The highest paying jobs with a business degree
Find the business jobs that pay the most, the concentration that leads to each one, and the experience and credentials that get you there.
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The highest paying jobs with a business degree are management roles, led by chief executives at a median of $213,990 a year. Next come computer and information systems managers at $175,140 and financial managers at $166,570, based on May 2025 pay published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) in 2026. Most people reach these jobs after several years of work. New business graduates were projected to start on an average of $68,873 in 2026, according to NACE. This guide shows the top 10 jobs, the concentration that leads to each one, and when an MBA, CPA or CFA is worth it.
The 10 highest paying jobs with a business degree (BLS median pay)
These are the best-paid jobs that BLS lists with a bachelor's degree as the typical entry point, and where business is a common route in. They're ranked from highest to lowest median pay.
| Job | Median pay (May 2025) | Business concentration that fits |
|---|---|---|
| Chief executives | $213,990 | Management, finance, general business |
| Computer and information systems managers | $175,140 | Management information systems (MIS) |
| Financial managers | $166,570 | Finance, accounting |
| Advertising, promotions and marketing managers | $165,780 | Marketing |
| Human resources managers | $149,280 | Human resources, management |
| Compensation and benefits managers | $149,230 | Human resources, finance |
| Sales managers | $148,270 | Sales, marketing |
| Public relations and fundraising managers | $136,470 | Marketing, communications |
| Training and development managers | $133,000 | Human resources, management |
| Industrial production managers | $126,060 | Operations, supply chain management |
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, management occupations and top executives. Last checked: November 13, 2026.
A median is the middle figure, so half of people in each job earn more and half earn less. These figures cover everyone in the job, from new managers to people with 20 years behind them.
One detail catches people out. BLS also reports a "top executives" figure of $108,780, which looks much lower. That group mixes chief executives with general and operations managers, who earn a median of $105,770. The top executives page splits them out.
Business jobs you can get straight after a bachelor's degree
Manager jobs usually come later. For financial managers, BLS says employers usually want 5 years or more in a related job, such as accountant, loan officer or financial analyst. The jobs below are common first steps, and several already pay six figures at the median.
| Job | Median pay (May 2025) | Where it can lead |
|---|---|---|
| Personal financial advisors | $105,070 | Senior advisor, practice owner |
| Financial analysts | $103,570 | Financial manager |
| Project management specialists | $102,320 | Operations or general manager |
| Management analysts (usually after a few years of experience) | $101,860 | Senior consultant, operations manager |
| Budget analysts | $91,640 | Financial manager |
| Accountants and auditors | $83,680 | Controller, financial manager |
| Logisticians | $82,320 | Supply chain or production manager |
| Market research analysts | $78,760 | Marketing manager |
| Human resources specialists | $75,940 | Human resources manager |
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, business and financial occupations. Last checked: November 13, 2026.
Starting pay vs mid-career pay: NACE 2026 vs BLS
NACE surveys employers each year about what they plan to pay new graduates. Its Winter 2026 projections put the average starting salary for Class of 2026 business graduates at $68,873, up 5.5% from $65,276 the year before. Within business, NACE published these averages:
- Business administration and management: $68,831
- Sales: $67,927
- Marketing: $66,994
These are base salaries only, with no bonuses or commissions. They come from employers' plans, collected between October 8 and November 30, 2025, according to the NACE press release.
Put next to the BLS figures, the gap is clear. The median financial manager earns about 2.4 times the average business starting salary. That growth comes from experience and promotion, not from the degree alone.
An honest limit: BLS medians cover all experience levels, so they aren't a precise "mid-career" number. We haven't found a federal data series that tracks pay by years of experience for each of these jobs. Treat the BLS figure as what a settled professional in that role typically earns.
Which major or concentration leads to each job?
Most business degrees let you pick a concentration in your second or third year. Here's how the common ones line up with the jobs above.
- Finance: financial analyst, personal financial advisor, budget analyst, then financial manager.
- Accounting: accountant or auditor, then controller or financial manager. BLS counts controllers and treasurers as financial managers.
- Management information systems: business analyst or IT roles, then computer and information systems manager.
- Marketing: market research analyst or marketing coordinator, then marketing, advertising or PR manager.
- Human resources: HR specialist, then HR, compensation and benefits, or training and development manager.
- Supply chain and operations: logistician or purchasing agent, then industrial production manager.
- General business administration: management analyst, project management specialist or sales roles, then sales manager or general manager.
If you're unsure, finance and accounting have the most direct paths to the highest-paid finance jobs. MIS pairs business with tech, which shows in the $175,140 median for computer and information systems managers.
Do you need an MBA, CPA or CFA to get there?
None of the jobs in the top 10 table requires one by default. Each can still speed things up or open specific doors.
| Credential | Most useful for | What it takes |
|---|---|---|
| MBA | Senior management, consulting, executive roles | A graduate degree, usually after a few years of work |
| CPA | Accounting, auditing, controller and finance leadership roles | A state license: education hours, the CPA Exam and work experience |
| CFA | Investment analysis, portfolio management, research | Three exam levels plus 4,000 hours of relevant work experience |
Source: BLS, NASBA and CFA Institute. Last checked: November 13, 2026.
The MBA matters most near the top. BLS notes that executives of large corporations may hold an MBA, and that some employers prefer MBA holders when hiring management analysts.
The CPA is a license from your state board of accountancy. The traditional route needs 150 semester hours of education, which is more than a standard 120-credit bachelor's degree. In 2025, the AICPA and NASBA added a new pathway to their model rules: a bachelor's degree in accounting, two years of experience and a pass on the CPA Exam. Each state decides whether and when to adopt it, so check your state board before planning extra credits. BLS also notes that some employers want a chief executive to be a CPA.
The CFA charter is built for investment work. CFA Institute requires you to pass all three levels and complete at least 4,000 hours of qualifying work experience over a minimum of 36 months. Most candidates take a few years to finish.
How to get a head start in high school
Business programs lean on economics, math and statistics, so the classes you take now carry over. AP Microeconomics, AP Macroeconomics, AP Calculus and AP Statistics all build skills you'll use in a finance or accounting major. Strong grades also help if your college admits students to its business school directly.
Medly AI covers AP courses and the SAT, with exam-style practice questions, automatic scoring and an AI tutor that explains where you lost points. The free plan includes 5 marked questions and 20 AI tutor messages a day, with no card needed.
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest paying job with a business degree?
Chief executive, with a BLS median of $213,990 in May 2025. Below the top level, computer and information systems managers ($175,140) and financial managers ($166,570) earn the most.
What is the best job for a business administration graduate?
It depends on your strengths, but management analyst is a strong fit once you have a few years of experience. It paid a median of $101,860 in May 2025, and BLS projects 10% growth from 2025 to 2035, much faster than average.
Which bachelor's degree pays the most?
Across all majors, NACE projected computer science ($81,535) and engineering ($81,198) to start highest for the Class of 2026. Business graduates were projected at $68,873.
Can you make six figures with a business degree?
Yes. Every job in the top 10 table has a median above $100,000, and so do financial analysts, management analysts, personal financial advisors and project management specialists.
How long does it take to become a financial manager?
Usually at least 5 years after your bachelor's degree. BLS says most financial managers first work as accountants, auditors, loan officers or financial analysts.
Is a BA or BS better for business?
Neither is better across the board. A BS usually includes more math and analytics, which suits finance and MIS, while a BA leaves more room for languages and electives. Check the course list at each college you're considering.