Top MBA Career Options and Salary in the US

The average salary for MBA in USA has a lot to do with the specialisation you choose. Here we have discussed 5 popular specialisations for MBA in USA and the possible job opportunities for the same:

Investment Banking

Investment banking offers some of the most highly paid MBA jobs in US. This specialisation examines the goals and needs of an organisation while seeking to raise capital through investment, typically through a retainer. With full access to all financial information of the company, one may formulate strategies and plans for the benefit of the company. The annual average salary after MBA in USA in investment banking is 65,000 USD per year.

Mentioned below are the job roles and average salary for MBA in USA for investment banking:

Job Title	Average Salary Per Year (in USD)
Financial Analyst	48,000 - 87,000 or 40,00,000 INR
Executive Assistant	51,000 - 96,000 or 60,00,000 INR
Investment Banking Analyst	53,000 - 87,000 or 60,00,000 INR

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Information Technology

The salary for MBA in USA for the specialisation in Information Technology on average is 89,063 USD per annum. The prime role of the IT department is to supervise the company's computer infrastructure and manage network technology, IT security and the software platforms used by the company. It also includes overseeing other employees’ use of data and the security of customers’ information.

Mentioned below are the job roles and average salary for MBA in USA for information technology:

Job Title	Average Salary Per Year (in USD)
Systems Administrator	46,000 - 92,000 or 60,00,000 INR
IT Manager	57,000 - 125,000 or 80,00,000 INR
Senior Software Engineer	85,000 - 157,000 or 80,00,000 INR

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Human Resources

An MBA in Human Resources paves your way for a rewarding career. The HR department ensures that all human resources activities comply with local, state and federal laws. They also need to oversee programs related to employee benefits and initiatives. The annual average MBA salary in USA in human resources is 65,000 USD per year.

Mentioned below are the job roles and estimated salary for MBA in USA in Human Resources:

Job Title	Average Salary Per Year (in USD)
Human Resources Manager	50,000 - 96,000 or 70,00,000 INR
Human Resources Specialist	40,000 - 75,000 or 50,00,000 INR
Human Resources Coordinator	38,000 - 63,000 or 35,00,000 INR

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Finance

Finance is another sector that offers an attractive salary after MBA in USA. The finance department is responsible for evaluating all financial requirements and goals and formulating an investment strategy beneficial for the organisation. All big firms and companies look for financial advisors to manage and keep track of their finances. The average salary of MBA in USA for a finance manager is 95,515 USD per annum.

Mentioned below are the job roles and estimated salary for MBA in USA in Finance:

Job Title	Average Salary Per Year (in USD)
Senior Financial Analyst	67,000 - 108,000 or 75,00,000 INR
Financial Controller	64,000 - 133,000 or 80,00,000 INR
Financial Analyst	51,000 - 88,000 or 50,00,000 INR

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Business Analytics

Business Analytics is the top paying MBA specialisation in the present time. An MBA in Business Analytics is all about the systematic analysis of data to reach valid conclusions and decisions. Leading data-driven analysis, creating analytic models, to assist and develop business strategies, etc., are some responsibilities that business analysts are expected to look after.

Mentioned below are the MBA jobs in US in Business Analytics and their estimated salary packages:

Job Title	Average Salary Per Year (in USD)
Business Strategist Analyst	50,000 - 96,000 or 60,00,000 INR
Business Application Analyst	70,000 - 100,000 or 70,00,000 INR
Business & Data Analyst	40,000 - 90,000 or 60,00,000 INR

 

Before we look at the best MBA career options and their commanding salaries, it is important to acknowledge that each job’s salary range depends on multiple factors. These determining factors are company size, location, job profile, and the candidate’s educational qualifications, skill set, and work experience. With that being said, these are the top eight career options for MBA graduates in the US:

1. Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Chief Executive Officers hold the highest rank in the senior executive bench of a company. They are the top decision-makers in an organization who make all the important corporate decisions regarding business operations and utilization of company resources.

They plan, implement, and determine an organization’s vision and direction. CEOs must always be aware of the competitive landscape (external and internal), opportunities to expand to new markets, customer trends, and the latest industry developments. They act as the main point of contact between a company’s Board of Directors and the different corporate operations teams. 

Since CEOs are the company’s public face, they must be master orators with strong communication, leadership, and critical thinking skills. Usually, they require extensive experience and knowledge of business management. The best MBA options for CEOs are Executive MBA in Organizational Leadership, Strategic Management, Finance, and Business Strategy,

Salary

The average yearly salary of Chief Executive Officers in the US is $823,896, while the typical salary range lies between $635,261 – $1,024,364 per year.

Some of the skills required from the CEO are leadership, team management, visionary, decision-making, problem-solving, analysis, communication, growth- mindset, etc.

2. Chief Operating Officer (COO)

Chief Operating Officers usually occupy the second most important rank in a company after the CEO. COOs oversee and direct the day-to-day administrative operations of an organization.

They handle a company’s internal affairs, primarily focusing on devising and executing its business strategy in alignment with its long-term goals and vision. COOs determine the roadmap for business operations, establish actionable policies to promote company vision and supervise management executives’ work. COOs report to CEOs. 

COOs must be well-versed and experienced in various business matters, including business strategy, resource allocation, operations management, supply chain & logistics, and performance evaluation. Their goal is to drive sustained growth and boost the profitability of a company. Organizational Management and Business Development/Strategy are the perfect MBA choices for the role of a COO. 

