Should I prepare myself for the question on expected salary when preparing for McKinsey interview? In the industry from which I am coming it is normal to ask this question to the interviewee. However, I am applying for a small office and cannot find the information on average salaries there (already checked glassdoor and other internet reources)
Back to overview
23
Does McKinsey ask about expected salary during the interview?
3
5.9k
Be the first to answer!
Nobody has responded to this question yet.
Top answer
A
Deleted
on Jun 12, 2018
Coach
Sidi
on Jun 12, 2018
Coach
McKinsey Senior EM & BCG Consultant | Interviewer at McK & BCG for 7 years | Coached 500+ candidates secure MBB offers
McKinsey does not ask about salary expectations during interviews. Interviews only have the purpose to assess the candidates suitability for the position. The reason is that salary is pretty standardized, and also that your interviewers are normally not involved in the technicalities of the offer. Any type of negotiation/figures discussion can only happen AFTER the interviews.
Cheers, Sidi
Vlad
on Jun 12, 2018
Coach
McKinsey / Accenture Alum / Got all BIG3 offers / Harvard Business School
Hi,
- The salaries are not discussed during the interviews
- Net salaries are very similar across the offices with the rare exceptions (African countries, etc. + In some expensive cities like New York you will have a slightly bigger salary)
- The salaries are standardized for the particular role so in general, you are not discussing the salary
- You can discuss the position itself:
- It's best to have the target role in the objective of the resume from the beginning
- It's good to discuss the role that you want with some friends from McKinsey so that they will give you an honest answer whether you are really qualified for it
- You can discuss the role if you successfully pass the interviews
- Higher role and salary are not necessarily good for you. McKinsey has the Up Or Out policy and if you are not experienced in consulting it's not bad to have less responsibility at the beginning and some capacity to make mistakes. The career growth is so fast at McK that you'll get your target salary pretty soon.
Best
Sign up for free to read all answers.
Sign up for free to read all answers.
Similar Questions
Most Popular Posts
My biggest fear
9
on Apr 15, 2026
Europe
10
100+
Top answer by
Franco
Coach
Ex BCG Principal & Global Interviewer (10+ Years) | 100+ MBB Offers | 95% Success Rate
10 Answers
100+ Views
+7
How do referral work?
8
on Apr 15, 2026
Europe
9
200+
Top answer by
Franco
Coach
Ex BCG Principal & Global Interviewer (10+ Years) | 100+ MBB Offers | 95% Success Rate
9 Answers
200+ Views
+6
I got fired from a T2 and struggling to find a job
10
on Apr 16, 2026
UK
8
100+
Top answer by
Franco
Coach
Ex BCG Principal & Global Interviewer (10+ Years) | 100+ MBB Offers | 95% Success Rate
8 Answers
100+ Views
+5
Not getting responses from LinkedIn outreach or post-event follow-ups — what am I doing wrong?
15
on Apr 17, 2026
USA
8
100+
Top answer by
Soheil
Coach
INSEAD | EM & Strategy Consultant | 3.5Y Consulting | 5★ Case Coach | 350+ Cases | 50+ Live Interviews | MBB-Level
8 Answers
100+ Views
+5
Question: "Is there something we haven't asked you that we should?"
9
on Apr 20, 2026
Europe
10
200+
Top answer by
Soheil
Coach
INSEAD | EM & Strategy Consultant | 3.5Y Consulting | 5★ Case Coach | 350+ Cases | 50+ Live Interviews | MBB-Level
10 Answers
200+ Views
+7