Is my consulting lifestyle easier, similar, or harder than banking?

I work in a private equity due diligence group and I am wondering if I'm underpaid. I want to end up in the private direct investments space anyway so I am wondering if I should just take an L for my first year and switch to banking. My roommate works in DCM at a BB and works ~60 per week. I realize DCM isn't M&A or Advisory, but it nonetheless made me consider whether I have a better, similar, or worse lifestyle than most bankers.

Generally speaking, I get to work at 9, and leave anywhere from 10 to 1, and work for a few hours after I leave. For example, If I leave at 10, I go to the gym until 11, and work from home until 2. If I have critical doctors appointments or have to meet with a headhunter, I can leave without explanation. I work a few hours Sunday night.

All in all, I work about 14 solid hours a day during 17 waking hours M-Th for a total of 56h M-Th, another 9h on Friday bringing me to 65, and then 5h on Sunday going to 70h total. On weeks before our clients have to put in a bid, that number goes to 75h total, 80 on very rare occasions.

How does this stack up? Are BB worse but MM better? Can anyone shed some insight? Thank you.

2 Comments
 

Pariatur sint iure est repellat voluptatem est. Quo voluptate quidem voluptatem repudiandae praesentium. Veritatis tempora eaque rerum ullam inventore aut commodi. Consequatur dicta adipisci cupiditate et odio quia.

Career Advancement Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.3%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.7%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.3%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.7%
  • JPMorgan 01 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (15) $434
  • Associates (46) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (79) $150
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (73) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
7
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
10
numi's picture
numi
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”