Analysis: Darden MBA Salary and Placements (2024)

In this in-depth analysis of Darden MBA Salary and Placement Trends for 2024, we cover:
•    By Industry: Darden MBA Salary and Placement Trends (2024)
•    By Function: Darden MBA Salary and Placement Trends (2024)
•    By Location: Darden MBA Salary and Placement Trends (2024)
•    Top Employers: Darden MBA Salary and Placement Trends (2024)

By Industry: Darden MBA Salary and Placement Trends (2024)

Above 40% in Consulting But Slowdown is Evident

Consulting continues to be the dominant sector, employing 42.5% of graduates with a median base salary of $190,000, unchanged from the previous year. However, the hiring rate dropped from 46.3% in 2023. This decrease could reflect a reduced demand for consulting roles. 

In comparison, Ross placed 36% of its graduates in consulting, while Haas lagged behind with 25%, indicating Darden’s stronger positioning in this traditionally lucrative field amongst its peers.

Financial Services – Strong at Darden

Financial Services accounted for 26.5% of hires, slightly up from 26.2% the previous year, with median salaries steady at $175,000. This consistency highlights the sustained strength of Darden’s placement in finance-related roles. Interestingly, Ross reported a lower 17.6% of graduates hired in Financial Services, followed by Haas, with finance hiring 16% of its graduates at a mean salary of $164,905. Again, Darden proves its stronger position in Financial Services, not only in hiring but also in the median base salary.

Technology Slowdown

Technology saw a decline in hiring, with 8.8% of graduates entering the field compared to 10.5% last year. Median salaries also dropped from $155,000 to $150,000, which could be attributed to broader slowdowns in tech hiring across schools. 

Darden’s placement in Technology remains lower compared to Ross, where 15.1% of graduates entered the sector, and Haas, where Technology accounted for 24% of hires at a mean salary of $154,167.

Healthcare – Growing Industry

Healthcare hiring at Darden increased from 3.5% in 2023 to 5.1% in 2024, with a significant rise in median salaries from $125,000 to $137,500. This growth reflects an increasing focus on Healthcare management and opportunities in the sector. Darden’s performance in Healthcare remains behind Ross, which placed 9.2% of its graduates in the field, and Haas which placed 8% of students.

Retail and Consumer Packaged Goods – Marginal Improvement

Retail hiring grew marginally from 3.2% to 3.7%, with salaries increasing from $143,900 to $145,000. 

Consumer packaged goods (CPG) hiring remained relatively steady, at 2.7% compared to 2.6% the previous year, but salaries rose noticeably from $117,500 to $127,000. These incremental gains suggest stable interest, though Ross had a significantly stronger CPG focus, with 7.7% of its graduates entering the field.

Energy – The Comeback Industry

The Energy sector saw a resurgence, with 1.7% of graduates hired compared to just 0.6% last year. Median salaries in this industry reached $140,000, reflecting the growing demand for renewable energy and sustainability-focused roles. This increase places Darden ahead of its performance last year but still behind Ross’s 2.6% placement in energy and Haas’s 6%.

Final Take

Overall, while Consulting and Financial services remain pillars of Darden’s placement success, shifts in Technology, Healthcare, and Energy hiring highlight evolving trends and opportunities.

By Function: Darden MBA Salary and Placement Trends (2024)

Consulting Slowdown but $190,000 base salary Still among the Best

Consulting remains the most popular functional area, accounting for 43.9% of hires with a median base salary of $190,000. This marks a decline from the 46.3% recorded in 2023. The drop in Consulting placements could suggest increased interest in other functions or marginal shifts in market demand. 

In comparison, Ross placed 37.9% of its graduates in Consulting with a median salary of $182,500, while Haas lagged behind at 25% with a mean salary of $178,489.

Finance and Accounting – Growth Functions

Finance and Accounting represented 28.9% of Darden hires, an increase from 26.2% last year, with median salaries steady at $175,000. This growth demonstrates the enduring strength of Darden’s Finance pipeline. Ross placed fewer graduates in finance-related roles, such as Investment Banking (10.3%) and Private Equity/Venture Capital (1.8%), while Haas reported 21% of hires in Finance functions at a lower mean salary of $153,041. Darden’s focus on Finance-related functions continues to be a strong differentiator.

Growth in General Management – A Clear Trend Among M7 and Top 15 MBA

General Management hiring increased to 12.9% from 11.5% last year, although median salaries decreased to $140,000 from $145,000. This aligns with broader trends toward management-focused roles but highlights potential compensation adjustments. Peer schools such as Ross showed a stronger focus on General Management, with 20.2% of hires at a similar median salary of $140,000, whereas Haas grouped such roles under Corporate Functions, comprising 19% of hires with a higher mean salary of $156,240.

Marketing and Sales – The Casualty of The Technology Slowdown

Marketing and Sales hiring at Darden declined to 6.5% from 8.6% last year, and median salaries dropped from $126,000 to $120,000. The decline may indicate reduced opportunities in marketing or shifting preferences among graduates. 

Ross reported a significantly higher focus on Marketing and Sales, with 17.6% of graduates entering these roles at a median salary of $128,000, while Haas placed 10% in marketing at a mean salary of $140,692.

