MBA Salary Guide

Expect a Salary Increase

According to BusinessWeek, graduates who earn an MBA degree generally enter into consulting, accounting / finance, management or sales / marketing. A post-MBA employee can expect to receive a pay increase or an elevation in position.

Depending on the industry and specialty the pay increase may range from 10% to 82%; moreover, an MBA graduate will likely experience a return of investment on tuition within 3-to-5 years.

Accounting: Salaries

The average salary within the accounting industry is currently $63,210 and varies depending on education and experience.

Economics: Salaries

Graduates with a degree in economics earn, on average, high salaries. A survey by the National Association of Business Economists found the median annual base salary for economists was $70,000.

Finance: Salaries

Salary ranges in the finance industry vary quite a bit depending on experience and clientele. Average salaries range from $40,000 through $200,000.

Consulting: Salaries

A recent MBA graduate who enters a consulting firm earns an average salary of $88,000 per year.

Management: Salaries

Salaries vary substantially by type and level of responsibilities and by industry. According to a salary survey done by Executive Compensation Reports, a division of Harcourt Brace & Company, the median salary for CEOs of public companies from the fiscal year 1998 Fortune 500 list was approximately $800,000. Three quarters of CEOs in the nonprofit sector made under $100,000 in 1998, according to a survey by Abbott, Langer & Associates.

Marketing: Salaries

Median annual earnings in 2002 were $57,130 for advertising and promotions managers, $78,250 for marketing managers, $75,040 for sales managers and $60,640 for public relations managers. Earnings ranged from less than $30,310 for the lowest 10 percent of advertising and promotions managers, to more than $145,600 for the highest 10 percent of marketing and sales managers.

Sales: Salaries

A starting salary for an Account Executive is $60,000 to $80,000 plus commission. Top performing sales representatives averaged $127,000 including commission in 2001, which was a record low year. Sales executive pay ranges from $118,000 to $154,000 with an average bonus of $15,000 per year.