Top 10 Non-Traditional Jobs for MBA Graduates

Typical job duties for architectural and engineering managers include overseeing the recruitment and training of new staff, managing budgets for new projects, and making plans to produce new processes, designs, or products.

This managerial role provides opportunities to climb the career ladder to higher-level leadership positions like architectural director and chief engineering officer.

Some of the largest sectors employing architectural and engineering managers include research and development, manufacturing, government agencies such as the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and nonprofit organizations like Habitat for Humanity.

Required Education: Bachelor's degree required, master's degree preferred
Job Outlook (2019-29): +3%
2020 Median Annual Salary: $149,530

Earning an MBA develops skills like entrepreneurship and project management, useful for architectural and engineering management careers.

Architectural and engineering managers typically need at least a bachelor's degree in architecture, engineering, or related areas like physics, along with considerable work experience.

An MBA can complement the technical knowledge acquired during prior studies, providing the leadership expertise and advanced knowledge of data and project management needed to successfully manage architectural and engineering projects.

Natural sciences managers direct the research projects of natural scientists, such as physicists, neuroscientists, chemists, biologists, and environmental scientists.

Typical job responsibilities include coordinating scientific research activities, managing product development, and helping revise policies. People in this occupation may advance to higher leadership positions down the line, such as chief science officer or chief sustainability officer.

Sectors that regularly hire for this position include pharmaceutical research and development, manufacturing, government agencies like the National Institute of Health, and nonprofit organizations such as Greenpeace.

Required Education: Bachelor's degree required, master's degree preferred
Job Outlook (2019-29): +5%
2020 Median Annual Salary: $137,940

An MBA delivers skills conducive to natural sciences management, such as effectively analyzing data, drafting operational reports, and reviewing research methodology.

Natural sciences managers typically need a bachelor's degree in a natural science or related disciplines like engineering alongside considerable work experience.

An MBA can supplement the technical knowledge acquired during undergraduate coursework, providing the leadership skills and business savvy needed to direct research projects in the natural sciences.

Public relations and fundraising managers oversee public relations and coordinate events to raise funds and other forms of support.

Duties include reviewing advertising and promotional programs, developing fundraising strategies, and meeting with potential donors. These workers may advance to higher managerial or leadership positions such as vice president of marketing, chief brand officer, or chief communications officer.

Sectors that regularly hire people in this administrative role include higher education, consulting, state and local government agencies such as the Florida Office of Communications, and nonprofit organizations like NPR Media Relations.

Required Education: Bachelor's degree required, master's degree preferred
Job Outlook (2019-29): +9%
2020 Median Annual Salary: $118,430

An MBA strengthens skills relevant to public relations and fundraising management, such as networking, public speaking, and effective communication.

A bachelor's in business, the humanities, or communication provides knowledge that can help future public relations and fundraising managers succeed in an MBA program.

An MBA can complement prior skills with the management and communication expertise needed to develop successful fundraising and public relations strategies.

Training and development managers direct activities that educate employees or the public. Typical job duties include staying apprised of new research or events affecting educational needs, designing and revising training materials and methods, and overseeing educational activities.

Training and development managers may advance to higher leadership roles, such as chief learning officer or chief human resources officer. Sectors that regularly hire people in this vocational role include postsecondary institutions, consulting firms, corporations, government agencies such as the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, and nonprofit organizations like the Human Rights Campaign.

Required Education: Bachelor's degree required, master's degree preferred
Job Outlook (2019-29): +7%
2020 Median Annual Salary: $115,640

An MBA can foster training and development management skills such as effective communication, conflict resolution, and interpersonal skills.

Training and development managers commonly hold a bachelor's degree in business administration, education, or psychology. An MBA can further develop leadership, team building skills, and strategic problem-solving abilities.

Typical job duties of medical and health services managers include developing the objectives of medical services, improving the quality and efficiency of healthcare, and ensuring that healthcare services operate within funding limits. Managers in this role may advance to higher positions, such as vice president of health services or chief medical officer.

Sectors that regularly hire medical and health services managers include hospitals, private healthcare practices, government agencies, nonprofit health organizations like Doctors Without Borders, and humanitarian projects such as Mercy Ships.

Required Education: Bachelor's degree required, master's degree preferred
Job Outlook (2019-29): +32%
2020 Median Annual Salary: $104,280

An MBA develops skills conducive to medical and health services management, such as knowledge of risk assessment, budget preparation, and financial reporting.

