Which pays more: MiM in Marketing or Finance?

Question

Sushovan biswas · Accepted Answer

Finance roles generally offer higher salaries than marketing after a MiM, especially in top schools. For example, HEC Paris MiM Finance graduates earn an average of &euro;65,000, while marketing roles average &euro;52,000 per year.
If you&rsquo;re targeting banks, consulting, or fintech, the finance path usually comes with signing bonuses and faster salary growth. London Business School also reports MiM grads in finance landing roles at firms like J.P. Morgan and Goldman Sachs, where the starting pay is higher than most entry-level marketing jobs.
Marketing, on the other hand, can be slower to scale. Roles in brand management or digital marketing often start lower but grow steadily with experience. Schools like ESSEC and ESADE offer specialisations in marketing, but their average salaries are still 10&ndash;15% lower than finance tracks.
So, if your main goal is a higher starting salary, MiM in Finance wins. But if you&rsquo;re more passionate about creative strategy or branding, marketing roles can still offer strong long-term potential.

Sudheer R · Answer

Finance roles usually pay more than marketing after your MiM, especially in top-ranked schools. You&rsquo;ll see this clearly in official salary reports. For example, HEC Paris reports that their finance-track graduates earn an average of &euro;65,000, while marketing-track students average around &euro;52,000 annually. That&rsquo;s a clear gap right from the start.
If you&rsquo;re aiming for roles in investment banking, corporate finance, or consulting, you&rsquo;ll also benefit from higher bonuses and faster salary jumps. At London Business School, MiM grads going into finance land jobs at places like Goldman Sachs, Barclays, and EY, where compensation is more competitive than most marketing roles.
On the other hand, marketing roles such as brand management or digital marketing tend to offer lower starting pay but have long-term growth. Schools like ESSEC and ESADE offer strong marketing-focused MiM paths, but their employment reports show salaries remain modest in the early years.
So if your priority is earning more right after graduation, MiM in Finance is the better choice. But if you're driven by creativity or consumer strategy, marketing still offers good potential, especially once you build some years of experience.

T Mehta · Answer

Based on data from top schools like HEC Paris and ESCP, Finance clearly offers higher starting salaries for MiM graduates. At HEC Paris, MiM graduates entering Finance earn an average salary around &euro;65,000, while those in Marketing average around &euro;52,000.
You&rsquo;ll find that most Finance roles are located in top-paying hubs like London, Zurich, and Frankfurt. Companies like J.P. Morgan, Goldman Sachs, and BNP Paribas often recruit directly from these schools and offer competitive packages early on. In contrast, Marketing roles though available at firms like Amazon, P&G, or L&rsquo;Or&eacute;al&mdash;tend to start at a lower pay band, especially outside major cities.
Still, salary isn&rsquo;t everything. Your choice should depend on what you&rsquo;re good at and where you want to grow. Finance offers faster early growth and higher pay, but Marketing could give you more creativity and long-term brand leadership roles if that&rsquo;s what excites you.
In short, Finance pays more upfront, but you should pick based on your long-term fit not just the paycheck. Use salary data from the schools' official career reports to guide you, not just assumptions.

B.K Sharma · Answer

MiM in Finance usually pays more than MiM in Marketing especially in the early stages of your career. As per HEC Paris career reports, Finance roles offer an average salary around &euro;65,000, while Marketing roles average around &euro;52,000. The gap widens further if you're placed in London or Zurich, where finance firms offer location bonuses.
You&rsquo;ll also notice that top companies like Goldman Sachs, J.P. Morgan, and BNP Paribas are actively hiring MiM graduates from Finance streams. These companies often pay higher because roles are technical, high-pressure, and based in financial hubs.
On the other hand, Marketing jobs like Brand Manager or Product Analyst are more creative and may offer slower salary growth. But if you join firms like L&rsquo;Or&eacute;al, Amazon, or P&G, the long-term prospects are still strong, even if initial pay is lower.
So if your goal is a high early-career salary, Finance gives you that edge. But in the long run, growth depends more on your role, location, and performance than just the stream.