Compare what you'll earn over 5 years at an MSP vs corporate vs government. See the real cost of staying.
$85,000
$50K$200K
5
1 yr30 yrs
MSP (5yr total)
$442,000
0% average annual raise
Corporate (5yr total)
$510,000
3% annual raise
Government (5yr total)
$552,500
3.5% annual + step increments
$110,500 more over 5 years working outside an MSP
That's $22,100 per year — a 26% pay gap
Year-by-Year Projection
| Year | MSP | Corporate | Government | Gap vs Corporate | Gap vs Government |
|---|
Methodology: Based on industry research showing MSPs average 0-1% annual raises vs 2-4% in corporate and 2-5% in government with structured pay scales. Government includes regular step increments based on years of service. Does not factor in bonuses, overtime, or non-salary benefits (superannuation is similar across all three sectors). The MSP "loyalty tax" is well-documented — switching employers every 2-3 years is often the only way to get a meaningful raise in the MSP sector.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!