that were published between September 2021 and August 2022, the top job sought by employers was business analysts, with 68,098 unique job postings. Program analysts were second, with 5,476 postings, followed by business process analysts, management analysts and consultants.
Expand the section below to see unique job postings for all occupations related to principal consultants.
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Business Analysts | 161,494 | 58.3% |
| Program Analysts | 23,644 | 8.5% |
| Business Process Analysts | 11,454 | 4.1% |
| Management Analysts | 10,064 | 3.6% |
| Consultants | 9,354 | 3.4% |
| Business Consultants | 5,589 | 2% |
| Principal Consultants | 5,559 | 2% |
| Lead Business Analysts | 5,438 | 2% |
| Management and Program Analysts | 5,265 | 1.9% |
| Solutions Consultants | 4,943 | 1.8% |
| Salesforce Business Analysts | 3,882 | 1.4% |
| Business Services Analysts | 3,521 | 1.3% |
| Strategy Analysts | 3,489 | 1.3% |
| Servicenow Business Analysts | 3,111 | 1.1% |
| Business Analyst Consultants | 2,854 | 1% |
| Business Process Consultants | 4,018 | 1.5% |
| Data Management Analysts | 5,331 | 1.9% |
| Healthcare Business Analysts | 2,630 | 0.9% |
| Finance Business Analysts | 2,798 | 1% |
| Search Consultants | 2,563 | 0.9% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information for principal consultants? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for principal consultants.
How much do principal consultants make?
Principal Consultants: How do you become one?
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