People in this job commonly hold a bachelor's degree and on-the-job training. An MBA can cultivate leadership expertise and advanced knowledge of data analysis and management.

Postsecondary education administrators direct departments or offices responsible for faculty research and student services in higher education. Typical job duties include managing budgets, overseeing academic policies, and participating in faculty appointments and tenure decisions.

Postsecondary education administrators may advance to a higher administrative position, such as dean, provost, or chief academic officer.

Required Education: Master's degree
Job Outlook (2019-29): +4%
2020 Median Annual Salary: $97,500

MBAs promote skills necessary for postsecondary education administration, such as cross-cultural competency, team building, and effective communication.

Any college degree can serve as a starting point for a career in higher education. An MBA can provide supplemental managerial skills and advanced knowledge of data management and analytics.

Construction managers plan, budget, and supervise construction projects. Frequent job duties include estimating construction project costs, ensuring compliance with building and safety regulations, and reporting progress to clients and construction firms.

Construction managers may advance to higher managerial and leadership positions, such as director of operations or chief operations officer.

Many construction managers are self-employed. Sectors that regularly hire construction managers, sometimes on a contractual basis, include construction companies, government agencies like the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and nonprofit organizations such as Habitat for Humanity.

Required Education: Bachelor's degree required, master's degree preferred
Job Outlook (2019-29): +8%
2020 Median Annual Salary: $97,180

Earning an MBA fosters abilities conducive to construction management, such as project management and team building skills.

Construction managers commonly hold a bachelor's degree and on-the-job training. An MBA can complement prior experience, providing managerial expertise and knowledge of building and safety regulations.

Postsecondary faculty hold teaching and research positions at colleges, universities, and professional schools. Typical job responsibilities include teaching classes, grading homework, advising students, and serving on committees. Research positions also require conducting research and publishing in the discipline.

Postsecondary faculty may advance to higher administrative positions, such as dean, provost, or chief academic officer.

Required Education: Master's degree
Job Outlook (2019-29): +9%
2020 Median Annual Salary: $80,790

MBAs strengthen versatile skills for teaching and research positions in an MBA program, such as public speaking, team-building skills, and translating business language for the general public.

A college degree in any discipline can serve as a good starting point for a career in higher education. Eligibility for tenure-track positions, depending on the field, typically requires a master's degree or a doctorate.

However, MBA programs commonly hire MBA-holders in non-tenure track teaching and research positions at colleges and universities.

Emergency management directors assess risks and prepare plans to respond to natural disasters and other emergencies, like hurricanes, pandemics, and terrorist attacks.

Typical job duties include reviewing emergency plans for medical facilities and other organizations; directing emergency response training of volunteers, staff, first responders, and the public; and coordinating the distribution of resources and equipment within communities during an emergency.

Emergency management directors often advance to higher positions, such as director of operations or chief emergency management officer. Sectors that routinely hire emergency management directors include hospitals, postsecondary institutions, state and local government agencies, like the California Department of Social Services, and nonprofit organizations such as Convoy of Hope.

Required Education: Bachelor's degree required, master's degree preferred
Job Outlook (2019-29): +4%
2020 Median Annual Salary: $76,250

MBA programs build skills relevant to emergency management, such as entrepreneurship, problem-solving, and risk assessment.

Emergency management directors usually need a bachelor's degree in business, public health, or emergency management. An MBA can supplement prior education with managerial and entrepreneurial know-how to successfully plan for and manage emergencies and natural disasters.

Social and community services managers direct programs and organizations that provide support for public well-being. Job responsibilities include working with community members to identify community needs, implementing new community programs, and assessing the effectiveness of these programs.

Social and community managers may advance to higher positions, such as community habilitation services director, long-term care facility director, or chief green officer.

Sectors that regularly hire people in this position include long-term care facilities, rehabilitation facilities, state and local government agencies such as the Illinois Department of Human Services, and nonprofit organizations like the Food Bank for New York City.

Required Education: Bachelor's degree required, master's degree preferred
Job Outlook (2019-29): +17%
2020 Median Annual Salary: $69,600

An MBA provides expertise useful for social and community services managers, such as public speaking, entrepreneurship, and translating business language for the general public.

Social and community services managers typically need a bachelor's degree in public or business administration, public health, social work, or related fields. An MBA can cultivate the leadership skills and advanced knowledge of project management needed to successfully direct social programs.