An MBA is more than just a degree—it’s a key for career growth. Whether you want to climb the corporate ladder, pivot industries, or even start your own business, an MBA equips you with the skills to lead and thrive in a variety of roles.

But what can you actually do with an MBA? Read on for insight into some of the top career paths that MBA graduates pursue.

Key Takeaways

• • An MBA can lead to high-paying roles across industries like healthcare, consulting, finance, and tech—or even help you start your own business.
  • Graduates gain both hard and soft skills, including leadership, strategic thinking, and financial acumen, that support long-term career growth.
  • Choosing the right MBA program depends on your career goals, learning preferences, and networking needs—factors that can shape your future success.

What 5 Jobs Are Common for MBA Graduates to Pursue?

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics points out that jobs that have management components are usually higher-paid than roles that don’t. When it comes to jobs for MBA graduates, you’ll usually find yourself at the higher end of the pay scale in your industry, with the following being a handful of many examples.

#1 – Medical and Health Services Manager

You’ll take responsibility for the day-to-day running of a healthcare facility (or a single department in larger facilities), with productivity being your key focus. That comes with challenges. Medical and health services managers have to stay abreast of regulatory changes that affect their facilities and people. Procedure and protocol creation and maintenance also fall under your list of duties.

Median salaries reflect that heavy load, coming in at $110,680 on average in 2023 and likely to rise in the coming years.

#2 – Management Consultant

A management consultant is somebody who helps company managers lead better. In other words, you bring the combination of your career experience and your MBA degree program learning into a business to help it solve operational gaps and function more efficiently.

It’s an industry-agnostic role as practically every type of business has the potential to need somebody to help them operate better. Because of that, management consultant salaries can swing widely from lows of the $47,000 range to highs in the six-figure bracket of around $150,000. Specialization helps here – the more you know about an industry, the more a company will value your knowledge.

#3 – Investment Banking

Investing, banking, and financial markets offer a wide range of opportunities for MBA graduates, especially those with strong analytical and leadership skills. Managing investments requires strategic decision-making, risk assessment, and financial expertise.

First-year financial analysts can easily earn in the $100,000 to $125,000 range – with bonuses on top – and have two or three-year timeframes for promotion. Work your way up the C-Suite, such as managing director of a company, and your salary could easily top $500,000, with bonuses potentially doubling your income.

#4 – Project Management

Industry-wise, the project manager is like the chameleon of the MBA graduate world. Practically every type of business needs people with leadership skills who can organize teams and keep their projects on track. The level of that need – along with the specific industry – determines your salary expectations.

Expect to be paid between $69,000 and $118,000 per year (experience often leads to higher pay), with the project management sector as a whole achieving an average salary of $90,000.

#5 – Entrepreneur

Many MBA graduates aren’t looking for full-time career opportunities with other companies. They’re the entrepreneurs of the world. The people with grand ideas who maybe didn’t have the business nous needed to bring those ideas into the real world before they completed their MBAs.

However, being an entrepreneur comes with risk. You have no defined salary expectations – you earn based on the success of your business – and you’re not under the protective umbrella of another company. However, if you strike gold with your idea, it’s being an entrepreneur that can put you on the path to earning millions (even billions) of dollars. Just know that the odds aren’t in your favor – about a fifth of new companies fail within two years, rising to 65% over ten years.

How Does an MBA Lead to More Professional Success?

MBA programs equip students with key foundational business knowledge alongside a bevy of soft skills. That’s what makes them so appealing – you’re learning skills that benefit you (and your employers) in the long term. MBA career paths typically lead to positions offering six-figure salaries and promotion potential due to these skills.

How to Choose an MBA Program Right for You

Where do you want to go in your career? It’s a crucial question to ask off the bat because MBAs vary depending on the school, with some likely to offer curriculums that align with your career intentions better than others. Additional factors that could help you make up your mind include how you want to study (full campus experience or online and self-paced) and the level of students taking the course from a networking perspective.

Contact UC for Personalized Support on Your MBA Journey

UC’s Lindner College of Business offers an online MBA program that is unique among the many available. You’ll develop key foundational skills – finance, economics, operations, and marketing are all covered, among others – and can control how you learn over the year-long program.

We’re here to support you – discover UC’s Master of Business Administration degree today.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What jobs can you get with an MBA?

An MBA opens the door to roles in management, finance, healthcare, consulting, tech, and more. Common jobs include project manager, investment banker, healthcare administrator, management consultant, and entrepreneur.

Which MBA job is highly paid?

Investment banking is often among the highest-paid MBA career paths, especially as you move into senior roles. Management consulting and executive leadership positions can also offer six-figure salaries with significant bonus potential.

Does an MBA increase salary?

Yes, an MBA often leads to higher earning potential by qualifying you for leadership roles. Many MBA graduates see significant salary jumps within just a few years of completing their program.

What doors does an MBA open?

An MBA can fast-track your path into senior management, help you transition to a new industry, or give you the foundation to launch your own business. It also expands your professional network, which can lead to new opportunities.