What is the highest realistic salary someone can achieve in IB, Consulting, SWE, and Quant.
My friend and I were wondering which job position makes the most.
PS: I am not joining the field because of a paycheck.
| +218 | Investment Banks Ranked By Your Divorced Blue Collared Uncle | 17 | 5h |
| +156 | Think Twice before Recruiting for HOUSTON IB!! | 65 | 2d |
| +140 | UBS Exits 2026 | 39 | 4h |
| +65 | Congrats on the ROs. I Still Don’t Know Which One You Were | 8 | 11h |
| +40 | Mid-Level UBS Departure for another BB (Grass Isn’t Greener…) | 31 | 3d |
| +39 | Did not get a return offer due to headcount, but happy to move on. | 8 | 1d |
| +37 | IB RO Discussion | 6 | 3d |
| +29 | Getting a BB job just for brand name? | 5 | 2h |
| +29 | Lied about bonus to future employer | 17 | 2m |
| +28 | Early VP promo timeline | 15 | 1d |
Career Resources
Get instant access to lessons taught by experienced private equity pros and bulge bracket investment bankers including financial statement modeling, DCF, M&A, LBO, Comps and Excel Modeling.
IB - 5 million
Consulting - 150K
SWE - 750K
Quant - 500K
150k in consulting is the ceiling? At least try to be somewhat believable if you’re gonna troll
"Consulting" doesn't have that "Rich, Prestigious, and Advanced" feel to it like IB, PE, HF, SWE and Quant. But what do I know? I've never done either.
This is why posts like this end up making no sense (people without info throw out numbers without context). The numbers don’t make sense (quant and SWE way too low and consulting a joke of a number) as for realistic. In terms of averages, etc maybe (but even then seem low).
I don’t think you are looking for highest realistic, you are probably looking for some average (guessing that’s what you meant). I would also add you should look at attrition and include things like business school costs if you want to figure out the best “all in” comp (and how much is deferred, etc).
I see how you are doing that, I am just wondering what the average growth is. I mean the average quant isn't going to be making 5mm and not everyone becomes partner and not every SWE becomes an L8. So what is the average potential max overall?
I guess that’s what I’m trying to get at. The average person in IB won’t reach MD, so do you want average MD or average person getting in IB? Because in one you are going to compare MD to consulting partner, to L7-8, etc. Similar a “quant” PM has huge upside. But yes MD will be higher than SWE (although stock options can change this) and consulting partner.
Average person getting into IB:
Average person getting into SWE:
Average person getting into Quant SWE:
Average person getting into Consulting:
Average person getting into Quant Trading:
Average person getting into IB: high 6 figures to low 7 figures (assuming pretty much anyone who wants to stick it out in IB can at least make it to VP, and some can keep going).
Average person getting into SWE: mid 6 figures, while some will go on and found successful businesses where there is no ceiling.
Average person getting into Quant SWE: high 6 figures - variance here as with any buyside role, there will be several people who top out ~500k and several making low millions, though on the SWE side you won't see many 2 handle years ($2mm+).
Average person getting into Consulting: mid 6 figures - same explanation as IB but partners make less than IB MDs.
Average person getting into Quant Trading: high 6 figures - variance here as with any buyside role, there will be several people who top out ~300-500k and several making millions. Even more variance than quant SWE and the best of the best can make crazy money. Several making HSD millions and more than a handful making double digit millions - i.e. successful quant PM at a platform or high performing quant at a SM quant fund.
This... is false. The average is the same for both.
Incidunt sed est exercitationem aut. Nihil consequatur consequuntur libero mollitia cumque dolorem. Quos esse ratione saepe veniam qui. Officiis deserunt deserunt enim saepe.
Necessitatibus rerum rerum delectus officiis in. Eius tempora quae et earum quibusdam. Delectus sunt quo saepe ab. Nesciunt aliquid eos sed ea fugiat.
Ea quasi explicabo debitis nesciunt ut quod reiciendis. Ab qui impedit molestias necessitatibus quis alias modi. Aliquam voluptatem ut tempore eos repudiandae et quidem. Qui quos est rerum distinctio quisquam quibusdam ad. Deleniti excepturi et accusantium.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...