IT technologies evolve at a pace that companies need help to cope with. New software updates or trends are released within weeks or months, widening organizations' technological gap. Business owners turn to IT consultants to align their IT implementations with changing dynamics in software technologies, whom they pay up to hundreds of dollars per hour.
The question is, how much should your business pay for IT consulting? What is the average hourly rate for an IT consultant?
In this article, I’ll compare different software consulting rates and explore the factors that influence technology consultant fees.
What Does IT Consulting Mean?
IT consulting is a process where software experts address your specific IT needs with carefully-drawn plans, strategies, tactical implementations, and follow-ups. An IT consultant is a highly experienced software expert with expertise and in-depth knowledge of specific fields. They are independent contractors or may work with IT firms that specialize in consulting services.
An IT consultant will guide your business through some IT processes, such as:
- Turning business requirements into detailed software specifications;
- Recommending suitable technologies and IT workflow to suit your organization;
- Providing accurate cost estimates and timelines for software development;
- Augmenting your IT team with external software experts;
- Resolving technical problems that arise in your IT infrastructure.
IT consultation is in high demand, with global market revenue expected to hit $82 billion in 2027, a 26% growth compared to 2023. Even if you’re not adopting next-generational technologies in your business, securing IT consultation services help to ensure that your software and IT workflow are in proper order. An IT consultant gives your business more options and agility to grow and compete.
Whether you have an in-house IT team or not, you benefit from IT consulting. If you’re a startup owner with no technical experience, IT consultants can connect you with software teams they’ve worked with. Even if you’re a mid-sized business with an in-house IT team, a consultant offers knowledge your IT specialists might find helpful.
IT Consulting Rates: 6 Factors That Make Up The Price
To provide a standard IT consultation rate is difficult because several factors determine how a software consultant would charge.
Consultant’s skill and experience
Software consultants with skills honed through decades of experience will command a higher rate than those who recently took up consulting practices. Likewise, software experts who specialize in niche and in-demand skills or tech stacks will likely charge more than their counterparts.
For example, Uptech is driven by a team of highly-skilled software experts. Since 2016, we have been gaining experience in a fast-changing marketplace. We provide various IT services, including mobile & web applications development, UI/UX design, QA, and project management. And IT consulting is one of them, too.
Project complexities
Projects with multiple features require substantial analysis before consultants can offer feedback. Hence, you’ll pay more when consulting on complex projects such as developing a full-featured multiplatform ride-hailing app with secure cloud storage and backend. On the other hand, the consultant might charge a lesser fee for a simple note-taking app.
Uptech’s experience in different niches is helpful when managing both simple and complex projects in different industries. For example, we’ve been supporting GOAT, a global retail platform, since 2019. Also, our work with Cardless, Eatable, and Aspiration (now GreenFi) proves we can deliver well-designed solutions for different markets.
Company size
IT consulting fees vary a lot depending on the size of the consulting firm. Freelancers often set lower rates because they have fewer expenses, but they may not cover all aspects of a complex project. Big global consultancies bring a wide range of specialists, yet their fees can be very high for most businesses.
A medium-sized firm often gives the best balance. It offers access to designers, developers, QAs, and product managers. At the same time, it allows for flexibility and keeps pricing competitive. This way, you get the expertise you need without paying enterprise-level costs.
Industry
Some industries require strict regulatory compliance when setting up IT systems, which results in pricier consulting fees. For example, healthcare app development must follow HIPAA requirements, which limits your options to specific software consultants. Uptech’s experience stretches across multiple industries, including, but not limited to, the following
Location
The hourly rate for IT consultants is often higher in countries with a higher cost of living. On the other hand, software consultant hourly rates are lower in some popular outsourcing destinations.
For example, in Switzerland, daily rates are among the most expensive in Europe, exceeding CHF 130 per hour (around $163). In contrast, popular IT outsourcing destinations such as Poland, Ukraine, and Romania offer more cost-effective services, with rates typically ranging between $50 and $99 per hour.
Timeline
If you’re contracting an IT consultant to complete a project with urgent deliverables, you must pay a premium fee. IT consultants are more flexible in their fees when taking on projects without strict deadlines.
Project timelines differ greatly depending on scope, budget, and complexity. A small website redesign may take only 1-2 months, while a large-scale redevelopment can extend to 6 months or longer. For example, healthcare organizations often work with consultants to implement EHRs (Electronic Health Record systems), which can be a long and resource-intensive process. By contrast, a retailer may bring in an IT consultant for a short-term engagement to set up voice-based shopping features.
Before starting any collaboration, clarify how much time the consultant expects the project to take. Including this information in the initial contract helps you plan schedules, control expenses, and avoid unexpected delays.
IT Consulting Rates by Country
The average hourly rate for IT consultants differs in countries. If you’re contracting a software consultant in the US, the hourly rate averages $100-$200, but be prepared to pay up to $300+ per hour. However, a contributor on HubSpot suggested $100 per hour as the minimum rate for IT consultants.
