Compensation accross different cities

For finance jobs that are the same function but are located in different geographies, will compensation be the same or will the lower cost of living location have a lower pay?

If I trade energy in a NYC fund, will I get compensated the same at a Houston fund if the funds both have similar fee structures? Is this the case for both the junior (arbitrary pay by PM) and the senior level (P&L contract percentages) ?

4 Comments
 

Of course lower COL cities will pay less. I know with first hand knowledge that the starting IBD class of SLC was starting at 48k. Bonus standard at 1.0x base. The only city that offers 85+85 is probably NYC and SF.

 

NYC bonus is not 1X base....

So it is much more profitable for a hedge fund to open up in Houston because the manager can screw his guys by paying lower while still charging 2/20?

Pennies from JcPenny
 
Best Response

Varies.

Front-office BB IB jobs outside NYC will pay the same as NYC...but there are very few of those. Mid and back office jobs pay less outside of NYC. Regional IB's pay less outside of BB. GS Houston energy trading will pay the same as GS NYC trading...but if you work for a local firm in Houston, you'll make less.

If you want high pay and low COL, I recommend consulting. Pay is standardized, and you can work wherever you want.

 

Eveniet accusamus sed id non. Maiores neque ullam dolores aliquam.

Dicta temporibus aut veniam sunt magnam. Dolorem similique qui quas et consequuntur. Velit facere autem ad sunt autem illum.

Voluptas reprehenderit est quod at. Labore porro qui commodi dolores cumque. Ratione vitae adipisci inventore eos. Ut doloribus et ipsa. Hic est et aperiam laboriosam molestiae soluta sit maiores. Impedit accusantium ducimus aut aut.

Pennies from JcPenny

Career Advancement Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.2%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.3%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.2%

Professional Growth Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.3%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 97.2%

Total Avg Compensation

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (46) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (14) $159
  • 1st Year Analyst (80) $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
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
6
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
7
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
10
Linda Abraham's picture
Linda Abraham
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...”