It’s time for a deep dive into the just-released employment report for the Stanford GSB MBA Class of 2023. To start, 89 percent of students seeking employment received job offers within three months of graduation. Eighty-two percent of GSB graduates seeking employment accepted positions within three months of graduation. For the ninth consecutive year, Stanford GSB MBA graduates have seen an increase in mean and median starting salaries.
“Graduating students in the MBA Class of 2023 entered the full-time job market during a period of economic uncertainty. Our students reflected on what mattered most to them and responded to challenging market conditions with diligence and agility, seeking unique leadership opportunities,” remarked Gina Jorasch, interim senior assistant dean and director of the Career Management Center.
Of the 411 graduates of the MBA Class of 2023, 256 were seeking employment; that is, 62 percent of the graduating class. A full 25 percent of the Stanford GSB MBA Class of 2023 are now dedicating their time to the launch of their new ventures, an increase of six percent compared to last year’s class. In regards to sectors, 49 percent started businesses in technology followed by 12 percent in healthcare. Another 12 percent took on roles in search funds, a form of entrepreneurship where “searchers” acquire and run existing businesses. Nine percent launched ventures in finance and four percent in energy. Seven percent of the Class of 2023 were company-sponsored or already employed, and another three percent continued their education instead of seeking employment.
Salaries & Industry Choices
The average starting salary for the MBA Class of 2023 landed at $189,010 and the median at $182,500. Of graduates reporting salary info, 49 percent reported signing bonuses; the mean of which is $42,249 while the median is $30,000.
The finance industry maintained the top spot and took in 38 percent of the latest class, a five percent increase over the last few years. There was a decrease in traditional investing roles and an increase in senior operating roles, where graduates may take senior positions within one or more portfolio companies, compared to last year. This year, 18 percent pursued private equity and 13 percent venture capital. Two percent went into investment management. Finance roles landed the highest mean and median salaries at $210,273 and $200,000, respectively.
Twenty-four percent of graduates entered the technology field, followed by 15 percent in consulting. Four percent chose to work in healthcare and three percent each went into consumer products or energy.
| Finance | 38% |
| Technology | 24% |
| Consulting | 15% |
| Healthcare | 4% |
| Consumer Products | 3% |
| Energy | 3% |
Regional Placement
Ninety-two percent of those who sought employment found it in the U.S. Fifty percent settled in the West followed by 31 percent in the Northeast. The Midwest, Southwest and South regions took in three percent of graduates each. The Mid-Atlantic attracted two percent of the class. Two percent each headed to South America or Asia/Australia/Oceania for their post-MBA employment. Only one percent each headed to Europe, Africa, or Latin America/Caribbean.
| West | 50% |
| Northeast | 31% |
| Midwest | 3% |
| South | 3% |
| Southwest | 3% |
| Mid-Atlantic | 2% |