In the UK, technical consultants charge an average of $100-$150 per hour.
Known for their lower fees, software consultants in Asian countries usually come at a more affordable rate. Indian IT consultants charge $25-$100 per hour, while their Chinese counterparts average $50-$150 per hour. While Asian countries offer cheaper consultation rates, language and cultural differences might hamper collaboration.
As we said earlier, with high consulting prices and language barriers on both spectrums, businesses focus on firms in Eastern Europe with an average hourly rate of $50-$100. This allows companies to enjoy an affordable rate, top-notch consultations, and a seamless collaboration experience.
One of the reasons clients choose Uptech is its international presence. Our team members are stationed in Eastern and Western Europe. This allows us to provide an affordable consulting rate between $49-$99 per hour.
IT Consulting Rates by Industry
As mentioned, software consulting fees may differ according to industry. Businesses in industries regulated by strict requirements are expected to pay more when seeking professional software advice. Likewise, consultation fees are more affordable if you’re involved in commercial activities with fewer restrictions.
I’ll share several examples to demonstrate the price variance in different industries. To provide a fairer picture, let’s assume that all consultants charge premium rates and are based in the US.
Healthcare
Medical-related businesses require an IT infrastructure that safeguards patients' data and transactions. An experienced consultant in this industry may charge $120-$320 per hour or more to render their service.
At Uptech, we provide healthcare companies with the same high level of expertise at more accessible rates, typically $25–$49 per hour. This gives our clients the technical depth they expect without the steep enterprise costs.
One of our projects in this space is a mental health app that allows users to get timely psychological support in a convenient way.
Another example is our work with MicroGenDX, a US-based healthcare company that provides DNA diagnostics for infections. We helped them redesign a B2B platform and build a new B2C web platform, a custom admin panel, and mobile apps for iOS and Android. The system supports patients from test ordering to results access, and it meets HIPAA and GDPR standards. Today, patients use it to order kits, register tests, and view results from home, while healthcare providers rely on it to diagnose infections faster and more accurately.
Finance
Companies operating in this industry are also bound by numerous regulations to provide secure transactions and data storage. These may include:
- PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard)
- SOX (Sarbanes–Oxley Act)
- GLBA (Gramm–Leach–Bliley Act)
- PSD2 (Payment Services Directive 2)
- GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation)
The consultant in this area may charge premium fees of around $50-$400 or more for each hour when advising such companies.
At Uptech, our focus has always been to help financial businesses meet these standards and build products that users can trust. Over the years, we worked on projects that combine compliance, usability, and performance.
Neobank is a concept project that explores the fintech market and shows how thoughtful UX/UI, reliable BaaS selection, and compliance can help build trust with users.
Green investment is a fintech solution that helps users manage portfolios, track the environmental impact of their investments, and stay fully compliant with finance and GDPR requirements.
Presidio Investors is an investment platform where we automated deal analysis and data processing with AI, which has helped free analysts from manual tasks and improved efficiency with cloud-native workflows on Azure and AWS.
Cardless is a financial technology project that enables brands to launch credit cards and give customers a smoother, more rewarding experience.
Build a fintech app that stands out with Uptech.
Foodtech
Digitization has taken the food industry to the cloud. Instead of queuing up at restaurants, diners prefer ordering from apps. And chefs could start a food delivery business by sharing a cloud kitchen instead of renting their own spaces.
Our work with Eatable is proof of the increasing demand for online food apps. Such demands have seen IT consulting in this sector average $200 per hour.
E-Commerce
E-commerce requires software that supports the customer journey at every stage, along with solid backend systems for payments, logistics, and integrations. To advise such implementations, tech consultants may charge anything from $250 per hour.
At Uptech, our role is to match e-commerce solutions with the right audience and deliver products that meet both business and customer needs. Over the years, we completed projects that prove this in practice.
Dollar Shave Club is a subscription-based m-commerce platform where we enhanced the Android app with account management, content, and A/B testing to strengthen engagement and deliver a smooth user experience.
GOAT is a global retail platform where we built iOS and Android apps for buyers and sellers, which provide a trusted marketplace and a smooth user experience for millions worldwide.
Real Estate
The real estate sector requires a suite of software systems to operate. Common systems include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Property Management Systems (PMS) – to track listings, leases, payments, and tenant information.
- Customer Relationship Management (CRM) – to manage leads, buyers, sellers, and investor relations.
- Multiple Listing Service (MLS) integration – to access and update property listings in real time.
- Virtual tour and 3D visualization tools – to showcase properties remotely.
- Document management and e-signature solutions – to handle contracts, disclosures, and legal paperwork securely.
- Mobile apps – for agents, tenants, or buyers to search listings, book viewings, or make payments on the go.
However, it is less rigid than the healthcare or finance industry. Thus, IT consultants specializing in retail may offer their services for $100 to $250 per hour.
