Master's in Management (MiM) degrees are some of the most popular business masters degrees, but they often come at a cost—MiM programs at top-ranked schools tend to cost between $35,000 and $70,000.
A MiM is a significant investment, but as most programs typically last one year, you can begin seeing a return on your investment (ROI) quicker than longer degrees such as an MBA. Salary prospects are also high, with an average salary increase of MiM graduates from the top 20 business schools at 55% according to the Financial Times.
Here’s what your Master’s in Management salary could be after graduation.
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Top Master's in Management salaries
According to the latest Financial Times ranking, the average ‘weighted salary’ (average salaries three years after graduation) for graduates from the top 20 MiM programs worldwide is $115,012.
The school with the highest average MiM salary is the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad at $181,239. This marks an average salary increase of almost 44% for students, compared with what they earned before the MiM.
Across the top 100 programs ranked by the FT, MiM graduates see between a 25% and massive 94% increase in their earnings. As of 2025, the highest-earning MiM alumni from schools in Europe are graduates from HEC Paris, whose average weighted salary sits at $141,611. HEC Paris’ MiM program is also ranked second in the world, according to the FT.
At Switzerland's University of St Gallen—ranked number one by the FT—graduates earn on average $139,921.
At INSEAD, the third best MiM in the FT’s ranking, the average salary is $127,377, while graduates of the Nova School of Business and Economics MiM (fourth) can expect to earn an average of $123,485.
At Tsinghua University School of Economics and Management, the fifth best MiM in the FT ranking, the average salary after three years is $115,495—a huge 77% salary increase.
Financial Times Top 20 Master's In Management Programs
Value to employers
MiM degrees are highly valuable to employers, with schools typically reporting high employment rates for their MiM graduates.
According to the latest research by GMAC, 25% of employers reported plans to hire more MiM graduates in 2025, with a further 42% planning to hire the same amount of MiM graduates as last year.
Employment sectors for MiM graduates are diverse, with a strong focus on technology, finance, and consulting. Almost two-thirds of employers in the technology sector have plans to hire the same amount or more MiM graduates this year compared to last, while a respective 57% and 46% of finance and consulting employers plan to hire an equal or higher number.
At HEC Paris, 28% of the school's MiM grads go into financial services, 25% into consulting, and 11% into technology—with legal, retail, and luxury all represented too.
At London Business School, a leading UK-based institution, 36% of MiM grads enter the finance sector and 29% secure careers in consulting, according to the latest school figures.
MiM vs MBA
Most Master’s in Management are aimed at recent bachelor’s graduates with a maximum of two years of work or internship experience. Whereas MBA candidates tend to have between three-to-five years of work experience, MiM students are typically younger and at earlier stages in their professional careers.
"The decision really comes down to where you are in your career and what you want to achieve. If you're early in your career and want to build deep expertise in a specific area like finance, marketing, tech, or analytics, a specialized master's might be the right fit," explains Emily Schatzle, director of admissions for Master of Science Programs at the University of Texas at Austin McCombs School of Business.
"An MBA, on the other hand, is broader and more flexible. You can customize your experience through electives or concentrations, which makes it ideal if you’re looking to pivot industries, move into leadership roles, or start your own business. The key question is: Do you want to go deep in one area or wide across multiple business functions?"
The MiM curriculum covers similar subject material to the MBA, with the main difference being that an MBA class brings more existing industry experience. The course remains most popular in Europe, with only four schools from outside Europe making it into the FT’s top 20 MiMs.
MiM programs offer a variety of career paths for graduates, with competitive salaries and a strong likelihood that you'll make a good return, however much you pay for your MiM.
Download the free BusinessBecause Which Master’s Guide 2025, produced in partnership with the University of Texas at Austin McCombs School of Business, to compare top business master’s programs worldwide and find the degree that best fits your career goals.