57 Comments
 

A partner in PE will net 2-3x an MD's comp.

risk adjusted for both, IB makes more on average over a long term career -- mainly because it's easier to move up the ranks in IB than it is in PE

 

You're missing the glaringly obvious reason here chief, IB is absolutely fucking soul crushing, PE generally is less so and as everyone says more intellectually stimulating. Also my first year PE bonus doubled my old groups 3rd year associate bonuses this year. So take that for what its worth. Aside from that they are two very different jobs. So many more factors besides "NPV of expected comp over 30 years" lmao  

 
Most Helpful

This is just a bait post, especially after this year’s IB bonuses. There are so many posts about this and there’s really no reason for another.

If this isn’t a troll post, there are several reasons to go with PE. PE comp ceiling is substantially higher, the WLB is slightly better, the work is more intellectually stimulating, your colleagues are smarter and you have more optionality (PE back to IB is easy, IB to PE at the senior levels is uncommon). The upside is higher and the downside is basically the same because you can just go back to IB. Worst case, you make a little less money for a few years but gain a valuable skillset. True analytical thinking vs being a glorified real estate agent.

Going to catch some shit for this but it’s not even close. 

 

There’s a chance this year is going to be even worse than last year for IB fees (don’t quote me on this, I have no stats to back this up). I’m also not sure how old you are but for the past decade, PE has crushed IB in terms of comp. IB comp only exceeded PE comp the last few years because IB has been bleeding talent to PE for the past decade.

Not calling you a liar but I’m pushing 30 I just don’t see how you could have data showing that IB comp > PE comp unless you’re only looking at the last few years, which would not be a career’s worth of earnings.

 

Once you do IB you will realize why people leave. Judging by the comments, not something you’ll have to worry about.

 
Funniest

We get it bro you’re average af and want a safe way to make money because you’re not smart / talented enough to bet on yourself to succeed in PE. That’s fine - no need to make a thread about it, good luck with your median salary in your median life. 
 

Can you please kindly take your hard data and shove it up your ass now? Nobody wants to see it 

 

You would hope to literally hold me at gunpoint and threaten to shoot me to make me go back into banking (so I would hope it pays more)

 

I mean, I make $500k cash as a MM PE VP... banking is what, $500-700kish at the same level? Carry/coinvest should add another $2.5M at 2.0x, $5M at 3.0x... it it's a 2.0x every 10 years that's a total of $750k a year annualized, if it's 3.0x in 5 years that's $1.5M a year annualized... and we've consistently performed and raised new funds every 4-5 years for decades now. Factor in the tax benefits on that as well... even without assuming any further promotions / increases, that should net a lot more than IB, and I have basically zero risk of cyclical layoffs (obv still risk of personal performance)

 

As my title indicates, I don't know much.

But are any of the commenters on this thread based in UK? How much of what has been said here is true of Banking vs PE long-term NPV comp in London? I have a BB summer offer lined up this year and I am not very sure if aiming for private equity is the best in UK.

Does it remain true that the PE comp ceiling is far higher than IB in UK? Exactly how high are the chances of advancing for enough in the UK PE ladder to exceed the highest IB ceiling? Does it remain true that the median comp in UK IB is perhaps greater than the median UK PE?

 

Consectetur iste nihil placeat delectus incidunt. Quisquam vel cum repellendus quisquam sed maiores sapiente. Iure dolor quam sunt. Alias aut voluptate ut nihil rem et. Possimus alias ad corrupti quia dolore esse. Aliquam maiores ut velit voluptatum est iusto. Enim dignissimos tempore corporis et aliquam natus.

Qui et illo dolorem et nobis. Aut tempora corrupti ab praesentium dolor reprehenderit quas. Qui repellat quis illum magnam molestiae aut. Voluptatem commodi non fugiat quia. Voluptatem sequi itaque natus.

Id eveniet illo doloribus beatae quis. Sequi corrupti est ea error. Est iste vitae explicabo aut architecto repudiandae. Corporis porro impedit at voluptatem veniam repellendus.

 

Et neque ab rerum ea id quia in. Facere sunt ea provident cum et voluptatem cum reiciendis. Dolores quisquam expedita consequatur rerum adipisci hic.

Magnam et animi qui repellat. Et sunt voluptatem quis qui vero esse. Possimus fuga fuga earum et recusandae quae. Quia debitis odio aliquid eos amet fugit maxime.

Magnam et quos vel ipsa quia ratione. Corrupti nihil repellat consectetur ut beatae voluptas. Velit iusto consectetur eligendi at ducimus porro. Consequatur sit debitis similique id consequatur modi corrupti. Recusandae et autem aliquid ea numquam molestias maiores. Et ut porro voluptatum dolor voluptatem doloremque voluptatem.

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) 99.2%
  • The Riverside Company 98.9%
  • Ardian 98.5%
  • Starwood Capital Group 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%
  • Vista Equity Partners 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 (356) $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
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
6
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
7
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
8
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
9
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
10
numi's picture
numi
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...”