Hi Vish,

How much salary will I get after finishing an MBA?

Zero. Nothing.

The question is based on a common misconception that if they “check a box” on a resume or application that it automatically entitles that person to a certain salary. While it is true that people with college degrees and advanced degrees make more than those without the credentials, there are also many people with advanced degrees (including MBAs) working for below average salaries.

Here is the bottom line: You don’t get paid for having a college degree. You get paid for the value you bring to the job.

It doesn’t matter if you are flipping burgers or doing brain surgery, any employer can only pay you a percentage based on the value of the work you do. If you can bring in $1 million in net profit every year with the skills you learned in your MBA program then your salary will be very high - likely $250,000-$300,000 annually. If you just arrive at an employers HR office with your MBA and no idea how to apply that knowledge, you’ll start as an entry-level analyst until they figure out if you are worth more than $30,000 a year.