Those who purse a Masters in Business Administration, or its cousin, the Executive Masters in Business Administration, may not be guaranteed a ridiculously high payday upon graduation. However, what it does typically offer is the potential for higher pay and bargaining power for those who hold these post-graduate degrees. MBA and Executive MBA graduates have an extended range of professional options open to them than those holding only a bachelor's degree.
In terms of undergraduates, the most in-demand business degree is accounting. According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), 62% of surveyed employers said that they wanted accounting majors for new hires. In fact, 2011 accounting graduates will have the easiest time navigating the current job market, even with high unemployment levels nationwide. Business are looking for employees who are not only business savvy but also good at counting and tracking money. Accounting graduates can expect an average starting salary of $48,334.
Economics and finance are the second most in-demand category of business degrees. According to NACE's Job Outlook 2011 survey, 57% of major employers sought employees with finance degrees. Graduates in economics and finance can enjoy a range of jobs in business, particularly in the financial sector, including banks, hedge funds and on the stock market. They can also find work in government, non-profit and other private sectors. The average starting salary for an economics or finance graduate is $49,794.
Business Administration/Management is the third most in-demand business major. According the the NACE Job Outlook 2011 survey, 52%of employers sought business administration/management graduates. The professional scope for business administration/management graduates can be rather wide and include the business, government, private and non-profit sectors. They can hold management, director or other key positions within an organization. The average starting salary for business administration/management graduates is $45,887.