Published:Jan 28, 2025

Why Engineers Choose an MBA: Balancing Technical Expertise with Business Acumen

What do Sundar Pichai of Google, Mary Barra of General Motors, and countless other CEOs of tech companies have in common?

They’re engineers who earned MBAs. They combined their technical expertise with business acumen to achieve success — for themselves and their companies.

Many engineering professionals wonder, “Is an MBA worth it?” And with so many tech CEOs as role models, the answer seems like a simple yes. But an MBA might not be the right choice for every engineer. In this article, we’ll weigh the pros and cons, explore potential career paths, and consider the cost of an MBA to help you make the right choice for your future.

Key Takeaways

MBA Enhances Leadership and Strategy

Engineers who pursue an MBA gain essential managerial skills like budgeting, team leadership, and strategic decision-making — vital for stepping into engineering management or executive roles.
Balancing Technical and Business Expertise

An MBA complements your engineering background by adding a layer of business analytics, finance, and marketing know-how, preparing you for roles in product management, operations, or entrepreneurship.
Career Growth and Salary Upsides

Many engineers see a substantial income boost and faster career progression after completing an MBA program, although costs and time commitments should be weighed carefully for return on investment.
Flexibility Through Multiple Formats

Whether full-time, part-time, or online, there’s an MBA structure to fit engineers who want to maintain work experience or pivot careers entirely.
Global Opportunities and Future Trends

With emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, an MBA can position engineers for global leadership roles, equipping them to navigate complex, tech-driven industries.

Why Engineers Consider an MBA

According to a survey conducted in 2022, 79% of prospective students applied to an MBA program to enrich their lives and develop their potential. Nearly two-thirds of applicants wanted to increase their income and expand their business knowledge.¹

And these aren’t just students who want to work in finance or consulting. Professionals in almost every industry — from health care to manufacturing to technology — can benefit from the education an MBA offers. That’s because MBA programs help develop skills in:

Strategic thinking
Communication
Problem solving
Management
Leadership

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For engineers, these soft skills complement their technical skills and give them a better understanding of business as a whole. This new knowledge and skills prepare engineers to succeed in engineering management positions.

MBA graduate Damon Ho credits his MBA program for teaching him marketing and organizational behavior. These topics broadened his perspective as a structural engineer. And now, as a segment market manager, they help him communicate effectively with teams across the company.

Now may be a good time to consider earning your MBA because demand for engineering managers is on the rise. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 6% increase in job openings from 2023–2033 as workers retire. That’s about 15,000 openings every year.² Demand in civil engineering is particularly high as the United States looks to repair and update its aging infrastructure.

Whether you want to deepen your business understanding, develop your soft skills, or level up to a management position, an MBA may be a good next step.

Pros and Cons: Is an MBA Worth It for Engineers?

How do you know if an MBA is worth it for you? Let’s weigh the pros and cons.

Pros	Cons
Managerial skills	Program costs
More career opportunities	Significant time commitment
Potential salary increase	Less relevant for engineers interested in purely technical roles

Benefits of an MBA for Engineers

Managerial Skills

Your engineering degree program likely taught you a lot of technical skills. But it may not have given you the soft skills you need to succeed in a management position, such as leadership, communication, and budgeting. An MBA can bridge that gap, preparing you to lead teams, manage projects, and align technical solutions with business goals.
More Career Opportunities

MBA graduates have more career opportunities because their skills are both transferable and in demand. In fact, 91% of global companies hired MBA graduates in 2022.³ With your MBA, you can move up to an engineering manager or use your broadened skill set to transition to a new job or industry.
Potential Salary Increase

Engineering managers also command higher salaries: an average of $121,560 in 2025, compared to $90,704 for engineers.^4,5 Skills in strategic planning, people management, and leadership specifically — all skills taught in MBA programs — can boost your salary.⁴

Drawbacks of an MBA for Engineers

MBA Costs

Earning your MBA can be an expensive undertaking. In 2024, the average MBA degree cost $62,820.⁶ At top business schools like Wharton, Harvard, or Stanford, those costs exceed $200,000.⁷ It’s important to weigh the return on your investment in an MBA.
Time Commitment

Beyond the financial cost is the time cost. Earning your MBA can take two years full-time or up to five years part-time. Between classes, studying, and working with classmates on projects, expect to dedicate a significant amount of time each week.
Less Relevance for Technical Engineering Roles

If you enjoy your technical engineering role and have no interest in becoming a manager or executive, an MBA might not be the most relevant degree for you. The cost and time commitment may not pay off for your goals.

Popular MBA Paths and Alternatives

MBA programs are not one-size-fits-all. You can choose to study full-time or part-time, in-person or online. If you’re looking to earn your MBA right after your bachelor’s, a full-time program will help you finish quickly. If you work full-time or have family commitments, part-time and online programs offer more flexibility for your schedule.

As you explore your options, review the specialized tracks each program offers. These tracks focus on the knowledge and skills needed for specific business functions, which might align with your chosen career path. Biotech engineers, for example, might choose to specialize in healthcare management or technology management.

