Where do MBAs from Kellogg work and what salaries can they expect?

MBA students at Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University can expect impressive MBA salaries and exciting MBA jobs prospects after they graduate. In fact, its alumni rank eighth on our list of the highest-paid MBA grads.

This is due in part to the school’s sterling reputation. Kellogg is one of the elite M7 business schools, among the most reputable in the USA, noted alongside big names like Stanford, Harvard, and Wharton.

It is consistently ranked among the best MBA programs in the world: in 2024, the Kellogg MBA was ranked sixth in the world by the Financial Times. Notable Kellogg alumni include American senator John Hoeven and Massachusetts governor Charlie Baker. 

Kellogg offers a traditional, two-year MBA program, as well as a one-year MBA and its MMM program, a dual degree combining an MBA with an MS in Design Innovation.

So which companies hire Kellogg MBA graduates? And what's the average Kellogg MBA salary?

Most popular industries for Kellogg MBAs

Kellogg's MBA employment data reveals that 90% of the class of 2024* secured job offers within three months post-graduation, with international students closely following at 89%.

Students use these connections to pursue a variety of career paths. The most popular industries for Kellogg two-year MBA graduates are consulting (35%), technology (20%), and financial services (19%).

The technology sector continues to grow in appeal, with placements rising to 20% of the class, up from 17% last year. Graduates secured prominent roles, including product manager and product marketing manager positions.

Other industries that enticed the class of 2024 include healthcare (9%), consumer packaged goods (7%), retail (3%), media and entertainment (2%), and manufacturing (2%). 

Healthcare reached a five-year high this year, representing 9% of the class, a significant increase from 3% in the previous year. An additional 12 graduates started new businesses, including search funds.

Companies hiring Kellogg MBAs

So, which companies hired MBA grads from Kellogg? Consulting firms were by far the biggest recruiter of Kellogg MBAs in 2024, continuing a trend for the school, with the Big Three firms of McKinsey, Bain, and Boston Consulting Group (BCG) hiring a significant number of the class. 

In the tech sector, industry leaders such as Amazon and Google were among the largest employers of Kellogg graduates.

Other notable employers welcoming Kellogg MBAs include Adobe, Deloitte Consulting, Nike, Apple, Johnson & Johnson, and JP Morgan. 

Average Kellogg MBA salary

Kellogg MBA salary prospects are impressive. At the lower end, graduates from the two-year MBA class of 2024 earned a base salary of $70,000. On average, however, the Kellogg MBA salary students earn upon graduation is more than double that, at $170,000. 

The consulting sector offered the highest-paying MBA jobs for Kellogg graduates. Although it had the widest salary range, spanning from $70,000 to $230,000, it also boasted the highest median base salary at $190,000.

The median base salary for a Kellogg two-year MBA graduate in finance was $173,000, and for jobs in technology Kellogg grads earned a median base salary of more than $157,000 on average.

Salaries come with bonuses too. There was a a median signing bonus across all industries of $30,000, however the tech sector led the way, offering the highest median signing bonus at $42,150.

Kellogg MBA job destinations

The vast majority of Kellogg two-year MBA graduates stayed in the United States after graduation: a whopping 94% of the class. This is likely due to the higher salaries available in the US and the school's strong domestic connections with recruiters and industry players. 

Within the US, just over a third of graduates (36%) stayed in the Midwest, where the school is located. The West was the second-most popular destination with more than a quarter of grads (27%) landing jobs there. A further 21% of graduates relocated to the East, home to financial hubs such as New York City and Boston, while an additional 9% chose to settle in the South.

Kellogg MBA careers: McKinsey to nonprofits

Kellogg graduates find their way into a variety of industries, following varied and exciting paths. Having graduated in 2005, Michael Clark's MBA got him a job at McKinsey & Company as an associate principal. After nearly seven years at McKinsey, he used his skills and experience to switch into the charity sector. 

ARK is a UK charity encouraging children all over the world into education. As deputy chief executive, Michael attributes some of his success and experience to his MBA, helping him change the lives of others through his work.

“My MBA at Kellogg helped me to fill skills gaps from the first five years of my professional life whilst also helping me understand my passion for the social sector," Michael says.

“The international network that I built at Kellogg has been greatly supportive over the last 15 years and I had the best year of my life balancing hard work and lots of fun in a beautiful setting with a group of inspiring and wonderful classmates and faculty.”

Who is the Kellogg MBA for?

Kellogg School of Management has strong connections with the world's top MBA employers.

If you want to work for a Big Three consulting firm and earn an impressive salary straight out of your MBA, Kellogg has a lot to offer.

If you have high salary ambitions, you’ll be able to achieve them in the USA, but be prepared to work a little harder internationally.

Kellogg may be a US school, but thanks to its international reputation you’ll build a strong global network on the Kellogg MBA.

*Article is based on data from Kellogg's 2024 Employment Report for the two-year MBA program. This article was first published in May 2021 and updated in December 2024.