2023 Base Thread

By now, most should have gotten their 2023 base + bonus numbers. Just want to start a fresh thread to specifically see what 2023 bases in the sector are looking like, considering the economic noise. Hopefully this can be informative to others as well. Keep it short and simple. I'll start. 
 

Market : SF/LA/NYC

YOE: 2

2023 Base: $125K

Role: Lending - 3rd Year Analyst

Comments (122)

1mo 
egy3gan, what's your opinion? Comment below:

Market: NYCYOE: Out of undergrad2023 Base: 90kRole: Acquisitions AnalystAUM: 30b

  • 1
  • Associate 2 in RE - Comm
1mo 

30-40%

  • Investment Analyst in RE - Comm
1mo 

Market: Texas

YOE (Fulltime): 0

Base: $80k

Role: RE Appraisal/Valuation Analyst at Accounting Firm

1mo 
johnnyutah01, what's your opinion? Comment below:

dm me the firm? that's solid af for texas if there's a bonus.

  • Analyst 2 in RE - Comm
1mo 

Bonus for these roles will be 5-10k, maybe less. All of the Big 4 will pay like this.

  • 1
1mo 
whitetail87, what's your opinion? Comment below:

can you pm me the firm as well? I work in a similar role

  • Analyst 1 in RE - Comm
1mo 

Base: 80k

Bonus: 25%

Development Analyst

AUM 50B +

YOE: 1

LCOL market

  • 2
  • Analyst 1 in RE - Other
1mo 

Base 100k

Bonus 20%

HCOL

Out of Undergrad

  • Associate 1 in IB - Cov
1mo 

3 yrs experience

Base: $170k

Bonus: Varies, typically in the 60% range

HCOL

  • VP in RE - Comm
1mo 

Location: NYC

Base: 235k

Bonus target for 23: 20-30%

Role: Development Manager

YOE: 1 (10+ experience in the industry) 

Work for a smaller development shop

  • VP in RE - Comm
1mo 

No carry. 

  • VP in RE - Comm
1mo 

I do help the deal team by looking at development sites and doing quick zoning/ feasibility studies. But my primary role is managing the design and construction team on one project. We do get quite involved with the financing side of things, small updates to the model, working with the construction lender, reporting to the investors, etc…

  • VP in RE - Comm
25d 

I'm a licensed architect and worked for as an architect before making the jump.

  • Analyst 1 in RE - Comm
1mo 

AUM?

  • Associate 1 in RE - Comm
1mo 

Damn that bonus is a lot higher than I'd expect this year. What firm you at? BB?

  • Analyst 3+ in HF - Other
1mo 

NYC

Base: 220k 

4YOE, 1 year banking, 3 years HF

Expected bonus >100% in ok year but huge range obviously due to nature of industry 

  • Associate 2 in PE - Other
1mo 

Might be a HF that invests in private RE (Baupost, Sculptor, Two Sigma). Friends I have at those places make around that comp.

  • Associate 3 in RE - Comm
1mo 

Market : 

YOE: 4

2023 Base: $155K

Role: Lending / Senior Associate

I am ecstatic and pumped honestly (know others might earn more but keep in mind a big part of why I am here is because I work 35-45 hours most weeks so I love my $/hr pay), I was anxious leading up to the annual review and bonus season as I wasn't sure I would crack the $150K base mark and get the senior associate title yet. A lot of credit to my manager for advocating for me as I could have easily been kept at the Associate level for another year or two with a base of $125-$135K which is honestly already at the top end in the space I am in as our competitors pay a base of $70-100K and of course might pay higher bonuses than us and try to get to the same total comp but honestly the outlook is not looking too good for the next year so who knows how bonuses will look, that is why I really wanted that higher base at all costs. 

  • Analyst 3+ in AM - FI
1mo 

Market: London

YOE: 4.5

2023 Base: £130k ($160k) - 40% projected bonus

  • Analyst 1 in PE - Other
1mo 

I think you need to google fx rates

  • Analyst 1 in RE - Comm
1mo 

Thanks! I'm really excited. Very lean team with tons of upward mobility. Supposedly an associate who's been there for 2.5 years is starting to get carry in some deals so hoping that could happen for me as well.

  • Analyst 1 in RE - Comm
1mo 

Market: Hou / ATL / Dal

YOE: 1

Base: 115k

Bonus: 8.5k

Lender

1mo 
Pocket_Rockets, what's your opinion? Comment below:

Base: 150k

Bonus: 35%-40%

Associate, Acquisitions

AUM 10B +

YOE: 5

HCOL market

  • Associate 2 in RE - Comm
1mo 

Base: $165k (Up from $150k)

Bonus: $100k (Up from $50k year prior)

Carry: 2% (should be worth $100 - $150k total over next two years, then probably 1-2 years of being mostly worthless followed by expectations of $100 - $200k per year)

VP, Acquisitions

AUM <1B

YOE: 7-8

MCOL Market

My hours are generally pretty good. In 2022, I probably had 2 weeks that I did 65 - 70 hours but typically they are 30-50 hours not including travel which is only 2-4 days per month and is regional 

  • VP in RE - Comm
1mo 

I haven't gotten my base increase or bonus for 2022 yet (should be in next month). Currently I have slightly higher base, but contractual bonus is only 20% (although I have gotten random bonus hits here and there), and no carry.

