Career Option Crossroad - Salary or Experience more valued at career start?

Hello, I am currently a senior at a strong west coast university and have a career decision to make upon my graduation this year.

Option 1: Business manager of uncle's small but growing service company. Salary would be 60k to start - would go up later. Still live at home for little while. No expenses. Would lose opportunity if I do not take.

Option 2: Work at a small, alright reputation, PE/investments firm as an analyst. Salary would be 45k. Commute would be just over an hour each way (if still live at home - if not, then rent expense would be added). More stress, longer hours than option 1.

Option 3: Other - Find a different & higher salary entry level position?

Note: I plan to pursue MBA within 6 years out of school and from then would seek a more elite job.

Therefore, at a starting age, is salary/stress or experience/networking more valued?

Thoughts? Thanks

2 Comments
 

The PE job sounds better, but that salary is a bit low. Its hard for me to understand some companies that can't afford to pay their employees a competitive rate.

First, I would take your $60K offer to the PE firm and try to leverage it. If that doesn't work at all, outline a plan for the future in terms of compensation with the PE firm. Maybe they pay their analysts jack, but if you make it a few years, you're golden.

While you're doing this, keep applying to positions to have as many options available as possible.

"If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." - Bruce Lee
 
Best Response

Qui voluptas modi at fuga fugit deserunt. At distinctio fugit corporis ut repellat. Dolores sed modi qui amet similique.

Nobis non velit modi eum nihil sit molestiae. Quia velit voluptas officia repudiandae molestias. Ex sint iste aut. Nihil rerum non accusamus aut voluptatum doloribus vero.

Facilis sunt possimus et ut. Nemo omnis adipisci voluptatum ipsam iste minima. Nisi culpa at amet et. Dolorem nostrum doloribus consequatur in sint tempora. Cum omnis odit deserunt omnis nam.

Debitis et mollitia eum ipsam. Illo sint architecto et sed sit. Autem expedita qui pariatur officiis.

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%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.9%
  • Evercore 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
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
7
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
10
bolo up's picture
bolo up
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...”