请问IT consultant的性质？

IT方面的consultant其实大概包含几种工作方向，

－ 纯技术的，这不需要多说，虽然有人管这叫工程师，但这方面的consultant一般不干非常具体的实施和排错工作，因为人力成本太高！

－ 运维管理方面的，帮助客户优化日常IT运维流程和IT组织架构

－ 业务/技术界面，作为桥梁，帮助客户把业务部门的需求转化成可以为技术人员所理解和实施的“IT语言”

－ 企业策略顾问，这是层次相对较高的consultant，工作中的联系对象一般是客户的CIO或者CEO，协助客户制定企业IT发展方向和策略（比如是否外包之类的问题）以及如何调整业务模式以适应IT发展的需要，一般不会涉及具体技术层面的问题。一个MBA可能对成为这方面的consultant有所促进

The average starting salary for MBAs is higher than that for programmers.  However, I have seen top 20 school MBA taking accountant position and making 40K annual salary, meanwhile Java developers easily make 100k+ a year.  Your decision should depend on how you prioritize your goals and what your current situation is.  If you want to live a decent life in US, then a programmer might be your best bet.  If you want to make real big money and take your chances to move up, an MBA is your choice.  

Sorry, if you read my post carefully, you should see I did not confuse "average IT salary" with "some Java programmers I know".  It is a difference between generality and individuality.  Bill Gates started as a programmer, yet MBAs do not extinct after his success.  Do you see my point?  

Here I won't argue about the definition of "big money".  So if 100k a year in US makes you happy ever after, you are a lucky man because chances are, you never have to go through  the ordeals that many others have to undertake to justify their success.