IT Slowdown

Information technology accounted for 3.1% of hires, a slight decrease from 3.8% last year, with median salaries dropping from $169,000 to $150,000. This trend reflects broader slowdowns in tech hiring seen across industries. 

Operations and Logistics – Comeback Functions with the Best Salary Among Peer Schools

Operations and logistics hiring, on the other hand, grew to 2.7% from 1.3% last year, with salaries rising from $141,000 to $150,000. Haas and Ross both reported modest hiring in operations, with Haas placing 3% of graduates in the field at a mean salary of $128,861 and Ross reporting 2.9% in corporate roles, which may overlap with operations functions, at $125,000.

Final Take

Overall, Darden’s strong emphasis on Consulting and Finance functions continues to drive its placement outcomes, while shifts in Marketing, Technology, and Operations hiring reflect evolving opportunities and challenges. 

Compared to Ross and Haas, Darden stands out in Finance and Consulting but lags in Marketing and General Management.

 

By Location: Darden MBA Salary and Placement Trends (2024)

Within the United States, Darden MBA accounted for 96.3% of hires, and median base salaries stood consistently at $175,000 across most regions, reflecting uniformity in compensation levels. 

Northeast – New York Slowdown

The Northeast saw a decrease in hiring from 33.4% in 2023 to 28.6% in 2024, while salaries remained stable at $175,000. This region’s popularity is driven by opportunities in Consulting and Financial Services in cities like New York and Boston. 

Comparatively, the peer school, Ross, placed 24.6% of its graduates in the Northeast with a similar median salary, demonstrating the region's overall strength in MBA recruitment. However, Darden’s shift away from the Northeast may signal growing interest in other areas, particularly the South and Mid-Atlantic.

South – Darden’s Stronghold 

The Mid-Atlantic and South regions each accounted for 26.9% of Darden hires, with both maintaining median salaries of $175,000. The South notably experienced a sharp increase from 13.1% last year – an outlier trend compared to peer schools, underscoring growing opportunities in the region, particularly in Atlanta and Charlotte, which are becoming Financial and Tech hubs. 

The Southwest region emerged as a standout, with 12.9% of hires and the highest median salary at $180,000. This figure, although slightly lower than last year's $190,000, aligns with the region's focus on the Consulting and Energy industries, particularly in cities like Dallas and Houston, which are hubs for these sectors. Ross similarly placed 8.8% of graduates in the Southwest, with a median salary of $168,000, indicating Darden's strong relationship in the region.

Similarly, the Mid-Atlantic region, driven by proximity to Washington, D.C., continues to attract a mix of consulting, healthcare, and government-related roles at an impressive 26.9%. Ross placed only 6.6% of graduates in the Mid-Atlantic and 4.8% in the South, highlighting Darden's strong presence in these regions.

West - Slowdown

The West region saw a decline in hiring at Darden, from 10.8% in 2023 to 8.2% in 2024, though salaries rose from $169,100 to $175,000. This decline reflects the slowdown in the Tech sector, particularly in Silicon Valley. Comparatively, Haas, located in the West, typically places a significant share of its graduates in the region, showcasing its local connections.

International Placements: Low – Good News about the US Economy

International placements remained limited at 3.7%, a slight decrease from 2023, with Asia leading at 2% and a median salary of $126,829. This marks an improvement in Asia’s compensation from $114,287 last year, likely driven by rising demand for Consulting and Financial Services roles in cities like Singapore and Hong Kong. Europe and Latin America had minimal representation, with no reported salaries. Ross, by contrast, reported 4% international placements, with higher compensation for Asia at $160,000.

Darden’s strong presence in the South and Mid-Atlantic regions highlights a strategic focus on areas with growing opportunities in Consulting and Financial Services.

Top Employers: Darden MBA Salary and Placement Trends (2024)

The list of top employers includes Amazon, Bain & Company, Bank of America, Barclays, BCG, Dell, JP Morgan Chase & Co., McKinsey & Company, Walmart, and UPS. Compared to the 2023 list, this year's top employers are more concentrated, with notable absentees including Accenture, Microsoft, Citi, and Deloitte, which were part of the previous year's rankings.

The Consulting sector continues to dominate, with Bain & Company, BCG, and McKinsey & Company featured prominently. This aligns with Darden's strong consulting placement, 43.9% of the Class of 2024 by function, with a median base salary of $190,000. 

In the Financial Services sector, firms like Bank of America, Barclays, and JP Morgan Chase & Co. maintain their strong presence contributing to the 28.9% of hires at a median salary of $175,000. However, the absence of firms such as Morgan Stanley, UBS, and Evercore, which were part of the 2023 list, indicate a focus on diversified roles within fewer institutions. 

The Technology sector is represented by Amazon and Dell. While Amazon remains a consistent employer, mirroring its appearance in 2023, the absence of Microsoft from the top employers list this year might signal a decrease in tech sector hiring. This trend is consistent with the overall decline in tech placements at Darden, with Information Technology roles accounting for only 3.1% of hires in 2024.

The inclusion of Walmart and UPS reflects a stronger emphasis on retail and supply chain/logistics roles. Both firms align with the growing prominence of operations and logistics roles, although these functions only accounted for 2.7% of hires this year. 

Reference

• Darden MBA Employment Report