Same years of experience and also in a MCOL, although we're national plus UK and have ~$5Bn AUM.

I know my comp package isn't fantastic and I'm going to bring this up to my boss soon, but the thing I have a hard time wrapping my head around is the hours. In slow times I'm working ~55-60 hours and that frequently jumps to 70-80+. If I take "PTO" I'm still never left alone and there is always the anxiety in the back of mind about something coming up. Very similar to where I was previous to my current role.

I guess my question is what kind of shops can pay you this well while having very reasonable hours? I feel like I see this quite often on WSO and it drives me nuts!

Rant over, I'm very happy that you're doing well and have a good work-life balance!

Most Helpful
  • Associate 2 in RE - Comm
1mo 

Without giving away too much info, I work for a smaller shop and haven't been paid well until this past year. I started as an analyst and worked my way into VP and eventually solidified a spot for myself as a VP, and had a good year proving out my ability to source/close a few deals before them giving me this pay. I'm also always plugged in, even on vacation and weekends, but I don't spend much time in the actual office so that's why I say the actual hours that I'm working are probably 30 - 50 per week, though I'm often answering emails or thinking through deals from 7 am til 10 pm. I work really well this way and it doesn't bother me to always be "on" because I also control large blocks of my time during the middle of the day (when calls/schedule allows, I basically have no one watching over me so long as deals are getting done so can often take breaks, run errands, go to the gym, etc), and while I've never lost a full vacation day due to having to plug in, I usually always spend 2-3 hours per day while on vacation working though this also has never bothered me and I actually prefer it as I feel better the rest of the day when I know I knocked a few things out in the morning. 

My advice would be to find a smaller shop that has growth potential (with strong sources to capital - I wouldn't go run to join a multifamily syndicator that's slinging deals left and right with HNW money that could go under at any time) and work your ass off for a couple years to solidify yourself. If you're producing in a smaller shop, they'll usually never risk losing you over you wanting to take more control of your schedule so long as the deals are getting done. Also, a lot of these shops can be light on the pay at first (and understandably so, by nature of being smaller with the growth potential in front of them probably means they don't have the funds to be dishing out big salaries to new guys), but again if you prove yourself to be an asset that's producing for them, they usually end up finding the money to increase your comp to keep you but sometimes it takes a couple years of grinding it out for below market pay. Finally, these shops are never going to be the top paying. I know others my age that are already making $400k+ plus carry that has already started to pay out handsomely, but I also know that none of those shops are going to give me the freedom I'm looking for. I'd rather make less, have my freedom, and hopefully in 10-15 years the shop I'm at will have grown into one of those top paying players, except for now I'll be one of the executives calling my own moves instead of the new VP they're bringing on that's going to be working long hours in the office every day. 

Before my recent pay raise, I was actually out interviewing for other positions, and I can tell you they're out there, especially in mid-size markets (Seattle, Denver, Austin, Nashville, etc.). I think the best thing to look for is founders that have background with some of the big institutional players that spun out to start their own shop and already have somewhat of a track record by themselves and are now in position to start growing the firm

  • 9
  • Associate 1 in PE - Other
1mo 

Market: NY/SF/LA

YOE: 4

2023 Base: 150K

Bonus: 50-75K

Role: Associate - Doing MF Acq at a large (50bn+) shop that's primarily known for Dev. 40-50 hours a week

1mo 
notrightnow, what's your opinion? Comment below:

Base: $180K

Bonus: 30%

Carry: Automatic 1% on all deals, can increase up to 5%.

Firm: Family Office - MF Development (~$2B AUM).

Role: Manager - debt/equity for new developments, handle dispositions. 

Market: Secondary in CA. 

YOE: 9

Hours: 50-60/wk. 

1mo 
bruce1, what's your opinion? Comment below:

Base: $125k

Bonus: $33K

Firm: Top LifeCo

Market: NYC/SF/LA

YOE: 6mo brokerage (Marcus & Millichap lol), 1yr middle market REPE acq, and 1yr at current role (debt originations).

Hours: 35-40 hours/wk. Insane WLB but thats mostly a function of how slow the capital markets are right now. 