Popular MBA specializations include:

Business analytics
Entrepreneurship
Finance
Marketing
Operations management
Human resource management

Some MBA programs even offer a specialization in artificial intelligence (AI), which teaches you how to apply AI to solve business problems.

Engineers looking to level up might also consider earning an engineering graduate degree like the Master of Engineering Management (MEM). While an MBA covers broad business fundamentals, an engineering management degree is more specialized. The MEM focuses on specific engineering and technology management skills, such as product design, operations, and data analytics.

If your goal is to lead technical teams or manage complex engineering projects, a MEM may be a better fit for you than an MBA. On the other hand, an MBA might be right for you if you want to start your own business, lead a broader business division, or change industries.

Not ready to commit to a full degree program? Consider alternatives to upskill:

Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification:

This globally recognized credential demonstrates your ability to manage projects in any industry. And it comes with a 33% higher salary than uncertified professionals.⁸
Generative AI Courses:

Gartner estimates that 80% of software engineers will need to upskill in AI/machine learning by 2027.⁹ To close this skill gap, consider taking an online course in AI offered by many top tech companies, including Google, Microsoft, and IBM.

Financial Considerations and ROI

While an MBA can help advance your career, it’s important to consider whether the significant cost will pay off for you in the long run.

MBA Costs

MBA tuition can range from about $20,000 per year at an in-state public university to more than $118,000 per year at a top-ranked business school like Wharton.¹⁰ On top of annual tuition, you can also expect to pay:

$2,000 in fees
$1,000–$4,000 for textbooks
$10,000–$30,000 for room and board (if applicable)

How to Pay for an MBA

Many MBA students take out student loans to pay for at least part of their degree. The median student debt for MBA graduates is $58,415. Graduates of the most prestigious business schools — the so-called "Magnificent 7" (M7) programs — accumulate an average of $131,366 in student debt.¹¹ Yet many graduates find the higher cost of an M7 program worth it for the valuable networking opportunities and higher earning potential.

But loans shouldn’t be your first stop when determining how to pay for your MBA. If you’re currently working, check if your benefits package includes tuition assistance or tuition reimbursement. Many employers pay for some or all of their employees’ education costs. In exchange, employees agree to remain with their employer for a set number of years following graduation.

Many schools also offer scholarships, fellowships, or grants to offset the cost of your degree. These forms of financial aid do not need to be repaid after you graduate. But they can be competitive to secure. Once you know where you want to apply, talk with the Admissions Office about your financial aid options.

ROI of an MBA

So, is an MBA worth it? Try the ROI Calculator from the Graduate Management Admission Council to decide for yourself. It will estimate your career earnings with and without a business degree, then calculate your ROI 10 years in the future.

https://www.mba.com/business-school-and-careers/salary-and-roi/business-school-roi-calculator

While MBA costs can be steep, you can reap a big return on your investment over the course of your career. For starters, MBA graduates earn an average of $30,000 more in annual salary than experienced, direct-from-industry hires — and $40,000 more than professionals with other master’s degrees.¹² If you already have several years of work experience, you may get more out of your MBA program and accelerate your career advancement with your degree in hand.

Global Opportunities and Future Trends

Multinational corporations are looking for tech-savvy leaders to oversee complex, international projects. Engineers with MBAs are uniquely qualified with their combination of technical expertise and business acumen.

For example, many corporations continue to rebuild and redesign supply chains in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Engineers with MBAs bring the technical expertise in systems and process optimization, plus the business skills to manage global logistics.

As more companies embrace generative AI and more startups seek innovative solutions to global challenges, they need managers who understand both technology and business strategy to be successful. That means exciting career opportunities around the globe for engineering professionals with MBAs.

FAQs

When should an engineer get an MBA?

The best time to pursue your MBA depends on your career goals and financial circumstances.

When you start an MBA program right after undergraduate school, you go in with momentum because you’ve spent the past few years in “school mode.” You likely have fewer family commitments and financial responsibilities, so you can focus more of your time on school. This approach worked well for mechanical engineer Scott West:

However, with a few years of work experience, you understand first-hand the challenges that businesses face. Those insights will bring more depth to your class discussions and projects. Work experience can also clarify your long-term career goals. This can inform your choice of MBA specialization and accelerate your career outcomes after graduation.

Which MBA is best after engineering?

Choose your MBA based on your area of expertise and your career goals. Below are common MBA specializations by engineering discipline to guide your search.

Engineering Discipline	Common MBA Specializations
Mechanical engineering	Operations management Supply chain management Project management Product management
Civil engineering	Real estate management Construction management Operations management Finance
Systems engineering	Operations management Supply chain management Project management Technology management
Computer engineering	Technology management Business analytics Product management Entrepreneurship
Food science engineering	Supply chain management Sustainability and environmental management Agribusiness management Marketing

Next Steps

An MBA can be a transformative step in your engineering career. It offers expanded career opportunities, improved managerial skills, and the potential for significantly more income. Engineers with MBAs are equipped to lead teams, manage projects, and navigate complex business challenges.

However, an MBA isn’t right for everyone. Evaluate your personal career goals and your financial situation before committing to an MBA program. And be sure to consider all of your options: online MBA programs, engineering management degrees, and other business and tech certifications. This research and self-reflection will help you choose the best path for your future.