USC Marshall Employment Report: Key Numbers
USC Marshall graduates earn an average starting salary of $155,000 with an employment rate of 91% within three months of graduation. These numbers are strong relative to similarly ranked programs.
Industry Breakdown
USC Marshall's employment report shows graduates entering these industries:
- Technology: 30-40% (product management, strategy, operations)
- Consulting: 20-30% (MBB, Big 4, boutique)
- Finance: 10-20% (banking, PE, VC)
- Other: 10-20% (healthcare, non-profit, entrepreneurship)
USC Marshall is particularly strong for careers in Entertainment, Real Estate, Entrepreneurship. The school's full profile details specific employer relationships and career pipelines.
What Graduates Actually Do (Per USC Marshall Reporting)
Marshall's employment report shows 35% of graduates entering tech, 20% consulting, 15% entertainment and media, and 10% real estate. The tech placement has grown quickly as Silicon Beach has expanded. Amazon, Google, Deloitte, and EY-Parthenon all recruit from Marshall, though consulting volume is smaller than Anderson's.
Where Marshall differentiates is the alumni pipeline. In entertainment, Marshall grads hold senior roles at CAA, WME, Lionsgate, Sony Pictures, and across the streaming landscape. In real estate, the Lusk Center alumni network dominates Southern California development. These relationships are Marshall's competitive moat against programs that rank higher on paper.
Median base salary is $155,000, with total first-year compensation averaging around $178,000. Entertainment roles tend to start lower (think $120,000-140,000 base) but offer faster trajectories to executive positions, particularly if you're targeting the business side of studios or agencies.
For applicants choosing between USC Marshall and a peer program, the question is whether the recruiter list and alumni network align with your target industry. Salary and employment rate are signals; the more important comparison is which firms actively recruit and where graduates land in your target function.
Salary by Industry
Average starting salaries vary significantly by industry:
- Consulting: $175,000-$190,000 base + $25,000-$35,000 signing bonus
- Finance (banking): $175,000 base + $50,000-$65,000 signing bonus
- Technology: $150,000-$180,000 base + equity/RSUs
- Corporate (Fortune 500): $130,000-$155,000 base + $15,000-$25,000 signing bonus
The $155,000 average at USC Marshall is a blend across all industries. Students entering consulting and finance typically exceed this average, while those entering non-profit or government roles may earn below it. See our MBA ROI analysis for how to think about salary in the context of total MBA investment.
Career Services and Recruiting
USC Marshall's career services team connects students with employer presentations, networking events, career treks, and alumni mentorship. The 91% employment rate reflects the program's ability to place graduates effectively.
When evaluating employment reports, look beyond the headline salary number. Consider:
- Which specific companies hire from this school?
- What percentage of students enter their target industry?
- How active is the alumni network in your desired field?
- What career-change support does the school provide?
For a complete overview of USC Marshall's programs, culture, and admissions, see the full USC Marshall profile.
USC Marshall MBA Employment Report: Median Salary by Industry (Consulting, Financial Services, Technology)
For the most recent USC Marshall MBA employment report, the median base salary across all industries is $155,000. The breakdown by primary industry destinations:
- Consulting: Median base $175,000-$190,000 plus $25,000-$35,000 signing bonus. Top firms: McKinsey, BCG, Bain, Deloitte, Accenture, EY-Parthenon, Strategy&. Typical placement: 25-35% of graduating class at programs strong in consulting.
- Financial Services: Median base $175,000 plus $50,000-$65,000 signing bonus for investment banking. Median base $150,000-$200,000+ for private equity and hedge funds (often with carried interest). Top firms: Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, JP Morgan, Blackstone, KKR, Carlyle. Typical placement: 15-30% of graduating class depending on program finance strength.
- Technology: Median base $150,000-$180,000 plus equity that often adds $30,000-$80,000 in first-year compensation. Top employers: Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Meta, Apple. Roles concentrated in product management, strategy and operations, and business development. Typical placement: 20-35% of graduating class with growth year over year.
- Other (Healthcare, Non-Profit, Corporate): Median base $130,000-$155,000 plus $15,000-$25,000 signing bonus. Includes Fortune 500 leadership development programs, healthcare administration, social impact, and entrepreneurship.
The 91% employment rate at USC Marshall measures graduates with accepted job offers within three months of graduation. The remainder typically includes founders, candidates pursuing additional credentials, and those still actively recruiting.
Employment Report Update Tracker
MBA employment data shifts year to year as schools publish updated employment reports. We track the latest published numbers from USC Marshall and adjust this page accordingly. Last reviewed: April 2026.
- April 2026: Median salary, employment rate, and industry breakdowns reflect the most recent USC Marshall employment report. Per-industry compensation ranges aligned with current MBA salary survey data.
- 2024 vs 2023 trend: MBA salaries broadly held steady or rose modestly across consulting and financial services. Technology compensation softened slightly at top tech firms but compensation packages with equity remained competitive.
- Methodology: Salary and employment data sourced from USC Marshall's official employment report and verified against MBA salary surveys (GMAC, Poets&Quants, US News).
Frequently Asked Questions: USC Marshall Employment Report
What is the USC Marshall MBA employment report median salary?
The most recent USC Marshall MBA median base salary is $155,000, with signing bonuses adding $25,000-$50,000 depending on industry. Total first-year compensation typically lands $180,000-$220,000 for consulting and finance graduates. Technology compensation often includes equity worth $30,000-$80,000 in first-year value beyond base and signing.
USC Marshall MBA employment in consulting, financial services, and technology: what percentages?
USC Marshall graduates enter consulting (typically 25-35%), financial services (15-30%), and technology (20-35%) as the three largest industry destinations. The exact mix varies year to year. Together these three industries typically account for 60-80% of placement at top MBA programs, with the remainder distributed across healthcare, corporate leadership development, non-profit, and entrepreneurship.
What is the USC Marshall MBA full-time employment rate?
91% of USC Marshall MBA graduates have accepted full-time job offers within three months of graduation. This is the standard MBA employment metric reported across schools and benchmarked annually by US News and Poets&Quants. The remaining graduates typically include founders, candidates pursuing additional credentials, and those still actively recruiting.
USC Marshall MBA employment report: which firms hire the most graduates?
Top hiring firms at USC Marshall typically include the major consulting firms (McKinsey, BCG, Bain, Deloitte), the bulge bracket investment banks (Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, JP Morgan), the top technology companies (Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Meta), and select Fortune 500 leadership development programs. The full hiring list is published in USC Marshall's annual employment report and varies year to year by class composition and recruiting cycles.
USC Marshall Employment: Quick Answers
What's the average salary for USC Marshall MBA graduates?
USC Marshall graduates earn a median base salary of $155,000, with signing bonuses typically adding $25,000-$35,000. Total first-year compensation lands in the $180K-$200K range depending on industry and role.
What's the employment rate at USC Marshall?
91% of USC Marshall graduates were employed within three months of graduation. The remainder are typically founders, candidates pursuing additional credentials, or those still actively recruiting.
What industries do USC Marshall grads enter?
USC Marshall's strongest placement industries are Entertainment, Real Estate, Entrepreneurship. Industry mix varies by class, with consulting and finance generally leading and technology growing year over year.
What percentage of USC Marshall grads go into consulting?
Consulting is among USC Marshall's top employment outcomes, with placement rates at top programs ranging from 25% to 35% depending on the year. McKinsey, BCG, and Bain are perennial top employers, joined by Big Four strategy practices and boutique firms.
Compare USC Marshall against every Class of 2026 on the Class of 2026 Hub. Sortable side-by-side stats for the top 50 MBA programs.