What Is The Salary After CAT Exam?

One of the largest questions which come to mind when the aspirants are preparing to take the CAT exam is this question- What will be my salary after passing the CAT exam and doing the MBA? The answer is not straightforward since salaries post CAT differs considerably, based on the B-school, specialization, skills, and the company that hires.

To students who aspire to work in a corporation, it is important to know the pay scale and the variables that affect the pay scale. In this comprehensive blog, we will dissect all you need to know about post-CAT salaries, the disparities between high-end and mid-end institutions, positions available, and how preparation with the aid of resources such as CAT 25 years solved question paper, CAT mock test paper, and CAT last year question paper can make a difference in your path.

Salaries After CAT Exam -An Overview.

The post-CAT exam salaries are widely differentiated and the best IIMs can pay an average of 25-30 LPA, mid-tier B-schools may pay 14-17 LPA and low-ranking colleges can pay 8-10 LPA.

The final salary depends on:

• The reputation of the B-school that one attends.

• The major of the candidate (Finance, Marketing, Operations, HR, Consulting)

• Academic, project and internship performance in the MBA.

• The recruiting companies visiting the campus

Finance, Marketing, Consulting, and General Management are some of the high-paying positions offered by recruiters including the Tata Group, Aditya Birla Group, Reliance Industries, HUL, Amazon, and Accenture Strategy.

Average Salary Packages by B-School Tier

This table makes it clear that cracking the CAT with a top percentile and securing admission into a prestigious IIM can open doors to some of the highest-paying jobs in India.

Read More: Which Year CAT was Toughest?

Factors Influencing Post-CAT Salary

1. B-School Reputation

Your MBA institution name is also among the best salary determinants. Best IIMs are known worldwide and have established contacts with multinationals in the recruitment industry. Mid-tier IIMs and other established institutes also offer good opportunities that are also lucrative but usually at a smaller scale.

2. Specialization

Your compensation is directly related to your MBA specialization. Finance, Consulting and Strategy jobs tend to be more remunerated than Operations or HR jobs. Marketing also provides powerful packages especially in the FMCG and digital market.

3. Skills & Performance

In addition to academics, recruiters seek leadership, communication, problem solving, and strategic thinking. A candidate that has succeeded in internships and case competitions will be able to attract higher salaries.

4. Recruiting Company

Remuneration packages differ in industries. The consulting firms such as McKinsey, BCG, and Bain charge high packages, and the FMCG and technology firms also offer competitive salaries.

What is the average salary after completing an MBA from IIMs through CAT?

The median salary of the leading IIMs is 25-30 LPA. The average IIMs are mid-tier with an approximate of 15-20 LPA, whereas new IIMs come with 12-15 LPA packages. Top IIMs usually offer the highest packages which may surpass 70 LPA in consulting and international positions.

Is the CAT exam worth it in terms of salary?

The CAT exam is very rewarding indeed to those who aspire to manageial careers. Salaries vary according to the B-school, although even mid-level B-schools have salaries over 10 LPA which is quite high compared to most jobs in India at the graduate level. The payback period (ROI) is especially high in the case of government-supported IIMs because its tuition fees are relatively lower than those in the private B-schools.

Which specialization after CAT offers the highest salary?

The most common high paying specializations are Finance and Consulting. Investment Banking, Equity Research and Management Consulting roles frequently cross 25-40 LPA at the best IIMs. Marketing, especially in FMCG also comes up with spectacular packages, whereas Operations and HR are slightly lower in starting salaries.

How do companies decide salaries for MBA graduates?

Firms use a number of factors to determine salaries at entry level: the reputation of the B-school, industry demands, job position, and performance of the candidate in an interview and internship. Companies also compare remuneration with their rivals to get the best workers.

Can solving CAT books and CAT mock test papers help in getting better salaries?

Indirectly, yes. The more you do in CAT the more you have a chance to get into a good B-school. Question papers, CAT books, and CAT last year question paper prepared 25 years ago are sure to give a good percentile which in turn is directly proportional to admission in IIMs resulting in good salary opportunities.

Job Roles After CAT

MBA graduates are recruited into diverse high-paying roles. Some of the most lucrative profiles include:

• Finance Manager

• Management Consultant

• Marketing Manager (FMCG/Tech/Startups)

• Operations Manager

• General Management & Strategy roles

• Personal Financial Advisor

These roles span across industries such as Consulting, IT, FMCG, BFSI, E-commerce, and Manufacturing.

Job Roles & Average Salary After CAT

This table highlights that Consulting and Finance dominate in terms of compensation, but Marketing and General Management also provide competitive salaries with excellent career growth potential.

Long-Term Salary Growth After CAT

Entry-level packages after MBA already are already high-paying, but the career path after CAT is steep. The large number of MBA graduates experience a tremendous increase in the initial 5-7 years of their employment.

• Early Career (0-3 years post-MBA): 12-25 LPA.

• Mid Career (4–7 years post-MBA): ₹25–40 LPA

• Senior Management (10 or more years after MBA): ₹50 LPA or more.

Numerous IIM alumni also advance to CXO-level, entrepreneurship, or global leadership roles, which attract a salary exceeding ₹1 crore per annum.

Why Does Salary Change So Much after CAT?

• B-school brand value has a direct effect on the recruiters visiting campus.

• Best placements are achieved through networking in the best colleges.

• Skills and internship increases the likelihood of premium packages.

• The global or domestic roles are also tremendous. Prices in India are 2-3 times lower than international.

Conclusion

Then, what is the CAT exam salary?

In the case of top IIMs, the average salaries are not hard to reach 25-30 LPA, and there are record offers exceeding 70 LPA. Mid-tier IIMs and Tier-1 B-schools continue to attract handsome remuneration of ₹15-20 LPA, and Tier-2 institutions offer a decent starting package of 8-12 LPA.

Finally, the CAT gateway leads to the prestigious B-schools and the higher you perform the greater your likelihood of getting dream packages. A strict preparation plan with CAT 25 years ago question papers, CAT mock test papers, CAT books and CAT last year question paper can assist you to get into the best institutes and much better your salary chances.

To ambitious candidates, CAT is not merely an exam, but the start of a well paying and influential management job.