Is $175-200k all in low for IR?
Seems like is the range for IR Associate jobs after 2 years banking according to HHs I've talked to. Also seems like a lot of MFs do 3/3.5 year IR analyst programs after a year of banking but don't hire direct from undergrad. Have heard IR can still be a grind and a pay cut to banking, is that true? Have also gotten numbers from HHs where MM shops pay mid 200s but there’s more work when fundraising given less prestige and headcount. Also does anyone know about WLB?
Based on the most helpful WSO content, $175-200k all-in for an IR (Investor Relations) role at a mega-fund (MF) like Carlyle, Blackstone (BX), or Apollo is on the lower end compared to some other opportunities in the space. Here's a breakdown of the key points:
Compensation Comparison:
Work-Life Balance (WLB):
Prestige vs. Pay:
In summary, $175-200k is on the lower side for IR at MFs, especially if you're coming from banking. If compensation is a priority, MM shops might be more appealing, but you'll need to weigh that against the prestige and exit opportunities of MFs. WLB in IR roles can vary, but MFs are generally more intense.
Sources: 2017 Private Equity Report – 8 Category Highlights, Salary progression for F500, MM HF IR analyst looking to lateral to MF PE IR, need career advice, If your parents are really rich and are willing to pay for your lavish lifestyle, would you still work?, what's IR / capital formations like?
What’s the base vs. bonus split for those 3 year analyst programs? Do you get a base bump each year?
Base is same as IB Analyst and bumps are about the same to my understanding. But the bonus is obviously lower.
Your numbers might be off. No way a PE IR analyst is getting a base of 120 and bonus of 80
I’ve seen plenty of PE IR associate roles for base of 150 and probably a 50-75k bonus
PE IR AN/ASOs do not deserve to be paid that much lmfao if you're got an offer that high take it and run.
FACTS!!!!
I feel like it's low compared to the range that I've heard with some folks pushing near 300
If someone can provide proof (I'm talking anonymized pay stubs or a contract, not anon commenting "I heard xyz") that any PE firm is paying a fresh, 0 prior exp IR associate $300k TC starting in 2025 - I will order the share certificates for 100x of any stock under $20, cover them in ranch, and film myself eating them while wearing Kanye 2016 memorabilia. And I will post proof with date confirmation.
Mods can ban me if I do not deliver so help me god.
Salaries increase over the years and have increased since when you have recruited. Seems very outdated, know various people in IR out of 2 year banking programs making 200k+ in NYC. It's more of an usual range for a reputable fund than a low-end. PE firms are increasingly becoming aggregators and IR drives a lot of that as funds are increasingly raising more and more.
That might be the most disturbing thing I read all week if true. And it's Monday.
Low, IR is seeing a bit of a moment right now in public media (read: https://www.businessinsider.com/private-equity-careers-fundraising-investor-relations-skills-experiences-jobs-2025-7 for reference), so would expect pay to increase at junior levels to similar extent as senior levels.
So is the aim minimum 200? Do they also typically buy out your bonus? I know it's common for investing roles but not sure about IR.
youre not thinking about this the right way. Think about your decision over a 10+yr time frame. +/-50k next year will not mean anything in 20 years. If IR is what you want to do, don't initially worry about the $ when you start along a new career path. It works itself out in the end.
This is way below market, even for a T2 city. IR Assoc are typically 250-400k+ all in, depending on AUM and location. If this is what the shop pays, they probably have you doing shitty processing work and have IR bucketed as a cost center rather than a profit center. On your second question, decide if you want to do prioritize "less work" or "interesting work." MM IR is typically a much more interesting job because you aren't silod to DDQ processing all day. I think the lowest I've seen was 225k from a very subscale manager. The market has moved and it keeps going up
No way it’s 400k after 2 years banking lol. I’ve seen anywhere from 150+50-100 on the lower end of your range. Maybe more if they’re buying out your bonus.
I have seen 400k with 4YoE in IR often enough to say its not an outlier, but it is the high end of the range. 150+50 is squarely below market
Lol this is objectively wrong in so many ways. What OP cited is not "below market" you just cited a bunch of BS outliers
No this isn't. How many offer letters have you seen? Do you actually have friends working in IR? You can work at a tier 4 placement agent at a MM bank and pull in 200k base alone. Sub $250k is squarely below market for IR associate roles at any respectable shop
IR pays this much?
I've seen so many "day in the life" tik-toks of girls in IR and did not know they were compensated so well.
Wow
Experience will vary based on fund and background, but 200k is not uncommon if your 2/3 years out of solid IB program.
Agreed; definitely depends on the firm, strategy and how Investor Relations is viewed at the firm-level. Ironically, a lot of mega-funds don’t necessarily pay their IR Associates that well since they’re so siloed and have an army of individuals. If you find a fast-growing shop with a relatively lean IR team you can make bank, including co-invest and carry, without the same pressures as the investment professional staff.
There’s a lot of back and forth in here but for a data point i’m in IR at a strong MM manager in T1 city and was 325k all in last year (150 base) as an ASO 2. This year expect to be 375-400
I’m gathering that IR pay has shot up because firms are desperate to raise money… which brings me to the question of how sustainable this is lol.
Super senior rainmakers with a lot of connections always make bank, and that makes perfect sense.
But if they are doing this for mid to senior IR levels too, then at some point the mid to senior investment team is going to get really disgruntled and the senior end at least is able to branch out and start their own shops.
Even where IR is a pure sales role, at the junior to mid levels the investment team can absolutely do IR roles, but the reverse is not possible.
In the ideal set up where the IR junior and mid level folks don’t need to run to the investment team for an explanation before every client call, well I have never seen that except when the IR team has actual investment experience.
Either the IR team starts being of the same caliber as the investment team, investment wise, or PE is screwed lol
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