Benefit of doing a Masters in Finance

freeze4real

Hi all,

How much will a masters in quantitative finance add to your salary compared to a general masters in finance/corporate finance?


The average salary for a business grad without/with experince is between 25 - 27k per year.

How much jump would doing a masters increase the salary by ?

TBH I don't think it makes a difference.

Lets say I'm earning 27k and decided to do a masters, so I'm taking a tear out to do it and I'll be back in the job market 2 years later. I'd love to think that my salary for the same position would be 35k.

But if I stayed at the job 'll be expecting a wage increase just before I start my masters and another wage increases t the year just few months after the the masters were to end. So what I earn in both scenarios might be the same.

Although they're many variables to keep in mind e.g the masters opens the door for various opportunities

What's your take on this guys ?


I'd love the mods to bridge these between this forum and the work and jobs forum.

odd1

freeze4real wrote: »

Hi all,

How much will a masters in quantitative finance add to your salary compared to a general masters in finance/corporate finance?


The average salary for a business grad without/with experince is between 25 - 27k per year.

How much jump would doing a masters increase the salary by ?

TBH I don't think it makes a difference.

Lets say I'm earning 27k and decided to do a masters, so I'm taking a tear out to do it and I'll be back in the job market 2 years later. I'd love to think that my salary for the same position would be 35k.

But if I stayed at the job 'll be expecting a wage increase just before I start my masters and another wage increases t the year just few months after the the masters were to end. So what I earn in both scenarios might be the same.

Although they're many variables to keep in mind e.g the masters opens the door for various opportunities

What's your take on this guys ?


I'd love the mods to bridge these between this forum and the work and jobs forum.

Money is not always the best way to make career decisions.
You are young, you will have lots of opportunities to make money.
while your working you will learn more than anything you learn at university.
now please don't take this the wrong way, but a.job might help you grow a pair and make you more decisive

towger

At the entry/grad level a masters will add nothing to your salary in most cases .... there will be a few exceptions, but not many.
A few years down the road when you start to advance and get promoted, then you will find a masters gives you an advantage over those who don't have one, and eventually you will find that jobs at director level etc will only be open to those with a masters, MBA, professional accounting qualification, etc .... i.e. the guys with "only" a primary degree get shut out in many cases. A masters is a long-term investment. Also, my personal view is that you get more out of a masters or other higher qualifiaction if you do it with a few years work experience behind you rather than doing it stright after your primary degree.

freeze4real

towger wrote: »

At the entry/grad level a masters will add nothing to your salary in most cases .... there will be a few exceptions, but not many.
A few years down the road when you start to advance and get promoted, then you will find a masters gives you an advantage over those who don't have one, and eventually you will find that jobs at director level etc will only be open to those with a masters, MBA, professional accounting qualification, etc .... i.e. the guys with "only" a primary degree get shut out in many cases. A masters is a long-term investment. Also, my personal view is that you get more out of a masters or other higher qualifiaction if you do it with a few years work experience behind you rather than doing it stright after your primary degree.

Monetary aspect is a big factor for me and I'm not going to lie. I have a 6months to a years experience under my belt and I need another to get into a more unique field.

A guy posted in the trading forum that he'd like to get into trading but for now he'll be in funds. To go from funds into trading will take the most 3 - 5 years but with a masters you could so in a year to three.

Putting the monetary aspect of things having a master opens the door to many front office opportunities than you'd have with a basic degree.

I have a basic degree in financial economics but ts not enough to get into places in Investment banking hence the need for masters.

odd1

there you go. i think you,ll find you,ve just answered your own question:D

ixus

I don't understand. You have a degree already? Are you in a job?

You don't have to take a year out. I did and it worked well for me but, you could do a masters while working. This would solve your problem. It would also look better to a potential employer in that you are a real workhorse.

As for making it to trading from funds. Where did you get the notion it takes 3-5 years? Fund accounting is not an attractive background for a potential employer in Trading. It means nothing to them.

Using a masters to specialize in something or add an additional skill is always worthwhile career wise.

freeze4real

ixus wrote: »

I don't understand. You have a degree already? Are you in a job?

You don't have to take a year out. I did and it worked well for me but, you could do a masters while working. This would solve your problem. It would also look better to a potential employer in that you are a real workhorse.

As for making it to trading from funds. Where did you get the notion it takes 3-5 years? Fund accounting is not an attractive background for a potential employer in Trading. It means nothing to them.

Using a masters to specialize in something or add an additional skill is always worthwhile career wise.

Yes I have a degree and a job in middle office but looking for front office opportunities.

The masters I'm looking at in Full time and taking a year out doesn't bother as I'm very young.

A guy from where I work has moved from funds to front office. it took him under 5 years within the same company but wont necessary be the case for all.

I never said that funds was attractive but i you wanted to move from funds to office by working your way up or by moving from job to job, it'll take a good number of years.

Voltex

I recently read a stat that for every 100 undergrad degrees there are <10 post grads.
Any post grad qualification will add to your profile. Go for it Id say.

Poor_old_gill

Now its not the same but I had a similar decision to make a few years back and I decided to do a Masters in Economics.

I feel it has helped my career prospects immensely overall- if you have 2-3 years experience prior to the masters then you should be fine as you will hve a nice combination coupled with the fact that you have shown a willingness to acquire new skills/make big decisions

Sonnenblumen

IMO) you are confusing competency with qualification? On the surface one might expect a Masters to improve one's earning potential, but it all depends on many factors. Practical and relevant experience is of greater potential value, but a Masters might give you a better ticket to ride but it does not automatically make you a better jockey. If you believe otherwise, you need more education.

odd1

"would you tell me please which way I ought to go from here? "

"that depends a good deal on where you want to get to," said the cat.

Alice in wonderland

Lewis carroll