Career Spotlights:
Microsoft 365 Consultant
Whatever the Microsoft Cloud role, use our guide to benchmark your salary or contact rate, or to uncover what you should be paying employees in your team.
How much do Microsoft Consultants make?
| First quartile | Median | Third quartile | Contract rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States ($) | 111,000 | 135,000 | 173,000 | 110-160 (p/h) |
| United Kingdom (£) | 40,000 | 60,000 | 95,000 | 493-690 (p/d) |
United States ($)
| First quartile | 111,000 |
|---|---|
| Median | 135,000 |
| Third quartile | 173,000 |
| Contract rate (p/h) | 110-160 (p/h) |
United Kingdom (£)
| First quartile | 40,000 |
|---|---|
| Median | 60,000 |
| Third quartile | 95,000 |
| Contract rate (p/d) | 493-690 (p/d) |
81%
of Microsoft 365 Consultants are satisfied with their job, down slightly from 82% in our last survey**
65%
of Microsoft 365 Consultants are satisfied with their salary, down from 45% in our previous study
41 hours
Permanent Microsoft 365 Consultants work an average of 41 hours per week
36 hours
Microsoft 365 Consultants work an average of 36 hours per week
* Survey responses in the remainder of this chapter are indicative only due to a limited number of M365 Consultants participating in the survey.
** Comparisons to the survey data in our last study are indicative only due to a limited number of M365 Consultants participating.
What factors impact your earning potential as a Microsoft 365 Consultant?
We asked current Microsoft professionals what factors are most important for upping your earning potential in that role.
| Important | Neutral | Unimportant | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Years of technical experience with Microsoft products | 97% | 2% | 2% |
| Exposure to large projects | 90% | 7% | 3% |
| Specific vertical industry experience | 79% | 16% | 5% |
| Years of experience in IT | 74% | 20% | 7% |
| Microsoft certifications | 62% | 32% | 7% |
| Working with AI | 45% | 36% | 20% |
| College/University degree(s) | 26% | 41% | 33% |
Years of technical experience with Microsoft products
| Important | Neutral | Unimportant |
|---|---|---|
| 97% | 2% | 2% |
Exposure to large projects
| Important | Neutral | Unimportant |
|---|---|---|
| 90% | 7% | 3% |
Specific vertical industry experience
| Important | Neutral | Unimportant |
|---|---|---|
| 79% | 16% | 5% |
Years of experience in IT
| Important | Neutral | Unimportant |
|---|---|---|
| 74% | 20% | 7% |
Microsoft certifications
| Important | Neutral | Unimportant |
|---|---|---|
| 62% | 32% | 7% |
Working with AI
| Important | Neutral | Unimportant |
|---|---|---|
| 45% | 36% | 20% |
College/University degree(s)
| Important | Neutral | Unimportant |
|---|---|---|
| 26% | 41% | 33% |
What steps should you take to become a Microsoft 365 Consultant?
Education
The majority (87%) of Microsoft 365 Consultants hold at least a Bachelor’s degree. However, only 24% consider a degree to be important to work with Microsoft Cloud, while 26% believe a degree to be an important factor when it comes to increasing earning potential.
Certification
Three quarters (75%, up from 69% of respondents to our previous survey) of Microsoft 365 Consultants are certified, though only 46% (down from 73%) of those have renewed to maintain their Microsoft Certified status. This preference for initial certification over renewal is also found across the rest of our data (see here for more information). Additionally, 74% (up from 73%) of certified consultants view certification as enhancing professional value.
For those looking to pursue a career with Microsoft 365, the initial step is earning the Microsoft 365 Certified: Fundamentals certification. This credential demonstrates a foundational understanding of Microsoft 365 products, the advantages of SaaS models, and the essentials of deploying cloud services.
From there, professionals can progress to a variety of Microsoft 365 certifications focused on specific products and areas, such as messaging, Teams, and endpoint management. The highest level of certification available for Microsoft 365 professionals is the Microsoft 365 Certified: Administrator Expert.
Paths to becoming a Microsoft 365 Consultant
Microsoft 365’s wide accessibility and large user base can often turn everyday users into super users, and super users into experts. Those experts with a good grasp of cloud computing concepts and hands-on experience using Microsoft 365 can eventually transition to consultancy with the right training. That being said, Microsoft 365 Consultants typically come from roles where they work closely with Microsoft 365 applications, user support, or cloud services.
Here are a few of the most common job roles that we see these kinds of professionals starting their careers in:
IT Support Analyst: Knowledge of troubleshooting and supporting Microsoft 365 applications offers a good foundation for consultation
Systems Administrator: Experience in managing Microsoft 365 user permissions, settings, and integrations makes you well suited to transition into a Microsoft 365 Consultant position
Network Administrator: Requires skills in network configurations, connectivity, and security that impact Microsoft 365 deployments
Helpdesk Technician: Providing end-user support and helping users with various Microsoft 365 applications is invaluable experience for a Microsoft 365 Consultant
Security Technician: Experience in setting up security features which are crucial for Microsoft 365 environments
Business Analyst: Familiar with user needs and workflow processes, often working directly with Microsoft 365 applications
Database Administrator: Manages data access and security, which is increasingly relevant to the collaborative environment of Microsoft 365
Professionals can explore different routes to become a M365 Consultant, notably with the support of key certifications and specialized experience. Roles such as IT Support Analyst, Systems Administrator, and Business Analyst are common stepping stones. Microsoft 365 familiarity, combined with skills in troubleshooting, user support, and system administration, prepares professionals well for consulting on this platform.
What skills and experience should Microsoft 365 Consultants have?
- Strong understanding of all security and compliance aspects of Microsoft 365, including expertise in Intune MDM & MAM, AAD, Identity, Information Protection, Threat Protection, and Cloud App Security
- In-depth experience with PowerShell and automation
- Comprehensive knowledge of Azure functionality
- Proficient in using Microsoft tools and services like Windows, OneDrive for Business, Microsoft Endpoint Manager, Exchange, SharePoint, Teams, and Copilot
- Exceptional skills in requirements gathering and effective communication
- Ability to create solution design documentation
- Extensive experience in designing, implementing, and maintaining both cloud-native and hybrid full-stack Microsoft 365 deployments
- Thorough understanding of Modern Workplace and Modern Management Solutions
- Strong stakeholder management skills
Are you looking to hire a Microsoft professional?
Are you a job seeker?
Our key findings report contains highlights from this year’s Careers and Hiring Guide, plus our salary tables to allow you to compare your compensation or benchmark your teams’ salaries or rates no matter their role in the Microsoft ecosystem.
United States ($)
| First quartile | 111,000 |
|---|---|
| Median | 160,000 |
| Third quartile | 200,000 |
| Contract rate (p/h) | 110-160 (p/h) |
United Kingdom (£)
| First quartile | 50,000 |
|---|---|
| Median | 65,000 |
| Third quartile | 110,000 |
| Contract rate (p/d) | 500-650 (p/d) |
