How much mba graduates earn

The website PayScale, which provides compensation data focusing on salary and benefits, has reported the average salary associated with MBA program concentrations for the last several years. PayScale is a labor market database similar to other platforms, including Glassdoor, RelishCareers, and TransparentCareer. The PayScale data does present some limitations.

For one, PayScale needs a controlled vocabulary that better differentiates among concentration names. It is difficult to understand the precise differences in how these overlapping names represent actual fields of concentration at different schools. Furthermore, these self-reported pay statistics only consider annual salaries. However, bonuses account for significant income sources in management consulting, investment banking and financial services compensation.

Moreover, equity—i. PayScale counts neither of these income sources in their statistics. It is important to look at mid-career averages as well as post-graduation numbers because the former will provide a better indication of growth potential. Besides strategy, several concentrations earn handsome annual salaries by mid-career. First, quantitative concentrations dominate the top early-career rankings.

The top five early-career winners are quantitative-focused. However, this trend changes at the mid-career mark. Ten years after graduation, three of the top five paying concentrations are more verbal in nature: strategy, entrepreneurship, and innovation management. The top ten list is split evenly between verbal and quant concentrations.

This trend amounts to what one might expect. Most early-career MBA jobs tend to emphasize quantitative and technical skills, while jobs emphasizing verbal skills predominate among the more senior positions held by seasoned executives. The second trend relates to how some concentrations start out with rather modest earnings which approximately double by mid-career.

These concentrations also appear to be those that place a premium on verbal concepts and reasoning rather than technical or quantitative skills. The innovation management concentration sees a percent increase in average pay over ten years and takes the top rate of growth among all concentrations. Other concentrations displaying 80 percent growth or more include finance, general business, economics, management information systems MIS , business finance, and global business management.

By contrast, the concentrations displaying the least growth include technology management, strategy, operations management, marketing management, business management and marketing, information technology, and information technology management.

Consulting firms recruit about a third of each class at many of the top business schools. Firms recruit most of these hires from strategy concentrations and some from other specializations like general management. These examples come from lists published by Management Consulted , a coaching firm and online resource for MBA students pursuing careers in consulting.

It also put me in a higher salary bracket, so it was worth doing for sure. I do have a bias for going to the very best school you can get into. It is a huge opportunity cost to go back for a degree, so it has to be worth your while. By far the most valuable thing about it were the friends I made and the network I built. Do you have any advice for people negotiating the salary on a job offer after getting an MBA? Do your homework and be realistic.

You may need to get creative and look at perks, vacation, stock options, benefits, etc. Five days per week on site vs. Arnof-Fenn is also a popular speaker and columnist who has written for Entrepreneur and Forbes. For many professionals, earning an MBA increases their salary.

However, MBA salaries vary depending on location, school, experience, and specialization. Before enrolling in an MBA program, prospective applicants must consider their investment. In addition to the cost of an MBA , graduate school can mean time away from work, higher student loan debt, and less retirement savings in the short term. However, the long-term benefits of an MBA may outweigh those costs.

For example, an MBA opens career doors and often translates to a higher earning potential. Many professionals find these opportunities outweigh the costs. Business graduate students also qualify for federal financial aid. The average cost of an MBA degree varies widely. Visit this resource to learn more about costs, including GMAT fees and textbooks.

MBA students qualify for scholarship opportunities based on their school, specialty area, and career plans. Professional associations, private foundations, and B-schools all offer scholarships for MBA students. Learn more about MBA scholarships. The MBA application process can feel overwhelming.

When should you take the GMAT? How early should you ask for recommendation letters? This guide offers a step-by-step approach to completing MBA applications on time. What is the difference between the three business accrediting agencies?

Why should MBA applicants choose an accredited program? This guide explains MBA accreditation. Find finance jobs on Monster.

Find general business administration jobs on Monster. What you need to know: This concentration offers in-depth knowledge of economics—even outside of the traditional business world—by teaching students how to put economic theory into practice.

Find all economics jobs on Monster. What you need to know: While marketing is not an area that requires an MBA for low-level jobs, it has become very popular for workers to get MBAs in this field, especially at the higher job levels and even in careers outside of marketing. Find marketing jobs on Monster. If you're angling for a big paycheck, knowing which industries have the highest demand for new hires can help narrow your job search.

Then, it's time to get in front of hiring managers. Need some help grabbing their attention? Join Monster today. As a member, you can upload up to five versions of your resume—each tailored to the different types of MBA jobs that interest you.

Every day, recruiters search Monster looking to fill top jobs with qualified candidates, just like you. Additionally, you can get job alerts sent directly to your inbox to cut down on the time you'd spend combing through ads. The sooner you get started, the sooner you'll be earning what your skills demand.

Source: All salary data and pay comparisons provided by online salary database PayScale.