PwC, Deloitte, KPMG or EY, which Big Four firm pays the most?

Is there much to choose between Big Four accounting firms when it comes to pay? PwC, Deloitte, EY and KPMG are all competing against one another for talent. Much as they try to differentiate themselves with ‘employer branding’ they can look like a cohesive group to outsiders.

At partner level, there’s a clear hierarchy. Last year, Deloitte paid £750k, EY £727k, PwC £722k and KPMG £715k but this differential doesn’t extend to other ranks.

Figures based on 2,650 Big Four salaries from pay benchmarking company Emolument.com, suggest you might want to start and end your career at EY. EY pays its juniors the most – an average of £37k, although this is just one or two thousand pounds more than its competitors. EY also pays its senior staff an average of £17k more than PwC, its closest competitor at the senior end.

After five years in the industry, Emolument’s figures suggests you might want to work for Deloitte. After 10 years, you might want to work for KPMG. Nonetheless, for the first 10 years of a Big Four career, most firms pay similarly – although PwC lags the pack.

We’ve also included average pay for Accenture, which pays less than its larger consulting rivals. 

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