3 In-Demand Jobs for MBAs

MBA employment prospects are bouncing back from a pandemic slump. The median starting salary for MBA hires in 2021 was $115,000—the same starting salary as pre-pandemic 2020 levels, according to GMAC. Moreover, recruiters project strong demand for B-school grads as job prospects continue to grow.

US News recently highlighted some of the hottest jobs for MBA grads in today’s job market.

FINANCIAL MANAGER

Corporate profits grew significantly in 2021, according to data by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. Financial managers play an important role in managing a company’s cash flow and budget.

“Financial managers, who often are exceptional investors, are trained to solve cash flow problems and sometimes work at financial institutions,” Ilana Kowarski, a reporter at US News, writes. “Any firm that does not spend wisely can die quickly. That’s one reason financial managers – the business executives who monitor a company’s budget and decide where to make financial investments – are usually highly compensated.”

In May 2020, the median annual pay for a financial manager in the US was $134,180, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. And the job outlook for financial managers looks promising—with 17% projected growth by 2030.

MANAGEMENT CONSULTANT

Management consultants help offer solutions to companies facing roadblocks or in need of growth. The profession “has been particularly resilient despite the pandemic,” Tim Rowley, chief operating officer and chief technology officer of PeopleCaddie, tells US News.

Management consultants at any of the Big Three management consulting firms – McKinsey & Company, Bain & Company and Boston Consulting Group – can expect to earn roughly $175,000 a year. The job outlook for management consultants is strong—with a projected growth of 14% by 2030.

MARKETING MANAGER

Marketing managers are another role in high demand that doesn’t show any signs of slowing down. Experts say the high demand for marketing managers stems from the need for companies to market their products and services.

“Many businesses find themselves in the fight of their lives by reinventing themselves, finding new ways to do business and probing potential markets for new customer bases,” Marie Gould Harper, dean of the American Public University System’s Boston School of Business in West Virginia, tells US News. “This is where the savvy marketing manager becomes an asset. Someone has to create ideas and develop a strategic plan that provides a blueprint on how to test the markets to determine which direction to go for the New Norm.”

The median annual pay for US marketing managers in May 2020 was $142,170, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Marketing manager jobs are projected to grow 10% by 2030.

Sources: US News, GMAC