Infra vs. PE at Canadian Pensions

Hey all, I am choosing between PE and Infra at Canadian pensions. I have been fortunate enough to have experience in both at the pension level (internships), so hopefully users here can opine on some questions I have:

  1. What does pay progression look like for analysts and associates for PE and infra? Any total comp numbers would be great.
  2. Which one is harder to become more "senior" at?
  3. If you guys had to choose, which one would you go for as a new graduate? 
Region
6 Comments
 
Most Helpful

There are really two scenarios here for a grad from my POV:

1) Infra Route:

You love infra, have passion for the space and you can see yourself in the long-run doing this

2) PE route:

You either have no passion for infra or you are more interested in a certain subsector or want to be a generalist for now

Infra is more niche for sure but also not as niche as it used to be given how the space exploded and what infra investors have put their money in. Sure there are classic plays of toll roads or water but there is quite a bit of exciting stuff like airports (Asterion invested in Italian airports), amusement parks (EQT invested in Parques Reunidos), education (Antin invested in Babilou kindergarden) but it is somewhat it's own space nevertheless and tied to contracted/protected cashflows.

Furthermore, overall infra is a bit of a grindy space as well due to its detailed nature and is also very, very model-heavy and a bit nerdy

 

thanks for that, really resonated with the model grindy and nerdy sentiments lol

 

What are the current views on upward mobility across the infra investing space?

Obviously fundraising has been incredibly supportive and the asset class is expanding to include more “generalist” types of businesses where funds should be able to exploit a cost of capital advantage.

My quick read is high end performers have a path to VP level but gets highly competitive from there. So not best time to join (compared to early - mid 2010s when large GPs were formed / MFs started seriously covering the space) but still constructive.

 

Omnis corrupti occaecati facere architecto dolor quibusdam unde inventore. Voluptate animi praesentium praesentium et cum provident.

Culpa inventore quaerat reiciendis totam eos et sed. Ipsum commodi sed voluptatem cumque fugiat non. Aspernatur iusto recusandae sint consequuntur consectetur fugiat.

Career Advancement Opportunities

July 2026 Private Equity

  • The Riverside Company 99.6%
  • Blackstone Group 99.3%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 98.9%
  • Warburg Pincus 98.5%
  • Vista Equity Partners 98.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

July 2026 Private Equity

  • Blackstone Group 99.6%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 99.3%
  • The Riverside Company 98.9%
  • Ardian 98.5%
  • Warburg Pincus 98.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

July 2026 Private Equity

  • Bain Capital 99.6%
  • The Riverside Company 99.3%
  • Blackstone Group 98.9%
  • Starwood Capital Group 98.5%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 98.1%

Total Avg Compensation

July 2026 Private Equity

  • Principal (9) $653
  • Director/MD (24) $547
  • Vice President (99) $363
  • 3rd+ Year Associate (104) $281
  • 2nd Year Associate (235) $272
  • 1st Year Associate (411) $229
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (33) $157
  • 2nd Year Analyst (97) $134
  • 1st Year Analyst (272) $124
  • Intern/Summer Associate (38) $81
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (355) $61
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
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
6
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
7
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
8
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
9
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
10
Mimbs's picture
Mimbs
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...”