Highest-Paying Jobs for MBA Graduates
| 6 Min Read
Are you ready to level up your business career? Acquiring your Master of Business Administration is ideal for developing the right knowledge and skills for in-demand roles in our global economy. Not only that but completing an online MBA program boosts your earning potential. Coursera reported that the median salary of jobs for MBA graduates is $115,000, 77% more than the median pay for business professionals with bachelor’s degrees.
That said, not all jobs for MBA students are created equal. Business professionals must do their homework to find the industry or focus area that matches their salary expectations and interests.
Highest-Paying Jobs for MBA Graduates
Although business professionals earn impressive incomes in many industries, netting a six-figure salary could depend on the specialty you choose. According to Forbes, the top jobs for MBA graduates wanting to earn more than $100,000 are in the following fields:
Consulting
Your MBA will provide wide-ranging expertise for consulting roles that focus on improving an organization’s operations and identifying opportunities. Moreover, many consultants climb the corporate ladder quickly. Consider an analysis by CaseCoach, an interview-prep firm, that found many consultants with MBAs have the opportunity to become a partner within eight years of joining organizations like McKinsey & Company, Boston Consulting Group (BCG), and Bain & Company.
Working as a consultant comes at a premium, as Glassdoor reported a median annual salary of $116,000 for consultants with MBA degrees in June 2024. Additionally, the highest salaries exceeded $160,000.
Finance
Financial managers specialize in maximizing profits for investors and businesses, making it one of the highest-paying jobs for MBA graduates. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual salary for this position was $156,100 in May 2023, with the highest 10% of salaries topping $239,200.
In addition to high pay, BLS data indicates high demand for financial managers. From 2023 to 2033, their employment is projected to increase by 17%, about four times faster than the average for all occupations.
Technology
Artificial intelligence, machine learning, and other innovations are transforming business. After all, business professionals can leverage these technologies to analyze complex information faster than ever, which Business News Daily expects will lead to greater efficiencies and more refined decision-making.
In this changed business landscape, organizations will need product managers capable of positioning innovations in ways consumers understand and find enticing. In November 2024, Salary.com reported an average annual salary of $129,744 for IT product managers, with the top earners netting more than $157,000 per year.
Retail Packaged Goods
Developing and distributing products that meet consumers’ needs — and meeting strict regulations — remains essential to the success of American businesses. You’ll be in good company if you enter this field, as the consumer packaged goods industry supports more than 22 million jobs in the U.S.
Lucrative jobs for MBA graduates in the retail packaged goods sector are in sales management. BLS data indicates these roles offered a median annual salary of $135,160 in May 2023, with income of $239,200 or more for the top 10% of sales managers.
Entertainment, Media, and Sports
In this industry, people can follow their passions into rewarding business roles with solid employment demand. In May 2023, more than 120,000 professionals focused on advertising, public relations, and related services in entertainment, sports, media, and adjacent fields. At that time, media streaming distributors and other content providers offered a variety of management, business, and financial operations positions.
A career path for MBA graduates to pursue is media manager, which offered an average annual salary of $128,928 in November 2024. Additionally, about 10% of these professionals earned more than $171,000.
Healthcare
Although a hospital’s priority is to provide effective patient care, it still must generate revenue to meet expenses. Axios reported in April 2024 that challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic prompted many hospitals to revamp their business models, increasing the need for professionals who can improve the financial footing of healthcare facilities.
If you’re interested in applying your business acumen in the healthcare sector, you could seek healthcare business development manager roles after earning your MBA. In November 2024, Salary.com reported an average annual salary of $143,361 for these roles, with some positions paying as much as $180,955.
Entry-Level Jobs for MBA Graduates
MBA programs enable business professionals to open doors to more job prospects. However, experience matters when candidates seek competitive roles at top firms. If you’re beginning your career, consider setting your sights on entry-level roles after earning your master’s in business administration.
What types of positions are available to MBA graduates wanting to start out in business? Here are some of the best jobs for MBA students with no experience, along with the median annual salary in May 2023 from BLS:
- Budget analyst: Ideal for MBA graduates with strong finance skills, this role offers a median annual salary of $84,940.
- Market research analyst: This is an excellent job for recent MBA graduates versed in gathering and analyzing data. The median salary is $74,680 per year.
- Management analyst: Focusing on researching challenges to improve productivity, the median salary for this role is $99,410 per year.
After gaining experience in those areas, you can expand your role to take on more responsibilities and earn higher pay. BLS reported that the top 10% of salaries for these roles ranged from $131,630 to $172,280 per year in May 2023.
Remote Jobs for MBA Graduates
Positions requiring an MBA don’t just offer competitive salaries, as many also provide remote work opportunities. According to Forbes, about 16% of American companies allow employees to work at home, and nearly one-fourth of workers will have remote positions by 2025.
What are the top industries where MBA graduates can pursue remote jobs? The international employment company Remote identified the following fields as great options for professionals interested in working at home:
Business and Finance
BLS data indicates an average of 963,500 job openings for business and financial professionals each year from 2023 to 2033. While not always required, some employers prefer that candidates have master’s degrees for certain roles, such as budget analyst and management analyst. Altogether, business and financial roles paid about 64% more than other positions in May 2023.
Management
Overseeing a team looks a lot different now than it did a few years ago. Using Slack, Teams, and other communication tools, managers don’t need to be in the same location as their direct reports. Instead, they can oversee people located across the globe.
Although managers work differently than in the past, one thing hasn’t changed: strong demand for these positions. From 2023 to 2033, BLS expects organizations to post an average of 1.2 million job openings for managers each year, and the median salary is more than twice the average of all other occupations.
Sales
Today, fewer salespeople need to present products to customers face to face. According to HubSpot, about 59% of sales professionals worked in remote or hybrid positions in 2023. Sales management offers many job opportunities for MBA graduates, with BLS projecting an average of 48,600 openings from 2023 to 2033.
Explore Your MBA Options
Continuing your education is an ideal way to advance in business and boost your salary. By pursuing your Master’s in Business Administration degree online at Eastern Oregon University, you can gain the expertise needed for a wealth of jobs for MBA graduates, including roles in management, marketing, finance, and sales.
EOU designed the online MBA for busy professionals. You’ll complete each course in a convenient format, enabling you to continue working while preparing for the next stage of your career. Request information today to learn how to earn your MBA in 18 months.