Lower Middle Market PE Associate Comp

I am going into the final interview stage with a small PE fund for an Associate role: <$1B AUM, ~12 people at the firm, most recent fund was $250M and it's in a pretty small market. I am wondering what compensation to expect in terms of base comp and bonus targets? I currently make $140k plus 10% bonus, should I be expecting to take an initial pay cut?

Thanks

2 Comments
 

Veniam quidem itaque asperiores voluptatem. Ut eveniet dolor corporis occaecati excepturi. Eos velit nesciunt veniam voluptatem dolores impedit at. Et rerum facilis aut et nobis assumenda eum. Laboriosam iste tempore nobis aut expedita at temporibus. Asperiores quasi eum libero dignissimos sunt qui. Quasi dignissimos commodi fuga quod ratione recusandae.

Quisquam dicta aut ad nam est molestiae. Quia exercitationem est iure eos in. Tenetur molestiae quasi nostrum. Impedit ab error iste minima nihil sint sed.

Facere et sunt sapiente voluptatibus officia. Numquam similique necessitatibus ut aut et nobis.

Qui id officia commodi molestiae. Aut et incidunt suscipit eveniet laudantium aut est.

Career Advancement Opportunities

November 2026 Private Equity

  • Blackstone Group 99.6%
  • The Riverside Company 99.3%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 98.9%
  • Warburg Pincus 98.5%
  • Vista Equity Partners 98.2%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

November 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

November 2026 Private Equity

  • Bain Capital 99.6%
  • Blackstone Group 99.3%
  • The Riverside Company 98.9%
  • Starwood Capital Group 98.5%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 98.2%

Total Avg Compensation

November 2026 Private Equity

  • Principal (9) $653
  • Director/MD (24) $547
  • Vice President (100) $364
  • 3rd+ Year Associate (106) $280
  • 2nd Year Associate (236) $272
  • 1st Year Associate (414) $231
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (33) $157
  • 2nd Year Analyst (97) $134
  • 1st Year Analyst (274) $126
  • Intern/Summer Associate (40) $79
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (357) $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
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
9
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
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...”