Written by: Genevieve Carlton
What are the highest-paying jobs in business? And which business majors pay off the most? Business majors can become accountants, consultants, and market research analysts. While most careers require a bachelor’s, associate degree-holders also qualify for many high-paying business major jobs.
After launching a business career, people might consider more ways to increase their earning potential. Business professionals often see salary increases with experience or a master’s degree.
Our guide introduces popular business degrees and the highest-paying business jobs for different majors. Prospective students can use our resources to learn more about business major jobs.
Questions About Business Majors
Many business majors benefit from strong demand compared to the national average. A major in finance, accounting, or management prepares graduates for careers with strong projected growth.
Business is the most popular undergraduate major. Within business, popular majors include marketing, finance, and business administration.
Several business majors show strong potential. Information technology management, healthcare management, or entrepreneurship majors prepare graduates for different opportunities.
The highest-paying business degrees include finance, international business, and economics majors. Jan. 2022 Payscale data shows bachelor’s degree-holders in these majors earning average annual salaries over $70,000.
Types of Business Majors
Business programs offer majors in many subfields, including accounting, marketing, and finance. This section introduces common business majors. Check with schools to learn about their specific degree options.
Accounting Accounting majors learn how to create and evaluate financial documents. Possible classes include cost accounting, accounting information systems, and auditing. Topics cover identifying errors in financial reports and tracking revenue and expenses. Students also learn to manage complex accounting systems. Depending on career goals, accounting majors take specialized courses. Examples include management accounting, public accounting, and forensic accounting.
An accounting degree prepares recent graduates for some of the highest-paying jobs in business. Besides general accountants, graduates become certified public accountants. They can also become auditors and personal financial advisors. Some accounting majors work as budget analysts and management consultants.
Advertising An advertising degree trains students for advertising, sales, and marketing careers. Learners study print and digital advertising. They explore social media advertising and mobile advertising. Students also learn how to create an advertising strategy and implement a campaign. The major also covers marketing research to teach learners about potential customers.
Advertising topics include media strategy, advertising campaign design, and account management. These classes focus on research and creative skills. Degree-seekers may do an internship with an advertising agency. Graduates may become advertising specialists or managers.
Business Management Business management majors study core business concepts and management principles. The major covers leadership methods and effective management practices. Learners take organizational behavior and business ethics classes. The degree includes core courses in finance, marketing, and entrepreneurship. Students pick electives based on interests and career goals.
Many business management programs use assignments and internships to build skills. The degree strengthens decision-making and interpersonal skills. Business management degree-holders can become management analysts. They can also find jobs as business consultants and managers in many industries.
Business Administration Business administration programs cover core business areas like finance, marketing, and accounting. After foundational classes, business administration majors study organizational leadership. They also study operations management and strategic decision-making. The degree builds problem-solving and leadership skills. Key soft skills include time management, organization, and interpersonal communication.
With a business administration degree, graduates pursue many career paths. For example, professionals may work in finance, human resources management, or marketing. The degree also prepares graduates for consulting or accounting careers. Business administration skills transfer to many public and nonprofit sector jobs.
Economics Economics majors explore economic decision-making at the individual and societal levels. Econ students see how market forces and government interventions affect decision-making. Learners study topics like market structure and government policy. Other courses cover supply and demand and cost theory. The major strengthens analytical and research skills.
Coursework includes microeconomics and macroeconomics. Finance and business electives help students specialize their skills for certain careers. The degree prepares graduates for careers in corporate finance and government. Common job titles include financial analyst, economist, and budget analyst.
Finance Business majors with a finance concentration study the banking system and investment strategies. The focus on financial markets trains learners for careers in the field. Students take financial analytics, corporate finance, and financial management classes. They explore accounting, management, and budgeting principles.
The degree focuses on analytical and research skills. Majors learn to evaluate investment options, assess risk, and manage an investment portfolio. Business major jobs in finance include financial analyst, personal financial advisor, and budget analyst. With experience, professionals can move into roles like financial manager.
