What Can You Do With an MBA?

When exploring which graduate degree to pursue, individuals often discover that completing a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree program can lead to a bright employment outlook. A 2023 Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) survey of more than 1,000 global employers found that MBA graduates were the most in-demand job candidates compared to those with other business degrees. 

Today, people can earn an MBA degree in a way that aligns well with their personal and professional commitments, including by enrolling in an online MBA program, a full-time in-person MBA program, or a part-time in-person MBA program. To choose the right program option, individuals should look ahead and learn about where an MBA could lead. 

What can you do with an MBA? Exploring the answer to that question reveals a wide array of attractive professional opportunities that make earning an MBA worthwhile.

Why Pursue an MBA?

Earning an MBA is an excellent way to acquire in-depth knowledge and skills in areas such as: 

• Corporate management
• Organizational leadership
• Resource management
• Competitive marketing
• Strategic analysis 

The expertise that MBA programs provide prepares students to innovate and apply their knowledge at any of a wide range of organizations and an extensive variety of careers.

Benefits of Earning an MBA

People who complete an MBA program can take advantage of a number of potential benefits. For example, they can: 

• Pursue career advancement. A 2022 GMAC survey of business school graduates found that approximately two-thirds of respondents advanced in their careers after earning a graduate business degree.
• Move into a new career. Even if their undergraduate degree or present career is not in business, people who earn an MBA can pursue a new career in one of many business sectors.
• Earn a higher salary. According to a 2023 National Association of Colleges and Employers survey, the average starting salaries for people with undergraduate and graduate degrees in business administration were $61,821 and $95,198, respectively.
• Enhance their global perspective. MBA programs provide students with key insights into the world economy and how businesses function in an international environment.
• Specialize in a particular area. MBA programs enable students to pursue a concentration in an area such as leadership, healthcare, analytics, or global supply chain management.

Types of Careers for MBA Graduates

The scope of what you can do with an MBA encompasses an array of careers that align with many different strengths and preferences. Some examples of MBA careers are outlined below.

MBA Careers in Midlevel Management

People with a few years of experience in business can leverage the expertise they gain from earning an MBA to progress into a midlevel management role such as: 

• Marketing manager. Marketing managers are responsible for creating and implementing marketing campaigns and overseeing market research. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), marketing managers had a median annual salary of $157,620 as of May 2023. The BLS projects 8% employment growth for these professionals between 2023 and 2033, which is twice the BLS’s projection of 4% employment growth across all occupations during that time.
• Human resources manager. Human resources managers plan for a business’s workforce needs and oversee its hiring functions. Human resources managers had a median annual salary of $136,350 as of May 2023 and are projected to see 6% job growth from 2023 to 2033, according to the BLS.
• Medical and health services manager. Medical and health services managers are responsible for overseeing specific departments within a healthcare organization or an entire healthcare organization. The BLS reports that medical and health services managers had a median annual salary of $110,680 as of May 2023 and are projected to see 29% employment growth from 2023 to 2033.

MBA Careers in Organizational Leadership

Individuals with extensive experience in management can capitalize on the expertise they gain by earning an MBA to ascend to a role in organizational leadership. For example, they can rise to a position such as: 

• Chief operating officer (COO). Chief operating officers oversee all of an organization’s daily operations and implementation of the organization’s business plans. According to Payscale, COOs had a median annual salary of about $149,000 as of October 2024. The BLS projects 6% job growth for top executives such as chief operating officers from 2023 to 2033.
• Chief financial officer (CFO). Chief financial officers are responsible for all of an organization’s financial operations, including functions such as accounting, finance, and financial planning. Payscale reports that CFOs had a median annual salary of around $150,000 as of October 2024. The BLS considers chief financial officers to be within the category of top executives, for which it projects 6% job growth between 2023 and 2033.
• Chief executive officer (CEO). Typically the highest level executives in their organizations, chief executive officers have ultimate responsibility for all of the organization’s functions and for ensuring that the organization meets its goals. The BLS reports that CEOs had a median annual salary of $206,680 as of May 2023 and are projected to see 5% job growth from 2023 to 2033.

MBA Careers in Specialist Roles

Some MBA programs allow individuals to focus on a key subject area. MBA graduates who excel in a specific aspect of business can pursue a specialist role, such as: 

• Data analyst. What you can do with an MBA extends to analytics. Data analysts derive meaning from large datasets and use that analysis in making business decisions or crafting strategies in areas such as sales and marketing. According to the BLS, data scientists had a median annual salary of $108,020 as of May 2023 and are expected to see 36% job growth between 2023 and 2033.
• Financial app developer. Specialists in financial technology (also known as fintech) include financial app developers who use their business and information technology expertise to create new apps that can deliver financial services. The BLS reports that software developers had a median annual salary of $132,270 as of May 2023, and it projects 18% job growth in the field from 2023 to 2033.
• Logistician. Logisticians oversee the supply chain of an organization, including functions such as inventory, transportation, and warehouse operations. According to the BLS, logisticians had a median annual salary of $79,400 as of May 2023 and are projected to see 19% job growth between 2023 and 2033.
• Management consultant. The primary responsibility of management consultants (also referred to as management analysts) is to review an organization and identify its options for strengthening efficiency. The BLS reports that management consultants had a median annual salary of $99,410 as of May 2023, and it projects 11% job growth in the field from 2023 to 2033.

Discover What You Can Do With an MBA

The variety of careers you can pursue with an MBA makes earning the degree an attractive option for anyone seeking to succeed in business. The expertise an MBA offers prepares students to advance along any of a number of rewarding career paths. 

Individuals who are interested in pursuing graduate business education can explore Bryant University’s MBA programs to learn how enrolling in one of these programs can help them achieve their career goals. Bryant University offers: 

• An Online MBA degree program with concentration options in innovative healthcare leadership, strategic leadership, or general management
• Two on-campus MBA programs — the One-Year MBA for full-time students and the Two-Year MBA for part-time students — each with concentration options in business analytics, fintech, global supply chain management, international business, or general management
• An Online Mini-MBA Graduate Certificate program that enables students to strengthen their leadership skills, learn problem-solving techniques, and deepen their understanding of business. 

Take the first step toward earning your MBA today.