MBA Salaries Bounce Back After Coronavirus Uncertainty

MBA grads will still earn big bucks this year despite coronavirus uncertainty, according to the latest Corporate Recruiters Survey by the Graduate Management Admission Council

MBA students who graduated this year can expect to earn a salary of around $105,000, according to the Graduate Management Admission Council's (GMAC) latest Corporate Recruiters Survey.

GMAC gathered data from 712 employers in February 2020, and data from a further 232 employers in June, after the effects of the coronavirus pandemic took hold. These employers represented a range of industries and geographies, but the majority (80%) were based in the United States.

The six-figure salary reported by employers demonstrates the continued value of management education, despite the global economic dip brought about by coronavirus.

Back in May, the National Association of Colleges and Employers predicted a 30% drop in MBA salary prospects in 2020 compared with 2019. Over the past few months, however, this outlook has improved.

Salary by Program

MBA graduates continue to command the highest salaries of any graduate management program.

At the start of the year, employers expected to pay MBA hires a median salary of $115,000. Although this median has since dropped to $105,000, it still outstrips the average salaries of graduates from other business school programs.

In February 2020, employers reported that Master in Management and Master of Accounting graduates would be paid a median salary of $75,000. Graduates from Master of Data Analytics and Master of Finance programs can expect a higher salary, however—with medians of $85,000 and $80,000 respectively.

The marked difference between MBA and Masters salaries likely reflects the difference in average years’ experience.

Most MBA students join the program with several years experience behind them, while business master's students often come to programs earlier in their career.