Analysis: USC Marshall MBA Salary and Placements (2024)

USC Marshall’s MBA Class of 2024 employment report highlights hiring outcomes, with an average base salary of $144,442 and an average signing bonus of $32,524. The majority of graduates (64%) secured jobs through school-facilitated resources, while 42% converted their summer internships into full-time offers.

In this in-depth analysis of USC Marshall MBA Salary and Placements for 2024, we cover: 
•    By Industry: USC Marshall MBA Salary and Placements (2024)
•    By Function: USC Marshall MBA Salary and Placements (2024)
•    By Region: USC Marshall MBA Salary and Placements (2024)

By Industry: USC Marshall MBA Salary and Placements (2024)

Highest Consulting Placement in the West Coast with Comparable $175,000 Base Salary

USC Marshall’s Class of 2024 saw consulting as the dominant industry, with 28% of graduates placed at a median base salary of $175,000. This is unchanged from 2023, showing steady demand. However, Marshall trails NYU Stern (37%) by a significant margin, indicating a stronger consulting pipeline at Stern, particularly in MBB firms. 

Berkeley Haas (25%) and UCLA Anderson (24.9%) are slightly lower than Marshall, suggesting comparable consulting opportunities on the West Coast. 

Salary-wise, Berkeley Haas leads with a mean base salary of $178,051, while all other schools report $175,000, indicating relatively uniform pay across top firms.

Technology Hiring Fell But Compensation Better than UCLA Anderson

Technology hiring at Marshall fell to 19% from 24% in 2023, mirroring the downturn in tech recruitment. This drop is notable given that both Berkeley Haas (24%) and UCLA Anderson (23.4%) maintain stronger placement in tech, reinforcing their connections to Silicon Valley and California-based firms. 

NYU Stern lags in tech at just 9.1%, reflecting its finance-heavy placement. However, Marshall’s median base salary of $142,300 exceeds UCLA Anderson ($142,000) but remains well below Berkeley Haas ($154,167), indicating Haas graduates are securing higher-paying tech roles, likely in product management or AI-driven positions.

Financial Services – USC Marshall Behind all Peer Schools

Financial services hiring at Marshall dropped sharply to 13% from 17% in 2023, making it the weakest of the four schools in this sector. NYU Stern dominates financial services hiring, with 35.7% of its class placed at a median base salary of $175,000, underscoring its status as a finance powerhouse. 

UCLA Anderson follows with 17.7%, while Berkeley Haas places 16%, both well above Marshall. Additionally, UCLA Anderson’s investment banking placements alone account for 10% at $175,000, a sector where Marshall does not report a breakdown. While Marshall’s finance salary rose to $165,000 from $151,143 in 2023, it remains below the $175,000 median at NYU Stern, UCLA Anderson, and Berkeley Haas, showing a weaker pipeline into high-paying finance roles.

Consumer Packaged Goods Hiring Improved But Base Salary Fell

Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) hiring at Marshall increased to 9% from 6% in 2023, but the median salary dropped to $120,000 from $124,625, suggesting cost-cutting within the industry. UCLA Anderson (7.2%) and NYU Stern (5.7%) placed fewer graduates in CPG, but Stern’s median salary of $127,000 is notably higher, indicating a stronger network in premium brands. Berkeley Haas does not report a separate CPG breakdown but includes it within CPG/Retail (6%) at a $123,500 median salary.

Media, Entertainment and Gaming – Strength of LA Reflected at USC Marshall But Salary Experienced Sharpest Decline

Media, entertainment, and interactive gaming declined at Marshall, with hiring dropping to 9% from 10% in 2023, while salaries fell significantly to $90,556 from $125,388. This reflects instability in the media sector, particularly with streaming and gaming layoffs. In contrast, UCLA Anderson (8.6%) maintains a comparable hiring rate but reports a much higher median salary of $137,500, underscoring its stronger media ties in Los Angeles. NYU Stern (3.9%) and Berkeley Haas do not report significant placement in this sector, reinforcing Marshall and UCLA Anderson as the primary players in entertainment recruitment. 

However, the salary drop at Marshall suggests more graduates are taking lower-paying roles or positions at startups, compared to UCLA’s higher compensation in major studios and established firms.

Real Estate – A Hidden Strength of USC Marshall

Real estate hiring at Marshall grew to 5% from 2% in 2023, with a median salary of $140,000. This surpasses UCLA Anderson’s 2.4% placement at $127,500, making Marshall the strongest performer in real estate hiring among the four schools. Berkeley Haas and NYU Stern do not report real estate-specific hiring, though NYU historically has a strong presence in real estate finance. Marshall’s growth in this sector suggests an increasing emphasis on real estate-focused career opportunities, particularly in the Los Angeles market.

