Where do Harvard MBAs make the most money? The business school's most recent data reveals that hedge funds pay more than private equity or investment banking.
All the big career destinations - consulting, banking, hedge funds, and private equity – had the same median base salaries ($175k). It's in bonuses that their compensation differs significantly.
Consultingis the worst paid sector, with both signing bonuses and performance-based bonuses averaging $30k – with 96% of graduates seeing signing-on bonuses and 88% of graduates receiving some sort of performance-based bonus. Over a quarter of Harvard MBAs went into consulting.
Hedge fundspaid the best. 59% of graduates received a higher signing on bonus ($50k), and a similar proportion, 83%, received a much bigger performance-based bonus ($167.5k). 8% of graduates went into “investment management and hedge funds”, as Harvard designated the category.
Nearly twice as many graduates went intoprivate equity. Although only 41% of MBAs who went into the field received a signing bonus (the same as consultancy’s), 84% received a huge performance bonus – with a median of $175k, making private equity the second highest paid field among the four.
Investment bankinghad a poor showing comparatively (although higher than consultancy, obviously). The signing bonus – which 88% of graduates received – was as high as a hedge fund’s. But the performance bonus lagged significantly between private equity and hedge funds, at $125k (which 88% of graduates received). A sign of the poor salary (andwork-life balance) could be the reason why only 3% of the university’s MBAs went into the field.
If you went to Harvard for your MBA, you’re making six figures. Although the median base salary has been higher than the mythical $100k figurefor some timein most fields that graduates entered, even the government & non-profit sector now sees a six-figure salary.
It’s common knowledge that MBAs make bank –Whartonreported $150k as the median graduate salary, andColombiaBusiness School said $180k.
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FAQs
At the top end of the pay scale in 2021 was the 8% of the latest class to head into hedge funds and investment management jobs, for whom the median total compensation totaled a gobsmacking $279,900, up from $203,307 in 2020, with median salaries of $165,000 (up from $152,682), sign-on bonuses of $50,000 (from $27,500), ...
Which pays more private equity or hedge fund? ›
Hedge fund compensation is more variable than private equity salaries + bonuses, but at the junior levels, you'll most likely earn a bit more in private equity. At the top levels, a star hedge fund PM who has a great year could easily earn more than an MD in private equity – depending on the fund size and structure.
How much does Goldman Sachs pay post MBA? ›
GS employees with an MBA or PhD start with a base salary of ~$30,000 USD. Compare this to the starting base salary in the U.S. of $170,000, which gives out a big difference. Bonuses for Goldman Sachs employees in India are also generally much lower than in the U.S., Uk and Singapore.
What is the average salary for an MBA in investment banking? ›
$247K. How accurate is a total pay range of $186K-$333K/yr? Your input helps Glassdoor refine our pay estimates over time.
How much do Harvard MBA make? ›
Average Harvard Business School MBA Salary By Region
Overall, the average salary of HBS graduates ranges from $123,000-$165,000. The data below shows the percentage of 2021 MBAs in each region and their corresponding salary averages.
What is the salary of a VP in a hedge fund? ›
As of Apr 14, 2024, the average annual pay for a Vice President Of Hedge Funds in the United States is $157,532 a year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $75.74 an hour. This is the equivalent of $3,029/week or $13,127/month.
Does private equity pay more than banking? ›
Many investment bankers graduate to working in private equity, therefore, private equity salaries tend to be higher.
What is the highest paying job in a hedge fund? ›
What are Top 5 Best Paying Related Hedge Fund Jobs in the U.S.
| Job Title | Annual Salary | Monthly Pay |
|---|
| Hedge Fund Attorney | $175,207 | $14,600 |
| Cfo Hedge Fund | $157,532 | $13,127 |
| Private Equity Fund Controller | $154,999 | $12,916 |
| Hedge Fund General Counsel | $151,643 | $12,636 |
1 more rowPrivate equity firms are investment businesses comprising investors who use their capital to invest in private businesses. Those working in private equity can often achieve a higher salary, but their income may be less stable than those working in investment banking.
Who pays the highest salary to MBA? ›
List of Highest Paying Jobs after MBA in India
| Job Profile | Highest Salary |
|---|
| Investment Banker | INR 40.4 LPA |
| Project Manager | INR 26 LPA |
| Consultant | INR 22 LPA |
| Marketing Manager | INR 23 LPA |
11 more rowsMar 12, 2024
The estimated total pay range for a MBA at Apple is $128K–$208K per year, which includes base salary and additional pay. The average MBA base salary at Apple is $130K per year. The average additional pay is $32K per year, which could include cash bonus, stock, commission, profit sharing or tips.
How much does Wharton pay MBA consultants? ›
Career Path Options for Wharton MBA Graduates
Salary: On average, Wharton MBA graduates entering consulting roles can expect an impressive starting salary of approximately $175,000.
How much do Wharton MBA graduates make? ›
Average Wharton MBA Salary
For consultants, the average is $165,000. These figures do not include bonuses. The industry reporting the highest salaries for 2021 MBAs is Legal & Professional Services, with a median starting salary of $190,000.
What is the peak salary of MBA? ›
Snapshot: Top Schools With The Highest Overall Pay
| School | 2022 Overall Base Pay | 2021 Overall Base Pay |
|---|
| Harvard Business School | $194,723 | $169,015 |
| Stanford GSB | $193,388 | $173,199 |
| New York (Stern) | $191,768 | $178,182 |
| Chicago (Booth) | $191,177 | $175,290 |
7 more rowsMay 8, 2023
First off, an MBA is not particularly useful. The numbers don't lie: look at any employment survey of the top 10-15 business schools, and you'll see that a low percentage of students (often 5-10% or less) accept hedge fund offers.
How much do you get paid post MBA top schools? ›
At the 10 MBA programs where grads received the highest compensation – all are among the top 15 highest-ranked programs in the 2024 U.S. News Best Business Schools rankings – the overall average base salary and signing bonus was $210,676, up more than $17,500 from the previous year's top 10 programs.
Can you become a hedge fund manager with an MBA? ›
The basic qualification for becoming a hedge fund manager is a bachelor's degree, a master's degree in finance or an MBA. Usually those with an Ivy League background score better jobs in hedge funds and therefore most managers have an elite education and in addition several certificates required for their job.
Do hedge fund managers have MBA? ›
No. It may be important to go to a top b-school, but work experience in a hedge fund before school is what often counts, says a Quora participant. The alternative is experience in investment banking or a private equity fund.
