UC Berkeley Haas MBA Jobs & Salary Review

The Haas Business School at the University of California Berkeley has been challenging the status quo since opening its doors in 1898. The first business school founded at a public university in the United States, the school continues to function as a hub for innovation and the championing of bold ideas.

The Berkeley Haas MBA program is widely respected for its focus on redefining leadership, experiential learning, entrepreneurial skills, and social impact. Berkeley Haas was ranked among the top 20 programs globally in the most recent Financial Times MBA Ranking, while US News placed it in a tie for seventh place out of 124 US business schools in 2024. The school's part-time MBA program is also highly regarded, ranking second in the US News part-time MBA ranking.

Located in the heart of the Bay Area and Silicon Valley, the home of more than 2000+ tech companies—the densest concentration in the world— the location of Berkeley Haas offers its MBA graduates unparalleled access to opportunities in the tech industry. Notable alumni in the tech space include Shantanu Narayen, CEO of Adobe Systems; Paul Otellini, former CEO and president of Intel; and Arun Sarin, former CEO of Vodafone. 

So, what is the potential return on investment you can expect from the Berkeley Haas MBA? Here's a breakdown based on data from the school's 2024 MBA employment report.

Most popular industries for Berkeley Haas MBAs

Of the 207 full-time Berkeley Haas MBA graduates seeking employment in 2024, 178 (86%) received job offers within three months of graduating, a decrease of 3.9% from the previous year. Only 2.4% of those who received offers did not accept within the time frame. 

With this cohort, Berkeley Haas experienced a slight reordering among its most popular industries. Consulting, which previously ranked second, usurped technology as the most popular industry in 2024, with 25.4% of graduates joining companies within the sector.

Technology, however, still came in a close second, with 24.3% of students landing roles in the industry demonstrating that the school’s location continues to generate significant technology opportunities. Meanwhile, financial services retained its third-place position for another year, with employment rising from 14.5% to 15.6%. 

Healthcare attracted 7.5% of MBA graduates, while consumer products and energy both enticed 6.4% of the class. 

Additionally, 3.5% of the graduating class went on to start new businesses, which should come as no surprise considering the curriculum's emphasis on entrepreneurship and the Bay Area’s reputation as a hub for business creation. 

Berkeley Haas MBA employment by industry 

Companies hiring Berkeley Haas MBAs 

The list of this year's top employers of Berkeley Haas MBAs—defined as companies that hired three or more students full-time—encompassed several major firms across a few different industries; technology, consulting, and consumer goods. 

Bain & Company, Boston Consulting Group (BCG), Deloitte Consulting LLP, and McKinsey & Company were included in the list of the top consulting firms for the 2024 cohort. These firms also ranked among the four most prestigious consulting companies in the Vault 2024 consulting firm ranking, showcasing that some of the world's most reputable organizations turn to Berkeley Haas for their new talent. 

Adobe Systems Inc., Amazon.com Inc., and Western Digital were the top employers, all of which appeared in the 2023 list, highlighting that the school is a consistent supplier of talent to leading industry players. The Clorox Company, a leading consumer goods firm, also ranked among the top employers. 

Given the school's focus on developing change-makers and responsible leaders, it’s no shock that 23% of those who accepted a job three months after graduation assumed roles with a social or environmental focus. A further 14% of graduates went to work for startups, again a direct reflection of the program's focus on enterprise development. 

Average Berkeley Haas MBA salary

In 2024, the mean base salary for Berkeley Haas MBA graduates was $159,000, a marginal decrease from $162,000 the previous year. Of the 72% who received sign-on bonuses, the median was $30,000.

The highest salaries were reported by the 4% who ventured into industries labeled as 'other,' meaning outside the traditional domains for MBA graduates such as tech, finance, and consulting. With a mean salary of $207,000, this data reveals that a Berkeley Haas MBA can open doors to a diverse array of profitable and sometimes, unconventional careers. 

The second-highest salaries were earned by the 4% who landed roles in investment banking, where the mean salary reached $180,000 and the median signing bonus was approximately $60,000. Despite a $4,000 drop compared with the previous year, the median starting salary for consulting also remained significantly high at just over  $178,000.

Berkeley Haas graduates who landed jobs in technology secured average salaries of $154,000, a decline of $8,000 from 2023. Furthermore, those employed in the energy sector enjoyed a mean base salary of $150,000, while those in healthcare received slightly less, at $146,000. 

Additionally, 31.6% of graduates received compensation packages that included stock, with the median value totaling $75,000. 

Berkeley Haas MBA average MBA salaries by industry 

Berkeley Haas MBA graduate job destinations

An overwhelming majority of the Class of 2025 accepted jobs within the United States (93.6%), only a fraction lower (96.5%) than the previous year. The average reported salaries within the area reached as high as $172,000, with signing bonuses as large as $54,000.

The West Coast’s popularity prevailed for another year, with 78% of those who went to work in the US accepting jobs there, primarily in San Francisco and California. 

The remaining 6.4% of Berkeley Haas MBA graduates accepted international offers. Asia was the most popular among these graduates (3.5%), followed by Latin America & the Caribbean (2.3%) and lastly, Oceania (0.6%). 

Berkeley Haas MBA employment by region 

Given its location in Silicon Valley and proximity to the Bay Area—both synonymous with technological innovation and entrepreneurial spirit—the Berkeley Haas MBA is a great option for students looking to embark on a career in these fields. 

In touching distance with some of the world's biggest firms, the program can provide you with the tools and connections you need to launch your career.

With its emphasis on social impact, Berkeley Haas is also likely to be a great fit for those looking to use business to generate positive change. 

Find out about the Berkeley Haas Class of 2026.