With any postgraduate degree, you gain access to more specialized high-paying careers. A Masters in Business Administration (or MBA) is a popular choice due to it’s versatility and earning potential.
MBA’s open doors for upper level business management, and are applicable in a variety of careers. You can specialize your MBA with up to two minor degrees, certifications or work experience.
We’ve compiled this list of 5 careers to help inspire you to pursue your MBA. Each career on this list is projected to grow in the next ten years, making each choice a wise career goal.
1. IT Management – $140,000 average
IT Managers plan, direct and coordinate online or computer-based work for a company. This job can be exciting, as IT managers will be tasked with solving new and complex problems on a regular basis. They will likely have to manage a team of IT specialists, as well.
As the highest position within an IT department, an IT manager will likely be tasked with the most complex duties and decisions regarding technology. For example, IT managers choose which software a business utilizes, installs that software and becomes the go-to resource for troubleshooting. They’ll also be in charge of network and hardware.
2. Marketing Management – $135,000 average
Marketing managers lead a company’s marketing department. They create and implement ad campaigns, allocate funds to certain projects and delegate duties to their juniors within the department. A company could own multiple brands or products, tasking a marketing manager with the oversight of multiple projects or departments at once.
Marketing managers would thrive with high skill levels in research, leadership, and organization.
3. Sales Management  – $125,000 average
Sales managers tend to come from a sales background, with years of experience cultivating the unique skill set of a salesperson. Postgraduate education might be pursued concurrently while working or between positions. Aside from overseeing a department of salespeople during daily operations, a sales manager is held responsible for reaching sales quotas.
While this position can receive heavy pressure from the company’s executives to fulfill sales goals, the position can also be highly rewarding.
Sales managers could receive commission or bonuses based on team performance and have the opportunity to travel frequently for business.
4. Business Operations Manager – $100,930
Business Operations Managers help an organization meet its goals through management and directives. You can expect working with finance, human resources and project management to coordinate multi-department initiatives. An operations manager will need excellent leadership and communications skills.
Operations managers have room to grow within a company and can shoot for CEO or CFO positions with the right efforts.
5. Human Resource Manager – $80,000 average
An HR manager ensures the wellbeing and functionality of a company through cultivating a positive company culture.
HR Managers are responsible for recruiting, interviewing and hiring new employees. They serve as the human link between employees and upper management.
HR Managers can also be responsible for certain administrative duties, like planning and implementing employee benefit programs or organizing teamwork development events.
Experience is Still Highly Valuable
Many postgraduate careers tend to be management positions, where you’ll lead a team of peers in your field. Note that many of these positions will require at least some previous experience along with your degree.
Applicable experience could come in the form of jobs held in other fields with similar duties or while working and pursuing your degree concurrently.
It’s an effective career path to gain some experience first before returning to postgraduate school.
When considering a master’s degree, it’s important to consider how your major will affect the course of your career path. As evidenced above, a master’s degree in business administration could be the right choice for you.
