I've noticed that the highly paid consultants at work are usually recommended to our manager from upper management and they get their recommendation from other

I've noticed that the highly paid consultants at work are usually recommended to our manager from upper management and they get their recommendation from other C level managers. I advice you to start attending gatherings where you are likely to meet C level managers. Basically, high level pay is very influenced by who you know. Where I used to work we had a consultant that did specific projects on behalf of the board of directors that had been their for years. She was recommended to or board by someone in another board. I don't know how much she was paid but I suspect it was in the hundreds per hour. Not only that, she had a lot of power. Anything she wanted she got right away from any department. All the managers wanted to be sure she was kept happy.