Salary:

The average annual salary of Chief Operating Officers in the US is $444,333. However, the salary range lies anywhere between $340,420 – $569,226 per year.

Some of the skills required from a COO are decision-making, leadership, operational expertise, business acumen, analytical skills, etc.

3. Chief Financial Officer (CFO) 

Chief Financial Officers are senior executives who supervise and manage the fiscal/financial operations and decisions of an organization. The primary duties of CFOs are financial planning, monitoring the cash flow (revenues, profits, losses, etc.), and analyzing the financial strengths/weaknesses of a company.

They collaborate with departmental managers (marketing, sales, purchasing, pricing, finance, etc.) to gather and analyze financial data and report the findings to company executives, stakeholders, and business partners. 

CFOs usually have in-depth knowledge of various domains like economics, accounting, finance, and market research. They determine and decide a company’s investment, capital structure, and strategies to manage the budget/income. MBA specializations in Finance, Economics, Accounting, and Corporate Financing are great options for CFOs.

After MBA jobs in USA gets open for MBA graduates, and with effort, hard work and determination, the journey to get into C-suite does not stay a dream but rather becomes a reality for the students. 

Some of the skills required to be a successful CFO are leadership, financial management, risk management, budgeting, resource management, communication, analytical, data analysis, decision-making, numeral literacy, statistics, etc.

Salary: 

The average annual salary of Chief Financial Officers in the US is $385,412, whereas the typical salary range is $302,604 – $480,203 per year.

4. Chief Technology Officer (CTO)

As the name suggests, a Chief Technology Officer primarily focuses on developing a company’s technological infrastructure. In this respect, CTOs develop the roadmap for efficient utilization of the company’s technological resources, evaluate existing systems and implement new tech systems, and supervise all technology development operations.

Their main goal is to design innovative strategies to optimize an organization’s technology policies and practices to stay relevant in the competitive market. CTOs work closely with the IT team of a company.

CTOs must demonstrate strong critical thinking and business acumen. They must have sound technical knowledge and experience in working with the latest technologies. They need to step up as inspiring leaders with excellent organizational and communication abilities. The best MBA specializations for CTOs are Information Technology, Information Security, and Information Systems Management.

Salary:

The average annual salary of Chief Technology Officers in the US is $247,381. The typical salary range for CTOs is $207,450 – $289,357 per year. 

Some of the skills required from a CTO are technological expertise, security systems, cloud computing, database management, communication, IT operations, research and development, troubleshooting, etc. The scope of jobs for MBA students in USA widens with the right skill sets, and enough experience can take you to the next level of becoming a CFO.

5. Chief Marketing Officer (CMO)

Chief Marketing Officers are responsible for planning, designing, and executing the creative vision of a company. They set marketing goals, plan the marketing strategy, identify and monitor marketing KPIs, set the marketing budget, analyze consumer data to identify the latest consumer/market trends. CMOs are essentially the innovation catalysts and growth drivers of an organization. 

CMOs must possess exceptional communication and negotiation skills. They require extensive marketing experience along with critical thinking skills, business acumen, and an analytical bent of mind. They often take the role of a leader and guide for the marketing department. Marketing Management, Social Media Marketing, International Business are the three ideal MBA options for CMOs.

Salary:

The average annual salary of Chief Marketing Officers in the US is $243,950, while the salary range typically lies between $199,460 – $307,340 per year.

Some of the skills required from a CMO would be understanding the market, customer identification, marketing techniques, strategy creation, analytical expertise, data management, people management, vision, problem-solving, decision-making, creativity, content management, etc. 

6. Chief Administrative Officer (CAO)

Chief Administrative Officers manage and oversee the daily administrative operations and functions of a company. They lead and supervise individual departments, including human resources, IT, finance, sales, and marketing. T

hey are mainly responsible for the overall strategic planning and delegating tasks to senior managers. CAOs focus on business strategy development, including a host of tasks such as risk assessment, business expansion opportunities, setting goals and measuring key metrics, and planning projects that can drive company growth. CAOs report to both CEO and COOs. 

CAOs must have good communication skills and the ability to handle stressful situations. They often have to function in a fast-paced and dynamic environment. Thus, CAOs must be excellent leaders with organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills.

Aspiring CAOs can opt for Organizational Management, Business Development, Strategic Leadership, and Human Resources MBA specializations. 

Salary:

The average annual salary of Chief Administrative Officers in the US is $348,540, and the salary range usually falls between $274,500 – $448,130 per year.

7. Medical Director

Medical Directors supervise the daily operations of hospitals, outpatient facilities, and healthcare institutions. They coordinate with medical teams and staff to set the goals for long-term care services, determine and monitor budgets, determine the standards for care delivery, recruit medical personnel (physicians, nurses, paramedics, etc.), and devise training programs.

Medical Directors usually work in hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, hospices, residential care units, assisted living facilities, and retirement communities. 

Medical Directors hold medical degrees along with considerable work experience and board certification. They must be skilled in healthcare management and demonstrate excellent interpersonal, communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills. Healthcare Administration or Healthcare Management is perfect MBA specializations for aspirants who wish to become Medical Directors.

Salary: 

The average annual salary of Medical Directors in the US is $286,513. However, it can range anywhere between $261,760 – $313,961 per year.

Some of the skills required by a medical director include medical and expertise aptitude, technical understanding of various methods and techniques, people management skills, decision-making, problem-solving, etc.