MBA grads vs. liberal arts grads: Who has the highest salary?

Do MBA graduates top the list of individuals with the highest paying jobs? If recent data is anything to go by, plenty of jobs related to the liberal arts can be equally lucrative.

Non-business majors can also earn lucrative salaries. They may be able to apply their knowledge and skills in areas or careers that may not be immediately obvious to them.

In a discussion by Bloomberg Opinion on salary transparency, a travel writer disclosed how much she earned on Twitter, stating that many were surprised that she made US$107,000 annually as a travel writer. We debunk some myths about the highest paying jobs below.

There are many factors to consider when comparing which fields have the highest paying job, including one’s position in a company, as well as the type of industry. Source: Yasuyoshi Chiba/AFP

Highest paying job: Which field offers the best bang for your buck?

There are many factors to consider when comparing which fields have the highest paying job, including one’s work experience, qualifications, the position within a company to the type of industry one works in. Some individuals may earn a fixed income in a company, in addition to earning a commission after each sale.

Below are three jobs from each field covering their job descriptions and how much they could earn annually (using data from Indeed) to show which field has the highest paying job.

Using their specialised evaluation skills, business analysts provide a variety of services in many industries. Source: Spencer Platt/Getty Images North America/Getty Images via AFP

High-paying MBA grad jobs

Management accountant

US average salary: US$62,910 per year

The duties of a management accountant could include choosing and managing company investments, risk management, budgeting, planning, strategizing, and decision making. They may work for public companies, private businesses, and government agencies, notes Investopedia.

Business development manager

US average salary: US$67,452 per year

Business development managers may find leads, identify market trends, and develop financial strategies to help companies grow. They work closely with both clients and internal teams by keeping up-to-date with their respective industries and by developing a deep understanding of their product or service, all while assisting with the company’s financial growth and success.

Business analyst

US average salary: US$74,469 per year

Using their specialised evaluation skills, business analysts provide a variety of services in many industries. To make suggestions to improve the company’s processes, they work to analyse business opportunities as a team, in addition to developing information technology solutions for companies and clients.

Sketching out their ideas and designs, selecting the perfect fabrics and patterns, using their production skills and techniques to bring their creation to life, and finally working the pieces into a collection that entices both consumers and retailers. Source: Tasia Wells/Getty Images North America/Getty Images via AFP

High-paying liberal arts grad jobs

Interior designer

US average salary: US$58,585 per year

Tasked with designing the interior of a building, apartment, office, or other types of rooms based on their client’s specifications, an interior designer factors in style, functionality, safety, and the overall amount of space to work with. These are often seen sketching design plans, creating timelines for a project’s completion, and overseeing the construction. Interior designers can work with a company or as freelancers.

Fashion designer

US average salary: US$72,720 per year

Fashion designers create original designs for new clothing, footwear, accessories, or other lines. Sketching out their ideas and designs, selecting the perfect fabrics and patterns, using their production skills and techniques to bring their creation to life, and finally working the pieces into a collection that entices both consumers and retailers.

User experience (UX) designer

US average salary: US$90,967 per year

UX designers will work with various duties including usability testing, collaborating with their product team and the client, creating wireframes, sitemaps, and more. Their work aims to improve the user experience process with research, sketches, and create the prototype of the digital product.