Most MBAs Expect to Earn Between $100k-$200k Next Year

Our exclusive network of MBA talent gives us access to the career profiles of over 70,000 MBA students and alumni from the world's top-ranked business schools. These career profiles tell us a lot about the demographics of the current MBA population, including industry preferences, function preferences, work experiences, geographic preferences, and salary expectations.

Surprisingly, this year's graduating class of MBA students has very similar salary expectations to their experienced counterparts already in the workforce. Roughly 50% of all MBAs, whether still in school or alumni, expect to earn between $100,000 and $200,000 next year. And a mere 5-6% of MBAs expect to earn less than $65,000.

There are some differences which shouldn't surprise you though, including a 5% jump in $300,000+ range for business leaders with post-MBA experience.

Here is the data, including charts and graphs for both populations:

• $300k plus: 2.64%
• $250k-$300k: 2.64% 
• $200k-$250k: 7.45% 
• $150k-$200k: 18.27% 
• $100k-$150k: 30.29% 
• $80k-$100k: 21.15%
• $65k-$80k: 11.06%
• $50k-$65k: 6.49% 

• $300k plus: 7.14%
• $250k-$300k: 4.07%
• $200k-$250k: 9.53%
• $150k-$200k: 20.73%
• $100k-$150k: 31.90%
• $80k-$100k: 14.79%
• $65k-$80k: 6.82%
• $50k-$65k: 5.01%

To view the complete career profile/demographic information for these top-ranked MBA students and alumni: Request your complimentary MBA career profile demographics report today.

SF Bay, NYC, and Boston: Top 25 Locations for MBA Jobs

MBA hiring is up across the board over the past year. We saw a 103% increase in MBA-required and MBA-preferred jobs in the U.S. alone. But it's not necessarily where you'd think.

There are still plenty of MBA jobs in and around the San Francisco Bay, New York City, Boston, Seattle, and Chicago. But MBA hiring in the Washington D.C. metro area, Virginia, Ohio, and Dallas metro area are all up over 100% compared to last year.

Here are the top locations for MBA jobs in the U.S.:

1. WEST - California - SF Bay Area
2. NORTHEAST - New York - NYC Metro
3. NORTHEAST - Massachusetts - Boston Metro
4. WEST - Washington - Seattle Metro
5. MIDWEST - Illinois - Chicago Metro
6. MIDATLANTIC - Washington DC Metro
7. WEST - California - Los Angeles Metro
8. MIDWEST - Ohio
9. NORTHEAST - New Jersey
10. SOUTHWEST - Texas - Dallas Metro
11. WEST - California - Orange County
12. SOUTH - Georgia - Atlanta Metro
13. WEST - California - Other
14. MIDWEST - Minnesota - Minneapolis Metro
15. MIDATLANTIC - Virginia
16. NORTHEAST - New York - Other
17. NORTHEAST - Massachusetts - Other
18. NORTHEAST - Connecticut
19. SOUTH - Florida - Miami Metro
20. MIDWEST - Michigan - Detroit Area
21. SOUTHWEST - Texas - Houston Metro
22. MIDATLANTIC - Pennsylvania - Other
23. WEST - California - San Diego Metro
24. MIDWEST - Nebraska
25. SOUTH - North Carolina

But here are the fastest growing locations for new MBA jobs in the U.S. (by percentage increase of jobs over last year):

1. MIDATLANTIC - Washington DC Metro: 134.67%
2. MIDATLANTIC - Virginia: 113.11%
3. MIDWEST - Ohio: 111.27%
4. SOUTHWEST - Texas - Dallas Metro: 108.45%
5. WEST - California - Other: 98.53%
6. MIDWEST - Nebraska: 98.00%
7. WEST - Alaska: 97.67%
8. SOUTH - Florida - Miami Metro: 96.36%
9. SOUTH - Kentucky: 95.74%
10. SOUTH - Tennessee: 93.88%
11. SOUTH - Alabama: 93.18%
12. MIDWEST - Missouri: 92.00%
13. SOUTH - Arkansas: 91.11%
14. WEST - Hawaii: 90.91%
15. WEST - Washington - Other: 89.80%
16. SOUTHWEST - Arizona - Other: 88.89%
17. WEST - Montana: 88.89%
18. SOUTHWEST - New Mexico: 88.64%
19. SOUTHWEST - Arizona - Phoenix Metro: 88.00%
20. NORTHEAST - Connecticut: 87.93%
21. MIDWEST - Kansas: 87.23%
22. MIDWEST - South Dakota: 87.23%
23. SOUTHWEST - Oklahoma: 86.67%
24. WEST - Wyoming: 86.67%
25. NORTHEAST - New Hampshire: 86.54%

