Not only do you need to establish the average MBA salary for your chosen business school, you also need to be able to link this to your own particular circumstances and experience.
As a starting point, you should look at the differences in average graduating MBA salaries (at the business schools where you are planning to study) based on the career paths that previous MBA graduates have chosen, as there may be differences that exist because of location and industry.
To help you place a value on your MBA qualification you should also seek to answer the following questions:
- What are the average starting salaries for MBA graduates with 5 or 10 years experience? This experience differential can be difficult to value and you may need to find a more personalized way of evaluating this, such as obtaining a Personal Salary Report (prices start at only $29).
- What is the average MBA salary for the business school, or schools, that you are considering? How do these graduating MBA salaries compare with other business schools that you are considering?
- Do the average graduating MBA salaries vary by geographical location, i.e. will you need to move once you graduate to realize your full salary-earning potential?