Which is the highest paying job in business?

Hand stacking dartboard on the top of up arrow for enhance setup business objective target and goal concept

Hint: It’s better at the top.

The view from the top: Which is the highest paying job in business?

Today’s business majors have a lot to look forward to: Excellent job growth, stellar employment rates, and salaries 3% higher than those who graduated just a year ago.¹ For some, the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow is an executive-level role at a Fortune 500 company.

But roles like that don’t come easy. It takes decades of hard work (24 years on average²), perseverance, a boatload of talent, and a lot of luck to rise to the level of CEO. Think you’ve got what it takes?

What is the highest paying business job? It’s sweeter in the C-suite.

It probably comes as no surprise that C-level executives tend to top the salary charts. According to the AFL-CIO,³ CEO pay at S&P 500 companies increased by more than $5 million to an average of $16.7 million in the past ten years. The top paying CEO salaries are in the multi-million-dollar range at companies like Blackstone Inc, Alphabet Inc, and Peloton, just to name a few.

However most Chief Executives won’t land in such a lucrative pay grade. According to Indeed,⁴ the current national average for CEO salaries is around $136k—a number which highlights the vast difference in salaries for startups and small businesses versus multi-national corporations. And while some CEOs earn their way to the top through hard work and grit, around 46%⁵ also added an MBA along the way.

As someone considering a BBA in business, you may be more interested in finding out the highest paying business majors as well as the highest paying business jobs at entry level.

Here’s a recent list courtesy of the Federal Reserve Bank⁶ (and Tippie's own career outcomes reports):

	Median Wage Early Career	Median Wage Mid-Career	Tippie Graduate Median Starting Wage
Finance	$66,000	$104,000	$60,000
Economics	$65,000	$100,000	$51,000
Business Analytics	$65,000	$100,000	$68,000
Marketing	$50,000	$85,000	$50,000
Accounting	$60,000	$84,000	$65,000
General Business	$50,000	$83,000	$60,000

The Advisor

What's the best business major?

What’s the highest paid business major?

Which is the highest paying job in business?
Which business major is most in demand?
What is the highest paid business major?

What is the best business major for the future?

Is there a shortage of business major jobs?

What is the #1 highest paid position?

As previously noted, CEOs tend to land at the top of the pay scale in any business environment. Whether earning in the millions or six figures, the CEO of any business is inevitably its highest-paid employee. Indeed also reported these options as some of the highest paying business careers:

Corporate Controller

Influence the financial health of a company through making fiscally responsible decisions and guiding the financial accounting department.

$ 125,300

National average salary

Director of Product Management

Launch a brand or product from start to finish by initiating research and marketing studies, and facilitating discussions between engineers, marketing professionals, and leadership.

$ 161,903

National average salary

COO (Chief Operating Officer)

Who makes sure companies not only execute on their strategic vision but also run smoothly and effectively? It’s a role that falls largely on a Chief Operations Officer. COOs track and monitor company performance on a broad scale and work closely with the corporate CEO.

$ 135,545

National average salary

CFO (Chief Financial Officer)

While it may appear that CFOs average a higher pay range than CEOs, in most companies a CEO earns much more than a CFO. Chief Financial Officers are responsible for the financial reporting, tracking, and analysis of their company—and are asked to weigh in on budgeting, purchasing, and investing strategies.

$ 144,563

National average salary

Does salary always determine the best business careers? Does it help you determine what’s the best business major for you? Not always. Job satisfaction is an important piece of the puzzle. A recent Washington Post⁷ feature discussed the jobs that made Americans most happy and least stressed.

For business majors, jobs in real estate, finance, and administrative management offered an enviable balance of happiness and meaning, with lower stress reported.

It’s good to be king: What is highest paid job in the world?

Outside of the business world, healthcare and information technology are at the top of the charts globally in terms of pay.⁸

General Surgeon - $201,888
Anesthesiologist - $243,760
Radiation Therapist - $123,590
Senior Software Engineer - $128,843
IT Systems Manager - $98,350

Far from the tree? What branch of business pays the most?

In a 2023 Forbes⁹ article, the top three highest paying business careers are in finance and banking, information technology, and healthcare.* Within these industries, your business degree can lead you to well-paying careers such as:

$ 99,890

Financial Analysts

$ 79,880

Accountant or Auditor

$ 99,580

Personal Financial Advisors

$ 79,352

Product Manager

Guides the development, launch, and promotion of new products in the tech industry

$ 84,940

Budget Analysts

$ 73,259

Healthcare Manager

Manages healthcare departments and facilities, from day-to-day operations to financial planning and business strategy

“Finance has surprised me by the level of demand and opportunities in the field. I didn't know how many different jobs having a financial background can help you find. Even if I don't find a career in banking, finance can give me a toolkit for a career anywhere.”
McKenzie Turner, BBA Finance, Tippie College of Business

Even outside of these top-paying industries, there are plenty of fun business jobs that pay well. By exploring fields like marketing, analytics, economics, and management, you may find a passion that leads to a fantastic paycheck.

No matter which major you choose, you can make your way to the top of the ladder (and the pay range) with any business degree.