What is the highest paying job post-MBA?

I am going to apply to begin my MBA in September 2023. 

My targets are the T15 and London Business School. 

I come from a tech sales background where the money is pretty decent but was wondering which jobs pay the most as soon as I finish the MBA and what sort of salary I can expect.

It seems MBA straight to IB Associate is the highest-paid and that is around $200-250k per year.

Is this correct?

38 Comments
 

yes, the highest paying job on an absolute basis is IB associate

think carefully if that is a good idea tho - in this position myself and decided to do IB, based more on a desire for quick career advancement than money, and I have found that the IB lifestyle is truly just not worth it 

you can make 200k first year (in the US) in consulting (slightly less insane lifestyle) or tech (totally normal lifestyle)

 

Yeah this is bullshit.. your base is off by $100k. Closer to $300k all-in at those shops. 

 

straight out?

probably LO AM, IB, PE, HF, GE, Private Debt, Infra-PE - only LO AM and IB are most accessible to non-trads. Infra / GE / HF / PD / LMM PE might be lenient. MM / UMM / MF PE is pretty tough to impossible for non-trads (helps if you're ex IB / Consulting + URM)

then consulting, tech, VC, real estate, SS R, GS PWM/JPM PB, PE CXO programs. most pop. tech functions are: PM, S&O / PgM / CoS, PMM, BIzDev/Pships, CorpDev but you also get Finance, Ops/SCM, General Mktg, Sales and CS / AM.

then everything else: non-tech corporate/LDPs, CPG marketing, M&E content, retail buying/merch etc

long-term all MBA roles have potential for $$$s some more than others.

if you're entrepreneurial venture backed entrepreneurship or search funds are worth looking into

Was obsessed with finance, now do product in tech
 

Is it even possible to get into IB from tech sales? I don't understand how doing an MBA will get me an Associate role at an IB considering I do not have a finance background.

 

Blanditiis eum ipsum nulla perferendis. Dolores possimus non aspernatur qui.

Nam rerum suscipit dolor sit. Molestias aut ut non provident. Quod amet dicta qui suscipit adipisci tempore doloremque. Eligendi sunt fugit laudantium. Repellat id ut eos voluptas inventore omnis quo. Ipsa aliquid eaque dignissimos omnis ducimus delectus itaque. Est dolor quae tempora recusandae non.

Career Advancement Opportunities

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 08 97.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 02 97.3%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Evercore No 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.8%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.3%

Professional Growth Opportunities

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 97.3%

Total Avg Compensation

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (48) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (25) $178
  • Intern/Summer Associate (14) $159
  • 1st Year Analyst (83) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (75) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”