Articles

High Paying Professions That Almost Always Require An MBA

2010-03-22

There are many high-paying occupations that almost always require an MBA. When applying for investment banking, hedge fund management jobs, or high-end management consulting jobs, an MBA from one of many accredited MBA schools is an invaluable resume resource. An MBA degree ensures that investment bankers have the competitive budgeting, management, and high level analysis skills that their chosen profession requires. Qualified investment bankers have expertise in accounting, finance, and economics. When applying for investment banker positions, it's helpful to have at least several years of corporate experience in these fields, or in banking work. Work weeks can range from 80 to 100 hours, but bonuses often surpass yearly salary. It is difficult to put a definite ceiling on an investment banker's average salary, but it is almost always over $100,000, and can range into the seven-digit realm.

Hedge fund manager jobs, such as Fund Head, Senior Portfolio Manager, Junior Portfolio Manager, Junior Trader, Junior Analyst, and Risk Manager, also require an MBA. A Hedge Fund Manager oversees the money a select group of investors place in an investment fund. Each hedge fund has a different investment strategy specific to its investors and their interests, whether they are shares, debts, or commodities. To gain this particular position, one needs to have an intimate understanding of all thins hedge fund related. These types of positions are high-paying and require not only a working knowledge of the field they are in, but a higher degree, more accurately an MBA, because it demonstrates expertise in a specific field. Hedge funds are a complicated matter to fully comprehend, and reading a number of books can only get a candidate so far; whereas an MBA degree solidifies a beyond-the-basics comprehension of the field.

MBA schools benefit self-motivated and self-disciplined potential management analysts with superb time-management skills. Management Analysts, sometimes called consultants, have the task of analyzing an organization's efficiency, structure, and/or profits, and determining means of improving any existing problems. Management analysts work in a variety of positions, including, but are not limited to, those in scientific, technical, and management consulting firms. The consultant field is booming, as companies hire management analysts to help them deal with the constantly shifting landscape of electronic commerce and information technology. Depending on his or her area of management expertise and the size of the employer, management analysts generally earn anywhere between $69,000 and $82,000 per year.

Students enrolled in an MBA program learn the skills they need to hold down jobs in high-pressure, time-constrained fields like investment banking, hedge fund management, high-end management consulting, and more. For those who seek high-salaried positions with reputable companies, receiving an MBA is an important step in the process.