Business Management Degree Salary

Business Management Degree Salary: How Much Can You Make?

Is a business management degree worth it? Earning a degree in business management can help you become a strong, effective leader and an asset within your field. Due to this degree’s extensive applications, you can expect to find both professional and financial success in any number of industries. 

How much can you make with a business management degree?

While the median annual salary for management occupations in 2020 was an impressive $102,450 (according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics), the exact amount of money you can expect to earn with your business management degree will depend significantly on three key factors.

What Factors Impact Business Management Degree Salary?

Because individuals with degrees in business management can enter a variety of industries, the average salary range you can expect to earn will depend on your particular job, as well as your years of experience and your highest level of completed education. Below are some of the biggest influences on a business management salary:

Field of Employment

Business management graduates can find work in a number of fields, including administration, advertising and marketing, computer information systems, food service, real estate, sales,finance, and many more. 

To better understand your potential for financial growth, let’s take a look at a few of the most lucrative fields of employment you can enter with a business management degree. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics, the annual median salary for business management graduates are as follows:

• Computer and information systems managers – Median annual salary of $159,010; projected job growth of 16% through 2031
• Administrative services managers – Median annual salary of $99,290; projected job growth of 7% through 2031 
•  Financial managers – Median annual salary of $131,710; projected job growth of 17% through 2031
• Sales managers – Median annual salary of $127,490; projected job growth of 5% through 2031
• CEOs and top executives – Median annual salary of $98,980; projected job growth of 6% through 2031

Level of Education

Like many other fields, the level of education you earn in business management can determine your starting salary range and growth opportunities. Those in the business management field who go on to earn a master’s degree in business administration (MBA) can expect to earn more than those with a bachelor’s degree. In fact, an MBA graduate can often find jobs with starting salaries in excess of $100,000.

Most MBA degree programs take about two years to complete, although the length of your program will ultimately depend on whether it’s full or part-time. While many schools require a passing grade on either the GMAT or GRE graduate exams, the MBA degree programs at some schools, like North Central College, do not.

Other requirements for entry to an MBA program will typically include:

• All higher education transcripts
• A minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 
• Prerequisite business courses 
• Relevant work experience
• Letters of recommendation
• An updated resume
• A statement of goals and objectives for your career

Required classes for an MBA will vary from school to school, but there are some common courses you’re likely to see at most institutions. At North Central College, MBA students should expect to complete the following courses in order to earn their business degree:

• Data Analytics for Managers
• Strategic Management
• Financial Management
• Managerial Economics
• Strategic Human Resource Management
• Global Supply Chain Design and Management 
• Entrepreneurship and New Venture Strategy
• Global Business

Students are often required to take on a residency experience during their MBA program, in order to develop their business skills and prepare for a career in the professional world. 

Business management degrees can differ based on title and the institution. For example, you’ll want to make sure you understand the differences in business administration vs business management degrees as their titles are similar but provide different skill sets.