Best City for Investment Banking in terms of pay. Let's uncover this once and for all!

Hey all 

I know that investment banking pay is very dependent on firm, seniority, market niche, location, among other factors. 

However, I feel like the answer as to which location pays the best on an after-tax base is still quite obscure.     

Could you help me uncover this once and for all?

Perhaps a structured approach to the answers would help simply the process: 

1. Bank type (MM, BB, EB, Regional Boutique)
2. Country + City 

3. Pre-tax salary

4. Cost of rent

5. Income after tax and rent 
 

Thank you all in advance!

26 Comments
 

MM in Houston. Street pay with no income tax and lower COL really help me bank a lot compared to other location. There’re a lot of restaurants but arguably less places to spend as much money at night as NYC, where I also spent a few years.

The only catch is property tax but it’ll apply when you’re ready to settle down etc. By that time some professionals already take a gig somewhere else and live in suburban area/LCOL area.

 

I'd put an asterisk next to Richmond just to note that there's really only one bank you want to work for in the entire city. Maybe two if you count Truist. Sweet deal if you work for HW, but idk if one can realistically set their sites on Richmond and reliably find an opportunity there. Charlotte & Houston on the other hand have enough opportunities that one could realistically plan to move to either and pursue IB.  

 

Remote working from your childhood bedroom >>>>>>

COL is negative when Ma Dukes is paying for the groceries.

Also significantly less boredom during meetings. When your windbag MD starts waxing poetic to the client about points he's already made 100 times before, you can spark a dab pen, hop in a Modern Warfare 2 lobby and get a few rounds of Search and Destroy in. 

 

Some people have that type of relationship with their parents. No matter how much money some people make, they're still mom's baby, and their money is no good with her.

 

Where do you live in the city and what would you say is the quality of downtown? Additionally, where are the areas to be avoided (such as where the riots took place)?

Array
 

I live downtown. Depending on where your office is, I would recommend north loop, assuming you're fine with the walk. Don't walk south/east of downtown at night, it can be sketch. Would recommend having a car

Array
 

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