What’s the Average MBA in Finance Salary?

The MBA is a versatile, advanced degree strongly associated with positive career outcomes. According to the General Management Admission Council’s (GMAC’s) 2025 Corporate Recruiters Survey, the median U.S. MBA salary in 2025 outperformed all other graduate management education (GME) degrees.¹

This speaks to a growing demand for MBAs. Prospective MBA students, however, must choose from a wide variety of options and specializations. Depending on your career goals, some MBA concentrations are more desirable than others. The MBA in Finance, for example, is appealing to those seeking direct entry into the finance industry²—perhaps pivoting from a career in another field—or to those looking to develop highly transferable skills. Every business has some connection or concern with finance and associated concepts, meaning finance experts will always have a role to play.³

If you’re an aspiring MBA student or a working professional looking for a credential to power the next phase of your career, it can be helpful to consider salary insights and expectations associated with particular degrees. Ultimately, an advanced degree like an MBA is intended to help your career, and salary data is one indicator of career success.

This post explores the available MBA in Finance salary data to help you evaluate this specialized but versatile qualification.

Average MBA in Finance Salary Overview

There are a tremendous number of variables that go into determining salary ranges, including industry, location and career stage. Nonetheless, the available data agree on one broad point: the average salary for MBA in Finance grads is appealing, outperforming average salaries for general MBA grads.

For example, online recruitment experts at ZipRecruiter estimate the median MBA in Finance salary is $169,537 per year.⁴ Recruitment site Glassdoor puts the average salary of an MBA in Finance in the U.S. at $238,000 per year.⁵

The reasons for the considerable difference in these estimations could be due to one site factoring in base salary, bonuses and other perks, and the other focusing purely on salary. Regardless, both estimates are comfortably higher than conventional estimates of the median salary for general MBA grads in the U.S.—estimated at $125,000 by GMAC.¹

Top-Paying Roles for MBA in Finance Graduates

An MBA in Finance is considered one of the highest-paying MBA concentrations, largely because it qualifies graduates for entry into well-compensated careers in the finance industry. These include roles such as:

• Investment Banker: Investment bankers work on complex financial deals, such as mergers and acquisitions, helping companies raise capital and providing market advice and insight to clients. ZipRecruiter estimates their median salary in the U.S. at $118,333⁶
• Financial Analyst/Senior Analyst: Financial analysts conduct high-level analysis of company financial data and economic trends to guide investment and strategic decision-making. Glassdoor estimates the average annual salary for this role at $88,111⁷
• Corporate Finance Manager: Almost every business in the U.S. will have some sort of finance manager function, overseeing the financial health of a company, business unit, department or project. ZipRecruiter estimates their median annual salary at $124,326⁸
• Portfolio Manager: Portfolio managers develop and execute investment strategies for private and institutional clients. They enjoy an average salary of $104,600 per online recruiter, Indeed⁹
• Private Equity Associate: Private equity (PE) associates identify and analyze investment opportunities for PE firms, manage ongoing investments and spot when it’s time to withdraw from a particular venture. They earn an average annual base salary of $177,015, according to Indeed¹⁰
• Chief Financial Officer: MBA graduates often ascend to leadership roles, and the CFO—the top finance position in most organizations—is the summit of many financial leadership careers. CFOs earn a median annual salary of $261,533, per ZipRecruiter¹¹

Key Factors That Influence Earnings

The salary of MBA in Finance graduates is a reflection of a variety of factors. An employer will consider your work experience, career background and certifications such as the CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) or CPA (Certified Public Accountant) designations.

Your program and school reputation can also contribute to initial earning potential. In this regard, networking within your school’s alumni groups and your own MBA cohort can be important, as these are the groups likely to have the highest opinion of your program.

Finally, don’t overlook non-salary earnings, such as performance bonuses, profit-sharing and educational assistance. Companies can be quite creative in putting together attractive compensation packages for prized candidates.

How to Maximize Your Post-MBA Earning Potential

To maximize your salary after an MBA in Finance, it often pays to plan ahead. Look for high-impact internships that will stand out to potential employers—recommendations from well-regarded companies or an opportunity to gain high-level experience can pay dividends in terms of your future employment prospects.

Similarly, a good MBA program will be both a source of learning and an opportunity to build a strong professional network. Your peers and mentors can provide invaluable connections and insight.

You must, of course, know your worth. Negotiate salary and bonuses based on a sound understanding of industry averages and norms for the roles you are seeking.

Finally, many types of finance degrees can equip you with basic and advanced levels of knowledge of financial concepts and tools, but the MBA is prized for its combination of technical expertise gained from specializations and leadership training. For example, William & Mary offers three online MBA in Finance specializations: Corporate Finance, Investment Management and Real Estate Finance. These allow you to develop soft skills alongside your subject area knowledge.

Unlock Your Earning Potential With an MBA in Finance From W&M

Earn a versatile and valued credential that equips you with a specialized understanding of finance and capital. Finance professionals work hard and deal with immensely complex issues, for which they are typically well compensated.

If you’re looking for a respected MBA in Finance that also offers working professionals the flexibility they need to maintain their current career momentum, consider the Online MBA in Finance from the Raymond A. Mason School of Business at William & Mary. You’ll enjoy the benefits of a modern, flexible online curriculum from one of the oldest universities in the U.S., a “Public Ivy” with a reputation for excellence stretching back to 1693.

Explore our curriculum and admissions info online. When you’re ready to discuss what William & Mary can do to propel your career to the next level, schedule a call with one of our admissions outreach advisors.