Healthcare Management Healthcare management majors learn to lead healthcare organizations effectively. The degree covers core business principles with a focus on the healthcare industry. Students take healthcare budgeting and healthcare regulations classes. They also take a health information management course. These courses prepare graduates for leadership roles in hospitals, doctor’s offices, and other healthcare settings.
A healthcare management degree does not require clinical training. Instead, the curriculum focuses on nonclinical leadership roles in healthcare. Graduates can work as health information managers and healthcare or nursing home administrators.
Marketing A marketing degree strengthens analytical and research skills. Degree-seekers learn about market research, product development, and pricing strategies. They may take a consumer behavior course. Learners also explore competitor research methods and the relationship between marketing, advertising, and sales.
As a field that blends analytics with creativity, marketing appeals to many business majors. Most marketing programs include core business classes and specialized courses in marketing strategy. Other specialized courses include marketing research and strategic marketing management. Common marketing careers include market research analyst and digital marketing specialist. Graduates can also work as advertising specialists.
Supply Chain Management Supply chain management majors look at resource management strategies. They learn about the global supply chain. Coursework covers methods for increasing efficiency in production, distribution, and delivery. Other topics include demand forecasting, distribution, and order fulfillment. Coursework focuses on the differences between product and service supply chains.
Majors take core business classes and specialized logistics courses. Common classes include service and manufacturing operations and advanced logistics. Supply chain management degree-holders can become logistics consultants. They may also pursue careers as operations managers, supply chain analysts, or production managers.
Business Career Pathways
Bachelor’s degree-holders qualify for many entry-level business major jobs. They may work as financial analysts, market research analysts, or management analysts. Students can start applying for jobs during their senior year. Internships, work experience, and capstone projects help recent grads stand out in the job market.
Where can recent grads find business major jobs? Degree-holders can reach out to their school’s career center or business program for recommendations. Many employers recruit at on-campus career fairs or expos.
Typically, the interview process starts with a screening process. Degree-holders should customize their resumes and cover letters for each position. Employers often use a phone interview to decide whether to move forward with a candidate. Entry-level roles may require one or more in-person interviews.
Many of the highest-paying business jobs include supervisory responsibilities. Early-career professionals can increase their earning potential by moving into management roles. These positions typically require experience or a master’s degree.
| Career | Median Annual Salary | Projected Growth Rate (2020-2030) |
|---|---|---|
| Financial Analyst | $83,660 | 6% |
| Financial Examiner | $81,430 | 18% |
| Personal Financial Advisor | $89,330 | 5% |
| Budget Analyst | $78,970 | 5% |
| Management Analyst | $87,660 | 14% |
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
Financial Analyst
Financial analysts research investments and manage investment portfolios. They recommend investment strategies for individuals and businesses. Financial analysts also review financial data and study economic trends. In addition, they may determine a company’s value based on financial statements.
Financial Examiner
Financial examiners make sure organizations follow laws and regulations for economic transactions. They look at financial documents to measure an organization’s financial risk and management. Financial examiners then make reports outlining the company’s financial health. They may recommend procedures to comply with regulations.
Personal Financial Advisor
Personal financial advisors recommend saving and investment strategies for their clients. They discuss financial goals with clients, research investment options, and offer financial services. Personal financial advisors may take on fiduciary responsibilities for clients. They may specialize in retirement planning or investing.
Budget Analyst
Budget analysts look at financial data to make budgets. They work in private, nonprofit, and public organizations, creating budget reports and overseeing spending. Budget analysts make sure proposals follow legal requirements. They also verify that spending falls within the current budget. As part of their responsibilities, budget analysts may forecast future needs.
Management Analyst
Management analysts review an organization’s procedures and recommend improvements. They suggest ways to lower costs, improve efficiency, and increase earnings. Management analysts use interviews, financial data, and observations to develop recommendations. They create presentations or reports to communicate their strategies to management.
Genevieve Carlton holds a Ph.D. in history from Northwestern University and earned tenure as a history professor at the University of Louisville. An award-winning historian and writer, Genevieve has published multiple scholarly articles and a book with the University of Chicago Press. She currently works as a freelance writer and consultant.
Pronouns: she/her