13 of the Highest Paying Jobs for MBA Graduates to Pursue

Continuing your college education is both a large time commitment and an expensive decision, but with the right degree and career path in mind, the payout could be well worth it if you land one of the highest paying jobs for MBA graduates. Consider this: A typical master’s graduate on average earns a premium over bachelor’s graduates with a median salary of $61,000 compared with $48,000 . Not too shabby, right?

MBA degrees typically lead to the highest earnings are in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) sectors. Remember, your Master of Business Administration salary depends not only on your level of experience, but also on your specialty and where in the country you're employed. For example, a civil engineer salary in Toronto is 1% higher than the national median, an IT manager salary in Queensville, is 6% higher than the national median, and an economist’s salary in Abee is 9% higher.

Graduating with an MBA gives you higher chances of success in terms of job security, a good salary and a promising career path. Do you need more convincing? In this article we take a look at these highest paying jobs for MBA graduates by industry.

Top Careers for MBA Graduates

Engineering

When calculating the highest-paying jobs, the top of the list always includes careers in engineering, but earning an MBA greatly increases your pay further. The ones below are some of the highest-paying jobs for MBA graduates in engineering.

Production and Operations Petroleum Engineer: $79,872

Among all engineering occupations, petroleum engineers earn the highest salaries. There are several types of petroleum engineers, each working on different phases of oil and gas extraction projects. Production and operation petroleum engineers oversee well production and find ways to improve it. The national production and operation petroleum engineer salary ranges from $73,840 to $167,424 per year.

Browse all petroleum engineer jobs available on Monster.

Aerospace Engineering: $89,856

Aerospace engineering managers supervise the design and development teams of aerospace engineering projects. They also provide support to the manufacturing and production teams. The requirements to become an aerospace engineering manager include excellent communication and leadership skills. In Canada, an aerospace engineering salary ranges from $40,704 to $101,632 per year.

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Computer Hardware Engineer: $117,504

Computer hardware engineers create, build, and test computer systems and components. Products they can work on include desktop computers, laptops, circuit boards, graphic cards, and appliances with a built-in computer system. Their best professional traits include an analytical and technical mind, curiosity, and willingness to learn new job-related technologies and skills. Our research indicates that the national hardware engineer salary ranges from $69,888 to $153,344 per year.

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Computer and Information Technology

Occupations within computer and information technology, such as web and software developers and computer network architects, has grown 44% over this decade according to CBRE’s Scoring Tech Talent. This is due to a greater emphasis on cloud computing, our continued demand for mobile computing, and how much of our everyday items rely on an internet connection. The following are some of the highest-paying jobs for MBA graduates in the computer and information technology industry.

Cloud Architect: $140,032

Cloud architects oversee the infrastructure design of cloud computing systems, integrate applications to the cloud, and advise companies on cloud management strategies and models. The requirements to work as a cloud architect include experience with database management systems and excellent knowledge of cloud computing technologies and current computing trends. The national cloud architect salary ranges from $82,176 to $214,784 per year.

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Chief Technology Officer (CTO): $149,248

Chief technology officers have leadership over all technical aspects, strategies, and decisions of a company. They also support and advise other departments, collect feedback from stakeholders, and implement new technologies. CTOs must have exceptional communication, leadership, and organizational skills, as well as great knowledge of current technological trends. In Canada, a chief technology officer’s salary ranges from $62,138 to $180,992 per year.

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IT Director: $130,816

IT directors typically report to a CTO and oversee the development and implementation of IT tools and initiatives. Their duties include managing the IT department, ensuring the efficient delivery of technology services and support, and fostering innovation to drive organizational growth. This role requires integrity, leadership skills, and the ability to deliver quality, on-time results. Our research indicates that the national IT director salary ranges from $69,376 to $177,920 per year.

Browse all IT Director jobs available on Monster.

Finance

It’s no secret that a job in finance is a good career path and that there are many high-paying jobs in finance, and this is especially true when it comes to MBA career paths and salaries. Consider a position in finance if you like to be part of a fast-paced job environment in a dynamic and challenging industry. Below are some of the highest-paying jobs for MBA graduates in finance along with their national average salary.

Chief Financial Officer (CFO): $124,672

The chief financial officer is a senior executive in charge of all the company’s financial activities. The responsibilities of a CFO include financial and capital planning, external and regulatory audits, reporting, and supervision of staff. CFO jobs for MBA graduates have requirements such as demonstrated success in strategic planning. The estimated annual wage of chief executives in Canada ranges from $89,856 to $200,448.

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Director of Finance: $133,888

Directors of finance serve as the head of a company’s accounting, finance, and business administration. They are responsible for the management, oversight, and direction of all the company’s financial activities and decisions. Jobs for MBA graduates as director of finance require you to have exceptional accounting skills, and be highly organized, resourceful, adaptable, motivated, and efficient in handling multiple priorities. The national director of finance salary ranges from $97,536 to $190,208 per year.

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Financial Planning Manager: $120,576

Financial planning managers, also called financial planners, make long-term planning and investment decisions for their clients. They also evaluate their clients’ financial situations, requirements, and preferences and develop, recommend, and manage financial plans and services accordingly. If you want to work as a financial planner, you need strong interpersonal, math, and communication skills. In Canada, financial planning manager’s salary ranges from $87,296 to $155,392 per year.

Browse all finance manager jobs available on Monster.

Financial Quantitative Analyst : $106,752

Financial quantitative analysts determine financial asset values and use mathematical, quantitative, and statistical techniques to solve financial issues, through securities trading and risk management. They have superior analytical and problem-solving skills. Monster’s research indicates that a financial quantitative analyst’s salary ranges from $60,000 to $176,896 per year.

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Healthcare

Healthcare is a profitable industry and if you are an MBA graduate it’s even more so. There are many healthcare careers offering a higher salary to MBA holders, and all require strategic thinking and leadership skills. The following are some of the highest-paying jobs for MBA graduates in healthcare.

Chief Medical Officer (CMO): $200,448

Chief medical officers oversee and are accountable for the overall performance of the medical facility or organization they work for. Jobs for MBA graduates as a chief medical officer involves making difficult decisions, taking calculated risks, understanding healthcare economics, and building trusting relationships with stakeholders and staff. The national chief medical officer salary ranges from $39,478 to $213,760 per year.

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Medical Director: $94,976

Even though all types of medical director positions are considered high-paying careers for MBA graduates, medical directors in pharmaceutical companies are among those with the highest salaries. When assuming this role, you’ll oversee the medical standards and processes of a pharmaceutical company, including clinical trials, product safety and outcome data. In Canada, a medical director’s salary ranges from $47,616 to $280,320 per year.

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Chief Nursing Officer (CNO): $93,600

A chief nursing officer is an executive role in a nursing department, in charge of overseeing, developing, and maintaining nursing service standards, goals, and the content of nursing policy and procedure handbooks. To apply to CNO jobs for MBA graduates you must be an expert in the application principles of personnel administration and the techniques and methods of residential care. Monster’s research indicates that the national chief nursing officer salary ranges from $93,600 per year.

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