I will teach you how to bring your life stories to essays faster with F1GMAT's essay guides. Download below or subscribe to F1GMAT's Service and work with me - Atul Jose, Author/Editor/Founding Consultant, F1GMAT(16 Years of helping applicants gain admissions to M7 and Top 30 schools) Consulting emerged as a dominant industry at Darden Post-MBA program in the recruitment sphere, boasting the highest hiring rate of 46.30% among the industries, highest among all the T20 schools, and even 4% higher than top M7 school in consulting, i.e., Kellogg (44%). Notably, this industry also offers the most lucrative median base salary, standing at an impressive $190,000.
Darden MBA Salary: By Industry (2023)
Financial Services follows closely, with a notable 26.20% hiring rate. With a median base salary of $175,000, this sector remains highly competitive, attracting career switchers and career enhancers drawn to the intricacies of Banking, Investment, and Financial Management.
The Technology sector emerges as another significant contributor, with a hiring rate of 10.50%, slightly behind all M7 schools. The median base salary in this sector stands at $155,000.
While Consulting, Financial Services, and Technology dominate in terms of hiring rate and salary, Healthcare, Manufacturing, Retail, Consumer Product Goods, and Real Estate each carve out their niche at Darden, albeit with varying degrees of recruitment activity and compensations.
Healthcare, with a modest 3.50% hiring rate, offers a lower quartile (T20 schools) median base salary of $125,000. Manufacturing and Retail industries, each with hiring rates of 2.90% and 3.20%, respectively, provide avenues for MBA graduates to apply their skills in operations, supply chain management, and strategic planning. Median base salaries in these sectors hover around $125,000 and $143,900. The $140,000 mark – one of the highest for the retail industries while the $125,000 base – is a minimum standard for a T20 school.
Consumer Product Goods and Real Estate industries, although representing smaller proportions of MBA hires at 2.60% and 1.60%, offer lower quartile median base salaries of $117,500 and a strong $150,000, respectively. These sectors cater to individuals interested in Brand Management, Market Analysis, Property Development, and Investment.
Notably, the Energy sector, while not providing specific salary data, exhibits a lower hiring rate of 0.60%.
| Industry | % Hired | Median Base Salary |
| Consulting | 46.3% | $190,000 |
| Consumer Product Goods | 2.6% | $117,500 |
| Energy | .6% | NA |
| Financial Services | 26.2% | $175,000 |
| Healthcare | 3.5% | $125,000 |
| Manufacturing | 2.9% | $125,000 |
| Real Estate | 1.6% | $150,000 |
| Retail | 3.2% | $143,900 |
| Technology | 10.5% | $155,000 |
Darden MBA Salary: By Function (2023)
Topping the charts in both hiring rate and the median salary is Consulting, with an impressive 46.30% hiring rate and a median base salary of $190,000 – a standard in the industry that is only exceeded by Stanford, Booth, and Haas’ $192,000 median base salaries. The roles in consulting are mostly in strategic advisory roles, with the industry pivoting to super specialization where problem-solving prowess and experience in an industry are valued the most. Generalist – those who were in Consulting role pre-MBA are often in charge of driving organizational changes.
Following closely behind is Finance/Accounting, with a substantial 26.20% hiring rate and a median base salary of $175,000. Only Cornell ($190,000) and Stanford ($200,000) were ahead. Schools matching Daren’s 25% and above in Finance were mostly M7 schools, except for MIT. NYU Stern and Cornell were the two peer schools offering similar high recruitment percentages in Finance.
General Management emerges as another prominent function, attracting 11.50% of Darden MBA hires – a rarity considering General Management functions are fast declining even in general management schools like Stanford.
Harvard, Duke Fuqua, Haas, and Ross continue to be the only other schools crossing the 10% representation in the function. Positioned at the helm of organizational leadership, General Management roles offer a holistic view of business operations, strategic planning, and team leadership. Do keep in mind that there are niche Strategic Planning split up in school reports published by Harvard, Stanford, Booth and Kellogg that could also overlap with a Consulting function. The median base salary for the General Management function stands at $145,000 – below the offers at Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, MIT, Haas, and Kellogg, reiterating the value of M7 schools in attracting above-par compensation across functions.
Marketing/Sales, another declining function with an 8.60% hiring rate, attracted professionals in Market Analysis, Brand Management, and Customer Engagement niches. With a median base salary of $126,000, the function underperformed at Darden, where peer schools – Duke Fuqua, Haas, Ross, and Tuck, could all attract a $135,000 to $145,000 median base salary.
