What are the Highest Paying Jobs in Business?

Everyone knows that salary isn't everything, but it's still important for business majors to know the highest paying jobs in business to maximize their career's earning potential.

Business is the country's most popular major as over 365,000 business degrees are conferred each year. Many students who major in business disciplines automatically think that they'll reap a fat paycheck. However, this isn't always the case if business majors don't have the drive to form a network of connections, build solid experiences, and choose a high-paying field.

Below we'll take a look at five top-paying job titles available for graduates in the competitive business world.

Chief Executive

Of course, the highest paying jobs in business are typically held by chief executives who maintain senior-level management positions to provide overall direction for their companies. These jobs include Chief Operating Officer (COO), Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Chief Accounting Officer (CAO), Chief Technology Officer (CTO), and Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Chief executives earn an average annual salary of $180,700, but often can make upwards of $250,030 each year with years of experience at the helm.

Marketing Manager

Marketing managers are responsible for planning, directing, and supervising the formulation of effective marketing tactics that will draw in potential customers. Marketing managers are vital business professionals who develop marketing policies that will maximize the company's profits, outpace competitors, and keep loyal customers satisfied. In turn, marketing managers in the United States bring home a healthy average annual salary of $137,400 with potential to break the $200,000 mark.

IT Systems Manager

Another top-paying business job belongs to the IT systems manager, who is given the task of planning, coordinating, and directing all of the company's computer-related needs. IT systems managers are involved in supervising the install of computer hardware, ensuring network security, looking for new technology upgrades, determining IT personnel needs, and directing the work of other IT professionals. IT systems managers earn a mean annual wage of $136,280 for implementing computer networks that meet organizational goals.

Sales Manager

Sales managers work hard to direct their organization's sales team by establishing sales goals, analyzing revenue data, resolving customer complaints, preparing budgets, assigning sales territories, and determining discounts. Most sales managers will also be involved in recruiting, hiring, and training new sales representatives. In exchange for helping their company maximize their sales performance, sales managers earn a hefty annual average salary of $126,040.

Human Resources Manager

As vital links between a company's senior management and personnel, human resources managers have the duty of coordinating the administrative functions of an organization to capitalize on its human capital. HR managers may be involved in administering employee services, advising executives on personnel policies, supervising other human resources specialists, overseeing the hiring process, and resolving staffing problems. Human resources managers bring home a sizeable six-figure annual mean wage of $114,140.

Resource: Top 15 Cheap Online Master's and MBA in Human Resources Management Degree Programs

In today's global business marketplace, most business graduates will need to start in entry or mid-level positions before advancing into jobs with a six-figure salary potential. A bachelor's degree and several years of experience may be enough, but earning a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in a specialized discipline can place you on the fast track to promotion. Now that you know the highest paying jobs in business, you can start forming your goals for advancement in the future.