What Careers Can You Have as a Wharton Graduate?

Every MBA program is different – and so are the careers that candidates can land once they’ve graduated from business school.

TopMBA analyzed data from the latest QS MBA by Specialization Rankings 2021 to find out which business schools offer MBA grads the best chance of landing a job in a specific industry.

This series will take a closer look at the careers MBA grads landed post-graduation in seven fields at a number of top-tier schools.

Here are the top fields Wharton MBA graduates got their foot through the door to kickstart their career.

Financial services

Perhaps unsurprisingly, considering the school was ranked the best school in the world for specializing in finance, a strong majority (35.8 percent) of Wharton MBAs landed jobs in the financial services field.

Thanks to the school’s reputation as a powerhouse in finance and a wide range of industry-relevant initiatives taking place throughout the degree, Wharton graduates are well equipped to deal with a wide range of economic activities, including banking, insurance, real estate and investing services.

Some of the highest-paid finance job roles for MBA graduates include:

• Vice President (VP) Finance: US$151,732
• Chief Financial Officer (CFO): US$135,741
• Investment Banker: US$100,783
• Senior Financial Analyst: US$81,081
• Private Banker: US$70,245

Consulting

The second most popular field among Wharton MBAs is consulting, with 25.1 percent of graduates kickstarting a career in the field after graduation.

The sector has long been one of the top career choices for MBAs worldwide, with firms such as Bain & Company, Boston Consulting Group (BCG), McKinsey & Company and Strategy& often recruiting talent fresh out of b-school.

Despite Wharton only placing sixth in this year’s consulting specialization ranking, graduates can expect a high salary uplift thanks to the school’s reputation.

Here are the highest-paid consulting jobs available for MBA graduates:

• Strategy Consultant: US$150,000
• IT Consultant: US$150,000
• Management Consultant: US$149,000
• Financial Advisory Consultant: US$130,000

Technology

Almost 15 percent of Wharton graduates went into the technology industry in the past year – a strong feat for a school usually associated with finance.

Thanks to the school’s involvement in the industry – including a Technology Club and annual Tech Week dedicated to bringing together students, alumni and tech professionals – there are plenty of career opportunities for Wharton MBAs passionate about the sector.

Here are the highest-paid technology jobs available:

• Senior Product Manager: US$125,384
• Technical Program Manager: US$124,636
• Information Technology Director: US$120,788
• Senior Project Manager (IT): US$114,822