Which Pays Better, A Business Degree or a Marketing Degree?

For students who are business-oriented in their career goals, the question of which pays better, a business degree or a marketing degree, depends on what specific areas of business interest them. The world of business offers college graduates a variety of opportunities. New technologies have opened up unexplored areas of marketing and operations that will require fresh ideas and innovative methods.

Degrees in Business

Business degrees are available at the associate, bachelor’s and master’s degree levels. A degree in business offers a wide range of employment opportunities for those who wish to advance their careers in future years. A business degree includes pertinent areas such as finance, economics, accounting and information technology that can be utilized in a variety of different types of business. In addition, an advanced degree such as a master’s in business administration can allow students to concentrate on specific areas of business and will prepare students to access high levels of advancement.

Degrees in Marketing

Marketing degrees are available at the associate, bachelor’s and master’s degree levels. A marketing degree program covers many of the same business area but also focuses more specific subjects related to the marketplace, such as consumer behavior, pricing, effective advertising and developing marketing campaigns. Though marketing is a critical aspect of many types of businesses, fewer employment positions are available for people with a marketing degree. Unfortunately, many more marketing majors are produced for the limited number of marketing jobs that are available. In addition, companies that look for marketing major may require higher-level degrees.

Earnings Prospects for the Two Degrees

Individual with a degree in business can find employment at a variety of levels within the business community. Many business majors eventually start their own businesses which can lead to salaries of $100,000 and upward. Depending on the level of education and experience, business majors can earn from $40,000 to $130,000. including management human resources, purchasing, logistics and marketing. MBA’s with finance or accounting backgrounds may find the best paths for advancement within organizations. Upper levels of business management often earn $100,000 or more, with higher salaries found in private organizations rather than public institutions. In contrast, marketing research associates earn up to $30,000 each year. Marketing analysts that help to collect data regarding products for various companies can make around $60,000 annually. Marketing managers work at the highest levels in a variety of industries and can garner salaries in the range of $120,00 to $160,000, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Combining Fields of Study

For students with an interest in the marketing aspects of business, the best plan may be to combine a business degree with a marketing minor. Another promising avenue is to add a marketing focus to master’s in business administration studies. Because most MBA programs are open to any type of bachelor’s degree, students could combine business studies with what they have already learned in their marketing studies, focusing on special projects such as global marketing or international business topics.

Related Resource: Highest Paying Jobs for Marketing Majors