How to hire an Information Technology Consultant

How to hire an information technology consultant, step by step

Here's a step-by-step information technology consultant hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write an information technology consultant job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new information technology consultant
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does an Information Technology Consultant do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the information technology consultant you need to hire. Certain information technology consultant roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine Employee vs Contractor Status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   An information technology consultant's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, information technology consultants from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   Here's a comparison of information technology consultant salaries for various roles:

   Type Of Information Technology Consultant	Description	Hourly Rate
   Information Technology Consultant	Computer systems analysts study an organization’s current computer systems and procedures and design information systems solutions to help the organization operate more efficiently and effectively. They bring business and information technology (IT) together by understanding the needs and limitations of both.	$29-55
   Systems Consultant	A systems consultant is responsible for advising on the design, plan, and installation of information technology systems for clients. You will analyze data of an organization, determine the requirements of an information system, and define project objectives... Show More	$35-64
   Information Engineer	An information engineer is responsible for monitoring the efficiency of computer systems and network infrastructure, performing configuration to boost the optimal performance of the technology systems. Information engineers assist end-users in resolving network issues, identifying the source of inconsistencies, and create resolution reports for reference to avoid reoccurrence... Show More	$37-66

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common Skills:

   • Customer Service
   • Database
   • Project Management
   • Cloud
   • Troubleshoot
   • Business Processes
   • Network Infrastructure
   • SQL Server
   • Linux
   • Technical Support
   • PC
   • Desktop Support
   • OS
   • SDLC

   Check All Skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Accomplish telecommunication design and installation consulting services on VOIP phone systems.
   • Develop functional requirements as well as managed development and quality assurance activities using a full SDLC.
   • Ensure adequate security protections for proprietary data and intellectual property; manage and configure firewalls and security posture.
   • Lead enterprise-wide virtualization effort, overseeing and completing vendor/hardware qualifications, architecture/design, installation, configuration, migration and documentation.
   • Lead disaster recovery exercises, infrastructure hardware/software decommissioning initiatives and redeployment of legacy application retirements/migrations for Fannie Mae (client).
   • Assist in deploying PC's and laptops to sales organization as well as updating the OS as necessary per laptop specifications.

   More Information Technology Consultant duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your information technology consultant job description helps attract top candidates to the position. An information technology consultant salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

   For example, the average salary for an information technology consultant in Mississippi may be lower than in Washington, and an entry-level information technology consultant usually earns less than a senior-level information technology consultant. Additionally, an information technology consultant with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

   Average information technology consultant salary

   $84,790yearly

   $40.76 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level information technology consultant salary

   $62,000 yearly salary

   Updated June 1, 2025

   Average information technology consultant salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. Salary	Hourly Rate
   1	Washington	$114,688	$55
   2	California	$110,443	$53
   3	District of Columbia	$90,143	$43
   4	Pennsylvania	$86,920	$42
   5	Texas	$86,236	$41
   6	Virginia	$85,918	$41
   7	Massachusetts	$85,523	$41
   8	Arizona	$84,201	$40
   9	Minnesota	$82,976	$40
   10	Louisiana	$82,973	$40
   11	New York	$82,748	$40
   12	North Carolina	$82,175	$40
   13	Ohio	$80,856	$39
   14	Georgia	$80,415	$39
   15	New Jersey	$80,364	$39
   16	Illinois	$76,822	$37
   17	Michigan	$76,035	$37
   18	Connecticut	$74,489	$36
   19	Florida	$73,382	$35
   20	Indiana	$72,079	$35

   Average information technology consultant salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average Salary	Hourly Rate	Job Openings
   1	California Resources	$131,302	$63.13
   2	Sally Beauty Holdings	$119,703	$57.55	6
   3	Pixar Animation Studios	$119,428	$57.42
   4	Oracle	$119,138	$57.28	2,247
   5	WEC Energy Group	$118,857	$57.14	2
   6	Kaiser Permanente	$118,766	$57.10	38
   7	Bayer	$118,707	$57.07	47
   8	Marathon Petroleum	$118,403	$56.92	5
   9	AbbVie	$117,319	$56.40	36
   10	Slalom	$116,750	$56.13	70
   11	Eli Lilly and Company	$116,549	$56.03	25
   12	SAP	$116,307	$55.92	47
   13	Parsons	$115,960	$55.75	53
   14	Nike	$115,714	$55.63	11
   15	Agilent Technologies	$115,603	$55.58	4
   16	BMO Capital Markets	$115,090	$55.33	2
   17	Boehringer Ingelheim	$114,154	$54.88	3
   18	Boise Cascade	$113,806	$54.71	1
   19	AIG	$113,643	$54.64	4
   20	Virtustream	$112,914	$54.29

4. Writing an Information Technology Consultant Job Description

   A good information technology consultant job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of an information technology consultant job description:

   Information Technology Consultant job description example

   Elevity is one of the largest and most capable technology service providers in the Midwest. Our talented and passionate team is the engine driving our continuing growth and strong position in the market.
   
   Elevity is a combination of the words “elevate” and “security.” We aspire to elevate our clients' businesses by delivering cutting-edge IT strategy, security, solutions, and support. Each Elevity team member has a direct impact on the success of the local businesses we serve every day.
   
   We also aim to elevate every team members' career. We believe strongly in developing from within, working with each employee to create a fulfilling career path and provide continuing education.
   
   Our work environment promotes both growth and balance - we encourage everyone to challenge themselves in their roles, but also take time away from the office to enjoy life. As a subsidiary of The Gordon Flesch Company, Elevity offers competitive salaries, generous benefits, and a fun, collaborative work environment.
   
   The purpose of the IT Services Consultant is to generate sales revenue by marketing and selling the full line of Managed IT Services. Individuals must have the ability to identify qualified prospects, listen to the customer, gather their business requirements, and create a unique, customized solution building a long-term continuous partnership.
   Sales Process Management:
   
   Utilizing a consultative sales approach, identify prospects by cold calling, follow up with existing customers as needed, network and promote lead activity.
   Perform needs analysis, embrace continuous education on current technology best practices, prepare and present proposals, and effectively communicate the Elevity solution.
   Meet or exceed activity targets and sales goals.
   Organize and plan your time for maximum productivity.
   Relationship build, staying aware of customers' applications, needs and wants as a strategic partner.
   Follow up to ensure customer's satisfaction, promoting loyalty that will result in repeat business and referrals.
   
   Requirements:
   
   Associate or Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience.
   2 years previous business to business solution sales experience. Successful track record in selling and exceeding goals.
   Demonstrated high energy level; extremely motivated to succeed.
   Hunger to learn and apply technology solutions to solve customer problems.
   Accountable for results; must be a self-starter with a track record of achieving goals.
   Proficient with Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, and Outlook.
   Strong presentation skills.
   Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
   Ability to interact with and work well with others in various fast changing environments/situations leveraging strong networking and listening skills.
   Effective problem-solving skills.
   Valid Driver's license
   Access to reliable transportation

   Copy This Example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find information technology consultants for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your information technology consultant job on Zippia to find and recruit information technology consultant candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with information technology consultant candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   While interviews are great, you will only sometimes learn enough from a conversation with an information technology consultant applicant. In those cases, having candidates complete a test project can go a long way in figuring out who's the most likely to succeed in the role. If you aren't a technical person and don't know how to design an appropriate test, you can ask someone else on the team to create it or take a look at these websites to get a few ideas:

   • TestDome
   • CodeSignal
   • Testlify
   • BarRaiser
   • Coderbyte

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new information technology consultant

   Once you've selected the best information technology consultant candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   To prepare for the new information technology consultant first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire an information technology consultant?