8 Top Career Paths For Masters In Management Graduates

If you’re looking to advance to a leadership position, studying for a Master's in Management could be your next career move.

After building a broad perspective of how companies operate in the business world, as well as gaining a diverse network and valuable skills to lead in an ever-changing economy, you’ll be just what employers are looking for. 

Each year, Master in Management (MiM) graduates are freshly minted for leadership roles across a range of industries. Here are just some of the exciting career paths you could pursue after graduating with a MiM degree. 

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Top Master in Management career paths 

1. Project management

Becoming a project manager is one of the most versatile, high-paying roles available for MiM graduates. The average US project management salary currently stands at $91,000, while those in more senior positions earn upwards of $142,000 per year. 

Project managers are relied upon by companies to direct and manage teams, plan projects, distribute resources, and run risk assessments. It’s essential that project managers demonstrate good leadership qualities, as well as the ability to accept criticism and adapt to other people’s input. 

Important project management skills include communication, organization, problem-solving, and the ability to stay cool under pressure.

2. Human resource management

As a human resource manager, you will be a key part of a company’s infrastructure. You will be expected to oversee some of the most important parts of the business, including payroll, employee relations, learning and development, recruitment, and maintaining and developing HR systems.

Human resource management uses skills typically developed in a MiM program, such as decision-making, communication, budgeting, and organization. You will also need to be able to display empathy and compassion in a variety of situations.

With an average salary of $122,000, entering into the field of human resources can prove to be lucrative as well as rewarding.

3. Marketing management 

For those with a knack for dealing with large quantities of data, becoming a marketing manager might be the right move to gain career progression. 

Marketing managers perform a wide array of tasks, which include collecting and analyzing data, conducting market research, forecasting sales, and using critical thinking to optimize the profitability of products. They are also one of the main people involved in communications between clients and advertising agencies. 

Marketing managers therefore need to have strong interpersonal skills, such as verbal communication, leadership, and the ability to persuade others to buy a product. On top of this, marketing managers also require an affinity for math and the ability to pay attention to detail.  

On average, marketing managers earn $81,000 a year—but those in more senior roles can earn up to $131,000.

4. Management consultant 

The main role of a management consultant is to provide business advice to companies. This involves helping organizations to build value and maximize their growth by developing solutions to a wide range of problems. Consultants run objective analyses and assessments of businesses in order to gauge their strengths and weaknesses, as well as manage projects.  

One of the key skills involved in management consulting is effective communication, as you will be expected to converse with both domestic and global clients, as well as also having a deep understanding of metrics and how to use data to inform strategic decisions.

Management consulting guarantees some of the highest pay for MiM graduates. Starting salaries at any one of the Big Three firms (Bain, McKinsey, and BCG) begin at a whopping $112,000, with performance bonuses of up to $22,000. McKinsey runs a graduate program during the winter and spring that allows students to intern with them.  

5. Sports management 

Going into sports management can be an ideal way to combine a passion for sports with a leadership career. 

Sports managers are charged with taking over the promotion and marketing of individual athletes, teams, or even entire professional sports organizations. You will also be expected to be a spokesperson, which requires charisma and strong verbal skills. Other tasks typically performed by sports managers include monitoring ticket sales, scheduling events, and accounting for travel plans.

Being a successful sports manager requires solid PR skills, the ability to direct and manage teams of people, as well as being able to oversee financial assets. You will need to think strategically to be able to balance multiple projects at the same time. 

The average salary of a sports manager in the US stands at an impressive $84,000 per year, while in a company like Nike, managers can get paid up to $195,000.

6. Investment management 

Going into investment management can be one of the most exciting career paths for MiM graduates who are mathematically minded. 

Your main role as an investment manager is to ensure the safety of your client’s investments by earning them the highest possible returns and providing advice on market trends. To do this, you will need to closely monitor daily and even hourly market fluctuations and determine the best times to buy or sell assets. 

Aside from excellent numerical and IT skills, investment managers have to be analytical and organized, as well as capable of making important decisions under time pressure. Having strong communication skills is also a must, in order to secure your client’s trust. 

The salary range in investment management can vary, but as the most lucrative role on this list, the average total pay for investment managers in the US is an impressive $287,000 including bonuses.

7. Retail management 

For those who like to be hands-on in their roles, retail management provides a career path that allows for organizing all aspects of a business. 

As a retail manager, you will oversee recruiting and training staff, overseeing stock, and arranging in-store events. You will also have to deal with customer queries and complaints.

Since the role is very people-oriented, retail managers need to have strong customer service and team-building skills. They also need to be good with numbers, as they will be ordering stock and arranging sales and promotions. 

Average salaries sit at around $80,000, but at a top company like Amazon, you could earn up to $199,000 as a retail manager. 

8. Social media management 

As one of the most rapidly evolving sectors in the world, being a social media manager will appeal to those who enjoy constant new challenges. 

Social media managers are in charge of cultivating a company’s online brand. While you will be expected to develop and implement social media strategies as well as build client relationships, social media management can also involve having fun. In many roles, you will get to participate in online trends, create interesting images and posts, and even make memes. 

One of the key skills involved in social media management is creativity. You will need to have a keen eye for emerging trends and be able to make informed decisions based on media analytics. You will also need to be able to communicate effectively with both companies and customers. 

The average salary of a senior social media manager in the US stands at $101,000 though this can be higher depending on the company. There is also the option to go freelance, making it one of the more flexible and dynamic management jobs out there.