What we know about consulting salaries at the Asian Development Bank

Working at the Asian Development Bank has been considered one of the most sought-after opportunities for consultants in development. ADB has also started to pivot more toward climate work, aiming to become the “Asian climate bank.” To achieve this goal, it needs staff members with relevant expertise and experience. As part of our ongoing effort to spotlight salary trends across the development sector, we analyzed salary information from nearly 3,277 ADB consultant positions obtained over the past 15 months — January 2023 to May 5, 2024. This analysis delves into the salary differences between national and international consultants, the sectors with the highest demand, and what development professionals can expect to earn based on experience level. International and national consultant salaries The ADB hires individual consultants for a diverse range of projects. These consultants are categorized as either national or international. The salaries can range from as low as $1,000 for a national consultant role in Sri Lanka to as high as $504,204 for an international consultant role based in Laos. Another interesting aspect we found was the correlation between the engagement period and the salary. The duration of individual consultant contracts varies dramatically, ranging from a mere five working days to as many as 1,650 days. As illustrated in the following graph, despite the extended involvement of national consultants, who comprise 70% of our job postings, they still earn significantly less. The reasons behind this pay gap will be explored in the next section. Areas of expertise and engagement period One key factor driving the salary difference between international and national consultants is experience and specialization. Our data reveals that ADB prioritizes senior and executive-level consultants for international positions, with these categories comprising a combined 89% — 45% senior and 44% executive. In contrast, midlevel consultants make up only 10%, with entry-level positions representing a mere 1%. This trend is reversed for national consultants. Here, midlevel roles take the lead at 40%, followed by senior-level positions at 34%. Executive-level and entry-level roles account for 16% and 9%, respectively. Another interesting factor is the difference in engagement period between international and national consultants. International consultants tend to have shorter engagements, averaging only 86 days. This suggests tighter deadlines associated with their projects. In contrast, national consultants have a longer average engagement period of 205 days. Top sectors and regions of engagement Looking at specific sectors and types of roles, 18% of the consultant positions fell under the project management umbrella, with an average salary of $51,631. However, project management salaries can vary depending on the specific sector. Here's a breakdown of the average salaries in some of the highest-paying sectors: Unsurprisingly, the Philippines topped the list of countries seeking consultants last year with an average salary of $44,029. This may be due to ADB’s headquarters being in Metro Manila. Indonesia and India came in second and third, with average consultant salaries of $43,877 and $46,316, respectively. Application and salary transparency The ADB attracts a lot of applications each year, with most positions open for only a week. Extensions occur, but securing an ADB consultancy role requires swift action. At the same time, while a pay gap exists between a national consultant and an international consultant, strong negotiation skills can significantly boost your compensation. Unfortunately, at the time of writing, the salary information on ADB’s consultant management system CMS is unavailable, so we are unable to highlight current ADB positions with publicly shared compensation information. View all current ADB positions on Devex. Other current consulting opportunities to explore 1. Individual Consultants: Strategic Planning Process - Advice and Facilitation Nongovernmental organization Worldwide Closing date: June 7 2. Project Consultant for Local Communities NGO Denmark Closing date: June 16 3. Individual Consultant: Digital Expert Consultant NGO India Closing date: June 21 Ready to stand out from the crowd and get noticed by the recruiters who matter most? Update your Devex profile and start connecting with top global development recruiters now.