Can a 'Masters Degree' alone, help one in getting a job directly within middle management with higher earnings?

Nowadays we are bombarded through different marketing sources about 'Masters Degrees' often, conjuring the image, that those who get one, easily go ahead or stand out, get selected over the other candidates holding a normal Degree in the same field.  College students and recent overseas migrants are being told to do new courses to get better and higher paying jobs. They are being marketed that Master's Degree =easy success in terms of a job opportunities and earnings prospects.  Straight entry or short cut into middle management role! I have been getting a few calls asking if this is absolutely true? 

 I sincerely doubt it.

My friends not many employers are going to offer you a straight entry into a  higher paying, middle management role just because you have a Masters Degree.

During my decade long recruitment experience in the HR & career coaching field, I would have handled hundreds of different roles at various levels. I have rarely had a client who preferred one candidate over the other, everything else being the same, just because the first candidate had a Masters Degree! Also generally speaking, I have rarely had to offer someone a higher salary level just because they had a  Masters qualifications. Yes there are always exceptions of the semi government and research based industries.

In the past, in the Finance, Engineering, Medicine, Pharmaceutical, Construction or select industries, possession of a Masters Degree was a rare qualification and someone with it stood out or got ahead easily. Nowadays however, a lot of people are getting Masters Degrees, the proportion of people having masters qualifications in their area of study since 1980’s to now, has, I am being told doubled. Some people assume or consider it their 'Masters'  right, that since they have got a higher qualification, they are entailed to higher pay or preference over other candidates in terms of selection for a senior role. They are suitable for direct entry into middle management roles. Does it really happen? Rarely!

 In reality, what is more valued by clients within the industry is practical hands-on versatile industry experience. While it basically depends on demand and supply, a candidate with recent and relevant local industry experience & skills-set will mostly beat any other candidate who has only higher qualifications to offer for the same role without matching experience. Agreed, in some cases where the brief is to find a Chartered Engineer, Scientist or Registered Architect, CFA, then the qualifications are required but here the qualifications are an essential part of the brief. It’s not going to be an advantage, it’s essential criteria for the role. 

 All things remaining equal between a group of candidates just because someone has a Master's qualification, it does not equate directly into a higher salary level or middle management role.   Yes there are exceptions, but generally speaking from a clients perspective, they have a budget for the role, which is already decided, if the candidate shortlisted has a Masters or not, that budget is going to remain the same, even if the candidate has a 'Bachelors' Degree. No client has ever told me since the candidate shortlisted has a Masters Degree we will offer him more salary or a senior role!

 What are your thoughts and opinions on this? Would like to hear..