Healthcare Placements Fell at USC Marshall

Healthcare hiring at Marshall declined to 3% from 6% in 2023, while the median salary remained stable at $136,000.** This is significantly lower than UCLA Anderson (9.1% at $140,000) and Berkeley Haas (8% at $146,686), showing that Marshall is the weakest among its peers in healthcare placement. NYU Stern, with only 1.7% in healthcare at a $135,000 salary, has a similarly limited healthcare pipeline. The lower hiring rate at Marshall suggests fewer partnerships with biotech and pharmaceutical firms compared to Berkeley and UCLA.

Retail – Decline Similar to Peer Schools

Retail hiring at Marshall declined to 2% from 3%, with no reported salary data. In 2023, retail salaries at Marshall stood at $138,750, suggesting either lower compensation or hiring in smaller firms. None of the peer schools report significant retail placements, though Berkeley Haas includes it within CPG/Retail (6% at $123,500).

Final Take

Overall, USC Marshall remains strong in consulting and real estate, with competitive salaries and hiring rates. However, it lags behind its peers in finance, where NYU Stern dominates, and in healthcare, where UCLA Anderson and Berkeley Haas lead. Technology placement, while lower than in previous years, remains better than NYU Stern but weaker than UCLA Anderson and Berkeley Haas. The sharp decline in media salaries suggests employer budget constraints, making UCLA a stronger choice for entertainment roles.

By Function: USC Marshall MBA Salary and Placements (2024)

USC Marshall’s 2024 MBA employment outcomes by function highlight notable shifts in hiring patterns and salary trends. 

Consulting – The Strongest Function But Management Consulting Suffered, Falling to 14%

Consulting remained the most significant function, accounting for 28% of hires, with a median base salary of $175,000. This stability in hiring mirrors last year’s 30% rate, but the composition has changed significantly. 

Management consulting, the dominant segment in 2023 at 25%, dropped to 14% in 2024, while strategic planning/internal consulting increased from 2% to 3%, and technology consulting remained steady at 3%, with salaries rising from $159,600 to $174,500. 

Compared to NYU Stern’s consulting hires at 42.4%, USC Marshall lags behind in sheer volume but aligns with UCLA in salary benchmarks while staying ahead of UCLA Anderson’s hiring rate at 26.3%; NYU Stern, however, leads in management consulting salaries at $182,500.

Marketing and Sales- A Unique Strength of USC Marshall

Marketing and sales accounted for 28% of hires, marking a decline from last year’s 34%, alongside a median salary drop from $136,654 to $120,000. This decrease is particularly pronounced in product management, which fell from 15% to 8%, despite an increase in median base salary from $136,344 to $150,000. 

Sales strategy saw growth from 3% to 6%, but brand management remained relatively stable, shifting from 3% to 4%, while salaries declined from $123,200 to $117,500. NYU Stern’s marketing hires are notably lower at 10% but command higher median salaries ($129,500). UCLA Anderson, with 24.9% of its class in marketing, offers a significantly higher median salary of $135,000. Berkeley Haas also reports higher salaries for marketing roles at $140,692, suggesting that USC Marshall graduates in this function may be facing a tougher job market or are accepting lower-paying roles in a recessionary industry.

Finance – Not USC’s Strength But IB Benchmarked at $175,000

Finance hiring at USC Marshall stood at 18%, a slight decline from 20% in 2023, with median base salaries dropping from $144,039 to $138,650. Corporate finance hires declined from 7% to 6%, with a notable salary drop from $130,110 to $120,000. Investment banking remained stable at 5%, maintaining a $175,000 median salary. Comparatively, NYU Stern continues to dominate finance hiring, placing 37.1% of its graduates in the sector with a uniform median salary of $175,000. UCLA Anderson and Berkeley Haas also outperformed USC Marshall in finance placement, with 23.4% and 21% of hires, respectively, and higher median salaries ($149,000 at UCLA and $153,041 at Haas). The decline in USC’s finance salaries suggests a potential weakening in demand for its graduates in high-paying finance roles, particularly in corporate finance.

Operations, Logistics and Supply Chain – 100% Growth in Representation

Operations, logistics, and supply chain roles saw notable growth at USC Marshall, increasing from 5% in 2023 to 10% in 2024, though median base salaries declined from $136,600 to $127,250. In contrast, UCLA Anderson had only 1.9% of graduates in operations, with a higher median salary of $135,000. At Berkeley Haas, operations roles accounted for 3% of hires, with salaries slightly higher at $128,861. The increase in USC Marshall’s operations hiring could be attributed to the USC Marshall Center for Global Supply Chain Management and the center’s strong ties with the U.S. Dept. of Commerce that initiated the digitization of port operations and supply chain in 2016.