We at Uptech are no strangers to real estate software development, and some of our strongest projects come from this space.
Nomad is a personalized house-hunting platform for Europe and the Middle East that we built from scratch to organize chaotic markets like Dubai and make buying or renting a home simple and enjoyable.
Yaza is an iOS and Android real estate app that lets users record and share video home tours, create location-based maps, and discover properties with full privacy controls.
Here are 5 key steps to develop a competitive mobile real estate app!
IT Consulting Rates by Company’s Size
You pay different consulting prices when working with firms of different sizes. Small and independent contractors charge a more affordable rate as they seek to secure more jobs and strengthen their portfolios. Bigger firms used to dealing with global enterprises are more costly but can handle complex technological infrastructure.
Here’s an example of the fee structure according to size.
- A freelance IT consultant bills between $12-$30 per hour.
- Small tech consulting firms with fewer than 40 employees may charge $75-$1759 per hour.
- Medium-sized consulting companies charge up to $175-$200 per hour or more.
- Large IT consulting firms with over 1,000 employees charge an average of $300 per hour.
- Enterprise-level IT consultants may cost you $250-$850.
The above figures are derived from Upwork and Clutch. They serve as general indications, with additional factors at play.
IT Consultant Rates by Experience Level
As software consultants upskill or complete more projects, they raise their prices to reflect their experiences. For example:
- An IT consultant with 1-4 years of experience in the field bills $54 per hour max;
- With 5-9 years of experience, consultants might charge up to $75 per hour;
- Experienced IT consultants with over 10 years in the trade charge about $111 per hour.
Tech consultants may also impose a higher fee if they specialize in certain skills. For example, a senior cloud consultant in Australia could earn up to $89 per hour or more, while security consultants charge up to $105 per hour.
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How to Judge IT Consulting Rates Beyond the Price
From all the abovementioned, you can see clearly that the rates for IT consulting services vary a lot, and price alone never tells the full story. That’s why it’s important to know all the other nuances. Here are a few more tips on how to evaluate IT consulting rates to find the best value.
Choose the right pricing model
Consultants may work by the hour, set a flat fee, or offer a retainer. Hourly is better for short tasks, flat fees for clear one-off projects, and retainers for long-term support. Match the model to your scope and your budget.
Look beyond the price tag
A lower rate can cost more in the long run, especially if the consultant lacks the needed skills. Experienced consultants often finish faster and avoid mistakes. Case studies and client feedback can reveal if higher fees come with higher value.
Know when higher rates make sense
Complex projects like system integrations or security upgrades demand expertise. Paying more up front for senior knowledge can save money because experienced consultants prevent costly delays.
Plan your budget carefully
Break projects into phases, set milestones, and estimate hours. This way, you know where the money goes and avoid surprises as the work moves forward.
What Is the Hourly Rate For IT Consulting at Uptech
Uptech is a leading software development company in Eastern Europe that provides IT consulting services to international clients. Our hourly rate varies between $49 - $99, depending on project complexities and other factors. More importantly, our team has an exemplary track record when implementing app development strategies for businesses of different sizes (from startups and small businesses to mid-sized companies).
Since 2016, we’ve been providing top-quality IT consulting and implementation to clients worldwide. Our expertise spans the full spectrum of software development services, from product discovery and UX/UI design to mobile, web, and cloud solutions.
We work with a modern tech stack that includes Node.js, TypeScript, React, React Native, Flutter, Kotlin, Swift, and Python, along with cloud platforms like AWS and Azure. This combination allows us to support digital transformation efforts with secure, scalable, and future-ready solutions.
Equipped with an agile mindset, our team uses tools that support DevOps culture and allow us to build reliable and scalable cloud solutions. Our work didn’t go unnoticed, as Uptech bagged several awards, including.
- Top B2B companies 2020 - 2022 by Clutch.
- Top App Developer by GoodFirms
- Mobile Excellence Award and Honorable Mention by Awwwards
But don’t just take our word. Here is what our clients said about partnering with Uptech.
“They ask questions, provide suggestions, and learn about our business in order to make a proper product." - CoFounder, Eatable
"We were working with a 9-hour time difference, but communication was never an issue." - Product Manager, Cardless
"We don’t have to deal with bugs and problems with the code. They’re a real value-add." - CEO, Yaza
Talk to us to get the best consulting rate and implement your IT solution.
FAQs
What is the average hourly rate for an IT consultant?
The average IT consulting rate varies according to several factors. Generally, companies pay a low figure of $45 per hour to more than $300 per hour when engaging an IT consultant.
What makes up the average hourly rate for IT consulting?
The IT consulting fee is influenced by the consultant’s experience, skill, and location. Besides, the nature of your project, complexity, and urgency also affect the final rate.
What are the average IT consulting rates by industry?
Average fees charged by consultants might range between $45-$300 per hour, depending on the industry. Consulting work in the health and finance sectors tends to cost more because of rigid regulatory requirements.