Information Technology Consulting

The IT consulting industry consists of large companies that offer IT consulting services as well as other business services to other companies. IT consultants may also work independently.

The general consulting industry has origins in the early 1900s, when manufacturers sought advice on how to increase worker productivity and maximize profits. Consulting businesses were established in the United States to help companies solve these and other problems. Information technology consulting businesses first emerged in the 1980s, after the personal computer was introduced to the mass marketplace. Since the 1990s, the evolution of the Internet and social media have contributed to the growth of the information technology consulting industry.

In May 2023, more than 5.1 million people were employed full time in computer and mathematical occupations, including IT jobs, in the United States, as reported by the U.S. Department of Labor. The industries with the highest concentration of employment in computer and math jobs are computers systems design and related services; software publishers; data processing, hosting, and related services; computer and peripheral equipment manufacturing; and other information services.

According to the market research group IBISWorld, the U.S. information technology consulting industry was a $710.7 billion business in 2024. There are more than 497,000 information technology consulting businesses in the United States, employing about 3 million people. During the mid-to-late 2010s, larger firms acquired smaller consultancies to add capabilities in areas such as data analytics and cloud computing. A growing number of small and medium-sized companies are hiring IT consultants to help them develop and create custom software or fine-tune their existing software and hardware applications to improve their business operations.

Information technology consulting firms offer various services to clients. Depending on their specialty, IT consultants may plan and design integrated hardware, software, and communication infrastructure. They may also write, test, and support custom software. IT consultants also help clients with computer network security. Other services they may provide include helping with search engine marketing and providing strategic advice regarding social media issues. They also work on site with clients to help manage the company’s computer systems and data processing facilities. Others provide advice on emerging technology such as advanced artificial intelligence and quantum computing. Job titles in the industry vary depending on the worker's specialty and experience; some examples include information technology manager or director, information technology consultant, project manager information technology systems, health information technology consultant, and information security risk architect. The specific services of the IT consulting industry are computer systems design, development, and integration; computer application design and development; information technology technical support services; IT network and infrastructure design; and IT technical consulting services.