Information Technology, with a 3.80% hiring rate and a median base salary of $169,000 was the fourth popular function. Human Resources and Operations/Logistics, although representing smaller proportions of hires at 1% and 1.30% completed the top 7 functions at Darden with competitive median salaries - $143,000 and $141,000, respectively.
| Functions | % Hired | Median Base Salary |
| Consulting | 46.3% | $190,000 |
| Finance/Accounting | 26.2% | $175,000 |
| General Management | 11.5% | $145,000 |
| Human Resources | 1% | $143,000 |
| Marketing/Sales | 8.6% | $126,000 |
| Information Technology | 3.8% | $169,000 |
| Operations/Logistics | .13% | $141,000 |
Darden MBA Salary: By Region (2023)
97.4% of the Darden post-MBA graduates were placed in North America with a median base salary of $175,000. As the epicenter of global business activity, North America offers a multitude of opportunities across various industries and functions, attracting the bulk of Darden MBA graduates seeking diverse career paths and competitive compensation packages.
Within North America, the Northeast emerges as a significant hub, accounting for 33.40% of MBA hires. With a median base salary of $175,000, the Northeast region encompasses major financial centers such as New York City and Boston, offering lucrative opportunities in Finance, Consulting, and Technology.
The Mid-Atlantic and South regions also feature prominently, with hiring rates of 23.30% and 13.10%, respectively, and identical median base salaries of $175,000.
In the Midwest and Southwest regions, with hiring rates of 8.20% and 11.20%, respectively, graduates find opportunities in sectors such as Manufacturing, Healthcare, and Energy. The Southwest stands out with a slightly higher median base salary of $190,000, potentially driven by the presence of thriving tech hubs and robust industries in states like Texas.
The West region, comprising 10.80% of MBA hires, offers a diverse array of opportunities ranging from Entertainment and Hospitality to Technology and Renewable energy. Despite a slightly lower median base salary of $169,100 compared to other regions, the West's entrepreneurial spirit and innovative ecosystem are driving robust hiring rates.
Outside of North America, Asia represents a smaller proportion of MBA hires at 1.30%, with a median base salary of $114,287.
| Region | % Hired | Median Base Salary |
| North America | 97.4% | $175,000 |
| Mid-Atlantic | 23.3% | $175,000 |
| Midwest | 8.2% | $175,000 |
| Northeast | 33.4% | $175,000 |
| South | 13.1% | $175,000 |
| Southwest | 11.2% | $190,000 |
| West | 10.8% | $169,100 |
| Asia | 1.3% | $114,287 |
Darden MBA Salary: Top Employers (2023)
Consulting emerges as a dominant force among the top employers, with McKinsey & Company, Bain & Company, BCG, and Accenture making significant appearances. Renowned for their strategic advisory services and problem-solving prowess, these Consulting giants attract top talent eager to tackle complex challenges and drive organizational transformation across diverse sectors.
The Financial Services sector also commands a notable presence, with institutions such as Citi, Morgan Stanley, Bank of America, JP Morgan Chase & Co., and UBS offering consistent opportunities in Investment Banking, Asset Management, and Financial Advisory roles.
Technology titans like Microsoft, Dell, and Amazon drew MBA talent with their technology, entrepreneurial, and global experience. From cloud computing to e-commerce, these companies offer graduates the opportunity to leverage technology to drive business growth, enhance customer experiences, and shape the future of industries.
Professional services firms such as Deloitte, EY Parthenon, and Alvarez & Marsal provide a broad range of opportunities in areas such as Auditing, Consulting, and Financial Advisory services.
The Retail and Automotive sectors are represented by industry giants Walmart, General Motors, and Bayer, offering opportunities in areas ranging from Supply Chain Management to Strategic Planning and Marketing.
Overall, while Consulting and Financial services dominate the top employers list, the diverse representation of industries underscores the breadth of opportunities available to Darden MBA graduates.
| Top Employers (2023) | Darden | Full-time MBA |
| Accenture | Citi | McKinsey & Company |
| Alvarez & Marsal | Dell | Microsoft |
| Amazon | Deloitte | Morgan Stanley |
| Bain & Company | Evercore | Strategy& |
| Bank of America | EY Parthenon | UBS |
| Barclays | General Motors | Walmart |
| BCG | JP Morgan Chase & Co. | Wells Fargo |
| Bayer | LEK |
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