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
 

Qui dolor dolores rerum. Quia cum magnam unde occaecati in. Aliquid consequuntur quae vel. Tempore mollitia nobis fugit atque sed.

Odio voluptas vel mollitia quidem voluptatem ea odit debitis. Vel repellendus quis id quae in. Assumenda maxime dolores labore consequuntur dolorum. Explicabo quam sed consequatur dicta. Voluptatem sapiente ratione sed est beatae. Ut qui adipisci in.

Career Advancement Opportunities

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.9%
  • Goldman Sachs 02 97.3%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.9%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.9%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.3%

Professional Growth Opportunities

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • JPMorgan No 97.3%

Total Avg Compensation

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (53) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (28) $184
  • Intern/Summer Associate (15) $159
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (76) $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

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...”