Explore The Varied Career Opportunities 5 Years After Getting a Business Degree

Summary:

Whether it’s financing, investing, or becoming a stockbroker, a business career is a secure choice with many growth opportunities. But what do various degrees look like 5 years in? High school students can get a head start on their future with pre-college online business courses.

Key Points:

• There are numerous potential paths business majors can take, but four main options are the bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, and chartered financial analyst (CFA) degrees.
• A 4-year bachelor’s degree can net someone a median average salary of $71,000.
• A master’s program in business can land you jobs as a credit analyst, financial advisor, or quantitative analyst.
• A chartered financial analyst (CFA) is a unique area of study that one can pursue after starting their business career.
• There are a plethora of pre-college online business courses teens can take in high school. 

The concept of business has been around for centuries, dating back to the ancient Mesopotamian era. Whether it’s financing, investing, entrepreneurship, or becoming a stockbroker, a business career is a secure choice with numerous opportunities for growth. Are you a teen with an interest in working in the lucrative field of business? Do you ever wonder what type of success you’ll see after graduating, maybe five years down the line? 

In this article, we’ll review a variety of 5-year plans based on the level of degree achieved, the current outlook for jobs in business (based on degree), and business courses teens like you can take in high school. 

First, let’s examine the overall numbers for the business industry. 

The Outlook for Those Working in Business

The median annual wage for business professionals was $80,920 in May 2024, which was higher than the median annual wage for all occupations, at $49,500.

Overall employment in business and financial occupations is projected to grow faster than the average for all professions from 2023 to 2033. Approximately 963,500 openings are projected each year, on average, due to employment growth and the need to replace workers who leave the field permanently.

While these statistics are more general regarding the world of business, your path will dictate just how successful you will be. Generally speaking, there are three key directions to consider when looking to the future in business. You can focus on your undergraduate degree, which will prepare you for the marketplace after approximately four years of study. Otherwise, you can aim to achieve your master’s degree or become a chartered financial analyst (CFA).

Let’s review what to expect five years into your career with an undergraduate degree. 

What to Expect with an Undergraduate Degree in Business

For bachelor’s degree holders, five years post-graduation will likely put you in good standing with a career of your choice at a reputable company or a promising start-up. The median income in the U.S. for college grads is $71,000. Add five years to that and you could be hitting the six-figure mark—all depending on the state of the economy, company status, and your performance rating.

Business jobs available to those with an undergraduate degree include:

• Management Consultant
• Financial Analyst
• Marketing Manager 
• Human Resources Manager
• Operations Manager

What to Expect with a Master’s Degree in Business

If you hold a master’s degree, you can expect to earn a median income of $90,324. For those in business careers at the doctoral level (Doctor of Business Administration), median incomes are reported to exceed $100,000 upon graduation. Add five years, and you may find yourself at $180,000 and above.

Business jobs available to those with a master’s degree distinction include:

• Financial Analyst
• Equity Research Analyst
• Credit Analyst
• Financial Advisor
• Quantitative Analyst

What to Expect with a CFA Distinction in Business

One other option is to attain a CFA title. Similar in distinction to a master’s degree, CFA holders possess more in-depth knowledge of advanced investment analysis and portfolio management skills. However, obtaining your CFA is an entirely different route from pursuing a master’s degree, as it is considered an advanced educational option for working professionals (similar to earning an MBA through night school). First, you must accumulate 4,000 hours of relevant work experience in the investment decision-making process (think finance or banking) over a minimum of 36 months. Second, you must pass three rigorous 6-hour exams, with each test requiring upwards of 900 hours of study. Those with the CFA distinction can expect to make similar salaries to those with an MBA.

Business jobs available to those with a CFA distinction include:

• Investment Management
• Investment Banking
• Research Analyst
• Financial Advisor

Do these careers and their respective salaries intrigue you? How about getting a leg up while you’re still in high school with pre-college online programs?

Pre-College Online Programs in Business

The options are so vast that it makes sense to test out several areas of interest while you are in high school. That begins with exploring college preparation resources for business majors. 

The Notre Dame Pre-College Online Program is an excellent example, offering two relevant courses. Business: From Start-Up to Success provides a firsthand look at what it’s like to be an entrepreneur and start your own business. You’ll study the risk in terms of time, financial investment, and the effort it takes to make the right decisions. You’ll analyze Nike, AT&T, and Lululemon, and come up with an idea for a start-up of your own. The second course, Finance: Creating and Building Wealth, will help you explore essential finance topics, such as investing, risk management, budgeting, and the tools you need to build and protect your wealth.

Georgetown University offers various business opportunities for high school students. Between entrepreneurship, investing, marketing, and international relations courses, the Georgetown University Pre-College Online Program has something for everyone. Some courses even offer college credits.

Perfect for business-minded teens seeking foundational insights into business or investing, the Wake Forest Pre-College Online Immersion Program courses in business and finance are excellent choices. In Business: Strategy & Innovation, you’ll discover how to develop an effective business strategy and review wildly successful companies such as Netflix and Apple to understand how they work. Another option, Investing: The Future Of Finance, gives you insight into the ways financial markets work today. Industry experts such as traders and investment bankers will teach you how companies attract investors, the role of shareholders, and how cryptocurrencies and FinTech companies are disrupting traditional finance.

In terms of other classes to take in high school for teens interested in business, the Rice University Precollege Program also has offerings. The online course in entrepreneurship enables you to explore how innovators have created startups in fintech, blockchain, and cryptocurrencies, and learn how they are disrupting traditional banking. Rice also delves into the business of economics—perfect for anyone interested in a future in finance or banking.

The William & Mary Pre-College Online Program offers a pre-college online course in venture capital investing titled Entrepreneurship and Venture Capital: From Idea To Investment. It’s an excellent choice for anyone looking to learn how to become an innovator who helps other businesses grow.

 Not to be outdone, the Northwestern Pre-College Online Program offers three exciting business courses. In Business: Innovation, Strategies, and Success, you’ll explore the fundamentals of business strategy, marketing, sales, operations, and more. Through real-world examples and expert insights, you’ll learn how companies develop products, reach their customers, and deliver value efficiently. In the course Business of Sports: Beyond the Field, you’ll discover the business moves that drive championship teams to success and learn how professional sports teams operate behind the scenes, from player evaluation and scouting to front office decision-making. Another option from Northwestern is the course Finance: Think Like an Investor. Here, you will gain a comprehensive understanding of the financial industry, from economic foundations to investment strategies and financial analysis. You will explore the intricacies of private equity, learn how to evaluate market trends, and analyze real-world case studies.

Regardless of how your career path evolves, business enrichment programs are an excellent start. Taking time out of your hectic high school schedule to get a head start is a wise option. Prelum, Powered by Kaplan, partners with some of the top colleges and universities in the nation. Our format is flexible with courses designed and led by renowned faculty and delivered through dynamic videos with interactive tools. Study anywhere, anytime that fits your schedule, and receive support from seasoned mentors who will guide your learning experience. Upon successful delivery of a Final Project, earn a Certificate of Completion that you can add to your applications. 

This was last reviewed by Ashley Simmons on 08/29/2025.