Here are the top locations for MBA jobs outside the U.S.:

1. ASIA - China - Shanghai Metro
2. ASIA - China
3. NORTH AMERICA (Non-US States) - CANADA - Ontario
4. ASIA - China - Beijing Metro
5. ASIA - India
6. ASIA - Singapore
7. EUROPE - United Kingdom - London Metro
8. LATIN AMERICA & THE CARIBBEAN - Brazil
9. MIDDLE EAST - United Arab Emirates
10. ASIA - Thailand
11. ASIA - Hong Kong
12. ASIA - Japan - Tokyo Metro
13. NORTH AMERICA (Non-US States) - Mexico
14. EUROPE - Belgium
15. EUROPE - Germany
16. EUROPE - United Kingdom
17. ASIA - South Korea
18. OCEANIA - Australia
19. LATIN AMERICA & THE CARIBBEAN - Chile 
20. LATIN AMERICA & THE CARIBBEAN - Argentina
21. NORTH AMERICA (Non-US States) - CANADA - Quebec 
22. EUROPE - Switzerland
23. EUROPE - Russia
24. ASIA - Japan
25. LATIN AMERICA & THE CARIBBEAN - Colombia

And here are the fastest growing locations for new MBA jobs outside the U.S. (by percentage increase of jobs over last year):

1. ASIA - China - Beijing Metro: 400.00%
2. ASIA - China - Shanghai Metro: 388.89%
3. EUROPE - Switzerland: 350.00%
4. MIDDLE EAST - United Arab Emirates: 300.00%
5. ASIA - Singapore: 287.50%
6. ASIA - Thailand: 225.00%
7. ASIA - Hong Kong: 212.50%
8. ASIA - India: 181.82%
9. ASIA - Other: 180.00%
10. EUROPE - United Kingdom: 175.00%
11. ASIA - South Korea: 162.50%
12. ASIA - Taiwan: 160.00%
13. ASIA - China: 150.00%
14. EUROPE - France: 133.33%
15. NORTH AMERICA (Non-US States) - Mexico: 118.18%
16. EUROPE - United Kingdom - London Metro: 114.29%
17. EUROPE - Germany: 100.00%
18. EUROPE - Poland: 100.00%
19. ASIA - Japan - Tokyo Metro: 84.62%
20. EUROPE - France - Paris Metro: 80.00%
21. NORTH AMERICA (Non-US States) - CANADA - Ontario: 72.73%
22. NORTH AMERICA (Non-US States) - CANADA - Maritimes  : 66.67%
23. NORTH AMERICA (Non-US States) - CANADA - New Brunswick  : 66.67%
24. NORTH AMERICA (Non-US States) - CANADA - Nova Scotia   : 66.67%
25. NORTH AMERICA (Non-US States) - CANADA - Prince Edward Island  : 66.67%

Source: Data is from jobs posted to MBAs at our partner school via Global Focus and our MultiPost job posting technology. 

Series 7, Series 63 and Pilots License: Top 10 Most Popular Certifications and Licenses for MBAs

In addition to 6+ years advancing their education, many MBAs also attain other certifications and licenses to further prepare themselves for the business world ahead.

It should also come as no surprise that finance certifications and licenses lead the pack. But you might be interested to see what else makes the list, including: Security Clearance, Real Estate License, Pilot License, and Architect License.

Out of 71,325 MBA students and alumni currently in our database, and 9,610 who answered this career profile question, here is what we found:

For the full list of stats and data on MBAs other certifications and licenses click here.