What salary could you earn with these business degrees?

Choosing to go to business school is an investment, especially with the six-figure price tag that comes with an MBA or EMBA programme.  

If you’re making the investment in yourself and your career, you want to know that your education will give you an advantage when it comes to salary, whichever business degree you choose.  

MBA (~£68,000)

With a Master’s in Business Administration, graduates can expect to earn an average yearly salary of £68,000, according to QS salary data on the graduating class of 2020. 

As well as gaining comprehensive business knowledge and exposure to industry contacts, an MBA can give graduates access to high-salary roles at strategic and c-suite levels. For budding entrepreneurs, it can provide the tools, techniques and room to develop viable and sustainable start-ups.  

An MBA can help you to kick-start a successful executive career, but your choice of business school and the industry you choose to work in will have an impact on salary. The reputation of a highly ranked business school can attract some of the world’s top companies in the most lucrative industries.  

Online MBA (~£73,000)

An online MBA provides the same comprehensive course content as a full-time, in-person MBA, with the added flexibility of working alongside your studies and the ability to learn from anywhere in the world. Does choosing an online programme have an impact on salary?  

According to the same QS salary data on the graduating class of 2020, you could expect to earn an average salary of £73,000 one year after graduating from an online programme, a slightly higher figure than the full-time equivalent.    

That said, the same caveat applies that salary will vary depending on your choice of business school and industry. 

Executive MBA (~£87,000)

An executive MBA is the highest, most executive level of business education and carries the highest price tag. The top ranked EMBA programme in the world, at IESE Business School in Spain, comes with a cost of €73,700 (~£63,000).  

Compared to an MBA, the executive MBA option is aimed at business executives with over five years of managerial experience and is a faster-paced programme.  

On average, EMBA graduates see a salary increase within three-and-a-half to five years of completing the degree with an average expected salary of £87,000. With financial remuneration expected to continue throughout your career, a financial return on your EMBA is something you can be sure of.  

Kathy Harvey, former director of the Oxford SaÏd Business School’s EMBA said: “Ask yourself if you want to make a big step change in your understanding of global business. This is not all about financial return but about gaining the insight and resilience to make a much bigger impact within an organisation.” 

Business master’s degrees 

How does salary compare with a master’s degree? With a lower price tag and options for full- and part-time programmes across many specialisations, a business master’s might provide a lower salary than an MBA or EMBA but the salary outcome is relative to its affordability.  

Master’s in finance 

A master’s in finance can give you the knowledge and skills to understand how to keep a business liquid, competitive and profitable, introducing you to the world of accounts and financial markets.  

Graduates can expect to receive an average salary of £46,000 six months after completing the course.  

Master’s in management 

Learn how to stand out in today’s highly competitive marketplace with a master’s in management, and develop an adaptive mind-set, solid business understanding and the practical skills to start your career.   

Graduates can expect to receive an average salary of £42,000 six months after completing the course.  

Master’s in marketing 

Being able to successfully market a brand or product is a critical business function. A master’s in marketing provides the knowledge and tools to develop strategic, innovative thinking for cutting through the noise in a complex digital world.  

The average salary for graduates with a master’s in marketing is £40,000 six months after graduation.  

Master’s in business analytics 

Organisations have recognised the essential role of data in gaining insights to grow and surpass competitors. There is a growing demand for managers with data analytics skills who can make evidence-based decisions.  

For a master’s in business analytics, you could expect to earn an average of £52,000 per year. 

Master’s in supply chain management 

The COVID-19 pandemic showed the importance of supply chain management in a crisis. A master’s degree in this area will provide an in-depth understanding of global logistics and supply chains and teach students the analytical tools needed to manage them successfully in a fast-paced environment with continuous demand.  

Graduates can expect to receive an average salary of £44,000 six months after completing the course.