Let’s jump into the just-released employment report for the Stanford GSB MBA Class of 2024.
Of the 432 graduates of the MBA Class of 2024, 249 were seeking employment; that is, 58 percent of the graduating class. Within three months of graduation, 88 percent of students seeking employment received job offers. Eighty percent of GSB graduates seeking employment accepted positions within three months of graduation.
“The MBA Class of 2024 demonstrated leadership, curiosity and thoughtfulness as they embarked upon their post-graduation careers. GSB prides itself on developing the next generation of transformational leaders, and this year’s employment report reflects their professional pursuits—from careers in technology, finance, health care, and management consulting to entrepreneurial startups and search fund ventures. We’re proud to support our graduates wherever their passions take them and throughout their decades-long career journey,” says Jamie Schein, Assistant Dean & Director, Career Management Center, in the report announcement.
A full 23 percent of the Stanford GSB MBA Class of 2024 are now dedicating their time to the launch of their new ventures. Twelve percent of the Class of 2024 were company-sponsored or already employed, and another four percent continued their education instead of seeking employment.
Salaries & Industry Choices
The average starting salary for the MBA Class of 2024 landed at $187,504 and the median at $185,000. For the tenth consecutive year, Stanford GSB MBA graduates saw an increase in the median starting salary; but the equally long-running record for mean salary finally broke, as it dipped slightly compared to last year. Of graduates reporting salary info, 49 percent reported signing bonuses, the median of which is $30,000.
The finance industry maintained the top spot for Stanford graduates and hired 37 percent of the latest class. This year, 16 percent pursued private equity and six percent venture capital–the latter a seven percent dip from last year. Seven percent went into investment/portfolio management. Finance roles landed the highest mean and median salaries at $201,794 and $200,000, respectively.
Twenty-two percent of graduates entered the technology field, followed by 14 percent in consulting. Six percent chose to work in healthcare and five percent each went into media/entertainment or energy.
Turning to the 23 percent of entrepreneurs, 28 percent started businesses in technology and the same pursued search funds, a form of entrepreneurship where “searchers” acquire and run existing businesses. Sixteen percent launched ventures in healthcare and four percent each in finance or energy.
| Finance | 37% | $201,794 |
| Technology | 22% | $187,654 |
| Consulting | 14% | $180,250 |
| Healthcare | 6% | $158,636 |
| Media/Entertainment | 5% | $187,857 |
| Energy | 5% | $166,700 |
Regional Placement
Ninety-one percent of those who sought employment found it in the U.S. Forty-five percent settled in the West, a five percent dip from last year, followed by 31 percent in the Northeast, matching last year. Stanford noted in the report, “New York is emerging as an increasingly popular destination for GSB grads, particularly with those who have accepted jobs in the finance, health care, and technology sectors. Latin America remains the most common destination for those accepting jobs internationally.”
The Midwest, Southwest and South regions took in four percent of graduates each. The Mid-Atlantic attracted three percent of the class. Looking internationally, five percent headed to Latin America/Caribbean/South America while just two percent moved to Asia/Australia/Oceania.
| West | 45% |
| Northeast | 31% |
| Midwest | 4% |
| South | 4% |
| Southwest | 4% |
| Mid-Atlantic | 3% |
