<p>Salaries</a> in Investment Banking</p>
<p>These salaries are really depressing... Especially analysts and associates. Why do people talk about the money so much? Seems like only MDs and above make a reasonable amount considering the stress.</p>
<p>Whatchu talking bout willis</p>
<p>Haha. I know! Only making the equivalent of $120k first year out of undergrad is truly depressing!</p>
<p>^
That’s in a good year and only $30 an hour…</p>
<p>I am pretty sure bottom bucket is 45k. 10k sign on + 70k salary is 125k for being in the lowest tier. Assuming they work about 75 hours a week and get one week off, that is $30/hour as the lowest you will get paid.</p>
<p>great thread - would read again.</p>
<p>I’ve heard you work 100 hr weeks on average. That salary isn’t good at all. It’s all about the exit opportunities</p>
<p>Hmmm. An engineer might start at 60k, which works out to $30/hour, but it’s not like the engineer can work 100 hours and earn as much as a banker.</p>
<p>If you are still thinking in terms of hourly wage and # of hours you have to work in a week at the onset of the job, this profession is probably not for you. Nor are many other professions.</p>
<p>If you are thinking that this is work I find interesting and want to do, the starting salary is twice as much as the average college grad and potential future opportunities and/or earnings are phenomenal, than this may be the profession for you.</p>
<p>If you’re worked about the hours/hourly wage, then investment banking is probably not for you.</p>
<p>When do you crack seven figures? Only at MD level?</p>
<p>Doesn’t that take like ten+ years? And it seems like it’s impossible to make hundreds of millions and get super rich… Just well-off.</p>
<p>“Doesn’t that take like ten+ years? And it seems like it’s impossible to make hundreds of millions and get super rich… Just well-off.”</p>
<p>Lol.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Top VPs in top groups can crack 7 figures. Investment Banking isn’t one of those get rich quick schemes. If you put in the time and effort you’ll be able to become “well-off”. By “well-off” I mean you can afford a few million dollar home, a vacation home, expensive cars, fine dining, private schools for the children, and other lavish items.</p>
<p>If you want to become super rich there are no guidelines, mapped out plans, or textbooks. However, if you want become “well-off”, investment banking is one of the quickest ways to to reach your goal.</p>
<p>if one is from a top Ivy e.g. Harvard at the top of their class should they still stick to IB? I heard moving into PE can be much more relaxing (less hours) and you still make decent amount of money + is buyside not much better in terms of work + exit ops?</p>
<p>PE doesn’t usually hire any new grads unless you have serious connections.
Buyside hours can be more, depending, and the exit ops are retirement or start your own company.</p>
<p>is PE not better? I heard one can do an IB stint for 2 years then go PE or stick to IB</p>
<p>IB (3-5 years exp) - 300k + bonus
I’ve heard PE’s with the same experience on 500k+bonus</p>
<p>so taking that into account would PE not be a better field to aim for? I’m sort of leaning against HF because even though the money is/might be there I do not want to work 100ish hours day in day out for 5-10 years</p>
<p>
It’s also one of the quickest ways to burn out as well. But then again, anything that you are not passionate about but happen to be putting in tremendous hours for will do the same too.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>You won’t even come close to this, unless you mean 3-5 years post mba.
3 Years of experience in IB would put you at a 1st year associate at best, assuming you were promoted to associate without an mba.
Base salary would be around $125k, bonus might be $125k in a good year, putting you at $250k all in. </p>
<p>As cbreeze said, PE isn’t something you start out in. Getting a PE job straight out of undergrad is difficult. If you’re hoping to work in private equity, your best bet is to do two years in investment banking and then applying to private equity firms.
Compensation in PE will vary wildly from firm to firm. If you’re at a place like Apollo or TPG, compensation will be vary different than a boutique.</p>
<p>Also, most hedge funds do not require 100 hour work weeks.
Depending on the type of fund and your role there, the hours worked will often be less than either private equity or investment banking.</p>
<p>Who said there are only few exit ops (retire or start your own company) for PE? You can always run for Governor of Massachusetts? And if you like IB you can run in New Jersey, and send your state straight to the crapper.</p>