General Management Hiring – More than Doubled

General management hiring at USC Marshall rose from 2% to 6%, with a stable salary of $120,000. This remains lower than UCLA Anderson’s 12.9% and NYU Stern’s 7% in general management roles, where salaries are significantly higher at $140,000 and $132,500, respectively. The lower salary at USC Marshall suggests that many hires in this function may be in industries with tighter compensation structures or in early leadership rotational programs with lower initial pay.

Final Take

Overall, while USC Marshall remains strong in consulting placements, its decline in management consulting hiring is a notable shift. The marketing and sales function experienced a considerable downturn in both hiring and salaries, pointing to potential employer pullback. 

Finance remains a weaker area compared to peer schools, particularly against NYU Stern’s finance dominance. 

The growth in operations hiring stands out, but the salary drop in this function is a concern. These trends indicate a shifting landscape for USC Marshall graduates, with strengths in consulting but challenges in finance and marketing compared to peer schools.

By Region: USC Marshall MBA Salary and Placements (2024)

USC Marshall’s MBA Class of 2024 employment data by location highlights a strong regional concentration in North America, with 99% of graduates securing roles domestically. With 81% of graduates placed in the West, Marshall continues to leverage its Los Angeles location for strong regional hiring. 

The 99% domestic placement is among the highest among Top US MBA programs – much higher than UCLA Anderson’s 89.5%, but differs from NYU Stern, where a significant 17% of graduates secured jobs in Asia and the Middle East. The concentration within North America reflects the hiring preferences of major employers targeting Marshall graduates.

West Region Dominance

The West remains the dominant employment region for Marshall, with 81% of graduates placed here, though slightly lower than last year’s 84%. The median base salary stands at $146,150, which is slightly lower than UCLA Anderson’s $148,000 and NYU Stern’s $150,000 for the region. 

The geographic location of USC Marshall plays a significant role in this trend, as its proximity to Los Angeles and Silicon Valley facilitates hiring in technology, entertainment, and consulting. However, hiring shifts in Silicon Valley due to economic pressures and increased remote work flexibility have influenced placements, prompting some firms to expand hiring beyond the West Coast.

Northeast and Finance-Centric Hiring

The Northeast accounts for 8% of Marshall’s placements, with a median salary of $155,000. While this is a solid figure, it is far below NYU Stern, where 83.3% of graduates are placed in the Northeast with a median base salary of $175,000. This disparity highlights the finance-heavy nature of the New York job market, where firms such as Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan, and Morgan Stanley drive hiring. In contrast, UCLA Anderson has 9.6% of its graduates in the Northeast, with a median salary of $142,000. 

Compared to last year, Marshall’s presence in the Northeast remains stable, reinforcing its limited but consistent access to finance and consulting roles in this region.

Midwest and Mid-Atlantic Placements

The Midwest and Mid-Atlantic each account for 3% of Marshall’s placements. The Midwest’s median salary stands at $153,500, reflecting strong compensation for corporate finance and consulting roles, particularly in Chicago. Compared to NYU Stern’s 1.3% Midwest hiring, Marshall’s presence is slightly stronger.  NYU Stern reports a median salary of $181,000 for the Mid-Atlantic, indicating a stronger finance presence in this region compared to Marshall, where hiring is more diversified across industries.

Emerging Hiring Trends in the South and Southwest

The Southwest and South regions account for minimal placements at Marshall, with 3% and 1%, respectively. The rise of Austin and Dallas as tech and startup hubs has contributed to increased hiring in the Southwest for top MBA programs. 

NYU Stern has 2.2% of its graduates in the South, with a median salary of $155,000, while UCLA Anderson has 3.3% in the Southwest at a median of $130,000. 

Marshall’s lack of reported salary data for these regions suggests lower hiring volumes or a concentration of roles in industries with varied compensation levels, such as energy and emerging tech startups.

International Hiring Trends

Marshall’s international hiring remains low at 1%, in stark contrast to UCLA Anderson’s 10.5%, where placements are spread across Asia, Latin America, and Europe. NYU Stern also places 4% of its graduates in Asia and the Middle East, with a median salary of $155,000. The incoming class at USC Marshall MBA is predominantly pursuing opportunities in the US.

Overall, Marshall’s employment trends emphasize its strong West Coast positioning, bolstered by its geographic proximity to key industries in California. However, its limited penetration in finance-heavy regions like the Northeast remains an area of concern. While salaries remain competitive in key markets, increasing placements across emerging business hubs in the South and Southwest could enhance hiring outcomes.

Reference

• USC Marshall MBA Employment Report