MBA SALARY EXPECTATIONS: DATA FROM THE QS TOPMBA.COM 2013 APPLICANT SURVEY


MBA applicants in 2013 have more realistic post- MBA salary expectations, according to the QS TopMBA.com Applicant Survey. The QS Intelligence Unit surveyed 4,100


MBA applicants and found that a still unstable post- recession job market has led candidates to lower their target salaries.


Here Are Some Headline Findings


Average Current Salaries Have Dropped in the Past Year The average salary of MBA applicants has dropped from US$44,333 in 2012 to US$40,000 in 2013. This salary drop reflects the current state of economic uncertainty throughout the world.


The only region that saw an increase in average salary was the US & Canada. Average salaries here increased from US$61,000 in 2012 to US$63,000 in 2013. The salary drop applies to MBA applicants of both genders. Male applicants, however, experienced a greater salary decrease, with


the average falling by US$5,000 to US$40,000. The smaller drop experienced by female candidates (US$41,000 to US$38,000) means the gap between the two now stands at only US$2,000.


In response to a lower average salary, a greater proportion of MBA applicants (61.1% as compared to 45% in 2008) expect that they will need to rely on scholarships in order to fund their degree.


Applicants Have More Realistic MBA Salary Expectations This year’s average target is US$113,000, which is significantly lower than last year’s figure of US$126,500. While applicants have lowered their salary


expectations, this average target salary (an increase of 282.5% on average current salary) reflects the fact that applicants still expect a return on investment from their MBA degree.


Post-MBA Salary Expectations by Region


The most dramatic decrease in expected earnings comes from applicants in Africa & the Middle East who expect to earn US$94,000 – down US$26,000 from last year’s target salary of US$124,000.


The region with the most optimistic MBA applicants is Eastern Europe, where respondents expect to increase their salary by 365%.


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