Got two offers at the same time a few months ago. McKinsey BA role (generalist track, Chicago) and a senior strategy role at a Fortune 500 you'd know. Figured I'd write this out since I spent a lot of time trying to find posts like this and mostly found nothing useful.
The numbers first, because that's usually why people click: McKinsey BA: $112k base, performance bonus up to ~25%, relocation covered. Total first-year realistic: roughly $125-130k. Corporate strategy (F500): $118k base, annual bonus target 15%, fully remote, no relocation required since I was already in the right city.
On paper the corp strategy role paid slightly more in year one and required zero lifestyle disruption. So why did I even hesitate.
Here's the thing about McKinsey that nobody tells you in comp comparison threads: the network and the exit velocity are real. I talked to three people who did 2-year stints. Two are now VP-level in industry. One is at a growth-stage startup in a COO-ish capacity. That trajectory is not a myth. It's not guaranteed either, but the option value is genuine.
What I was actually weighing: Travel. McKinsey BA means Mon-Thu on client site most weeks. I have a dog and an apartment I like. Corp strategy was hybrid, 2 days in office. Learning curve. At McKinsey you are sprinting to be useful in week 2. At the corp role I'd be the most strategic person in the room by month 3. Both are learning, but different kinds. Brand. I'm in marketing. Having McKinsey on a resume changes how your next job search goes. That's just reality.
I took the McKinsey offer. Three months in. The travel is hard but I was honest with myself that I wanted the brand and the exit options more than I wanted Tuesday nights at home. If those things don't matter to you as much, the math might flip.
The corp strategy role was genuinely good. I don't think I made the obvious right choice. I made the right choice for what I want in 5 years.