Maximizing Post-MBA Salary

Assuming we're looking at a 15 year time horizon post-MBA for someone who didn't do finance pre-MBA, what are some career pathways post-MBA that would maximizing the NPV in the 15 year time horizon?

Does doing IB post-MBA beat out (total compensation wise) all other options including PM at FAANG?

 

Banking has a clearer path to solid peak career earnings (~$1M+/year) but BigTech PM has less risk attached to it (far easier to burn out, rage-quit, get counseled out etc in banking).

In the average case, someone going to banking would flame out by later year Associate/VP/Director and land a cushy corp job somewhere on ~$200-300k whilst the BigTech PM would probably plateau at the average terminal career level (~Sr PM) and make ~$300-500k.

In the best case, banker reaches MD and the PM reaches Director level PM (or one step below e.g. Group PM) and both make >$1M.

 

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