  • VP in ER
1mo 

What's brokerage comp look like

1mo 
bruce1, what's your opinion? Comment below:

MM (Marcus and Millichap) for 6 months… I made nothing lol. My other offer got rescinded cuz of covid so I worked there so I wasn't sitting in my hands for 6 months. Basically spent the whole time looking for another job and effing around. 

  • 1
  • Associate 1 in RE - Other
1mo 

Just to give a datapoint from a large Dev shop (at this firm but more junior).

2022 Cash comp for our new hires out of MBA (so Associate / senior associate level) was 150k base + 30% target bonus for 195k all-in not including signing. Profit sharing isn't much first year, but likely tacks on another 15-20k depending on office / business unit.

2023 cash comp for at least one of these hires is now 156 + 35% I believe. So all-in comp for first full year looks something like 210k cash comp. In a good year profit share could add (alot) to that and know that it's possible to clear 300k at that title in some years.

  • Analyst 2 in RE - Comm
1mo 

Anonymous Monkey

Just to give a datapoint from a large Dev shop (at this firm but more junior).

2022 Cash comp for our new hires out of MBA (so Associate / senior associate level) was 150k base + 30% target bonus for 195k all-in not including signing. Profit sharing isn't much first year, but likely tacks on another 15-20k depending on office / business unit.

2023 cash comp for at least one of these hires is now 156 + 35% I believe. So all-in comp for first full year looks something like 210k cash comp. In a good year profit share could add (alot) to that and know that it's possible to clear 300k at that title in some years.

Second datapoint is for a lateral hire senior analyst / associate (so pre-MBA, but on the more experienced end for their title at ~4yoe when joined). 2022 Cash comp was 120+25% (150k) increasing to 130+30% (170k) for 2023. Again, profit sharing / carry could add to this in a good year but focusing on cash.

I am at the same job title technically as the second data point, but less experienced (~2yoe when I joined last fall). 2022 cash comp was 120k including signing. Haven't had 2023 talk yet but hoping for something in the ballpark of 110+20% (132k). Profit sharing should add ~10k to my year end total in 2023 if I understand correctly.

Caveat that I don't know how location affects comp other than that I am in the lowest COL of my datapoints

Thanks for the insight. Do you know if any of these larger Dev shops sponsors visas at the levels you mentioned? Looking to make a lateral move.

  • Analyst 1 in RE - Comm
1mo 

Getting sponsored is just tough in general. Already so much competition for these spots. People with 2-4 years of experience are sometimes willing to take analyst spots.

  • Associate 1 in RE - Comm
1mo 

What is the comp like for the title above the post-MBA hires?

  • Associate 2 in RE - Comm
1mo 

Base: £80k

Bonus: 20% + 3% promote on my deals 

Firm: Developer 

Market: London, UK

YOE: 4.5 years, all development 

Hours: 50 hours/wk

  • 1
1mo 
RealEstateOff, what's your opinion? Comment below:

Base: $280K

Bonus: $80-100K

Carry: Similar yearly comp to bonus

Firm: Owner/operator/developer

YOE: 12 (no MBA/masters)

Hours: 50ish

Major 2nd tier city

  • 2
1mo 
SwansonOrSamsonsite, what's your opinion? Comment below:

That's fantastic comp. Is most of your experience in the same side of the business you're currently in? If not, can you provide a rough breakout of # of years experience by segment (debt, owner/operator/developer, etc.)?

1mo 
Fratstar, what's your opinion? Comment below:

Base: 160k

Bonus: TBD

Carry: Can somebody explain what carry is?

Development Associate

Florida

YOE: <6,5 MF brokerage, less than one in Dev

Work at a two man shop, with me being employee two. Great experience and mentorship opportunity that I enjoy. 

1mo 
Bigbodybugatti, what's your opinion? Comment below:

Carry = carried interest. Only applicable if you're working for a REPE. Typically your firm gets a share of the profits of a fund if it hits a certain preferred return.

Your carry would be your percentage split of the firm's split.

  • Associate 1 in RE - Comm
1mo 

Market : NYC

YOE: 5

2022 Base: $125K

2023 Base: $150K

Role: Associate 2

  • Intern in Non-profit
1mo 

Market: Houston

Experience: 0 years

Position: SA

110k prorated

  • Analyst 1 in RE - Comm
6d 

Where??

1mo 
Repentnow, what's your opinion? Comment below:
[Comment removed by mod team]
  • Analyst 2 in RE - Comm
1mo 

Base: 80k

Bonus: 25-40%

Hours: 40-50

Carry: None, but can co-invest on every deal

Analyst at a family office (combination of acquisitions, credit, AM work)

South Florida

YOE: <1, out of undergrad

  • 1
1mo 
John Moulson, what's your opinion? Comment below:

Market: Scandinavia/Nordics

Role/position: Investment Analyst (2nd year)

Base: €75k

Bonus: ~30%

Carry: don't know details yet, however starting from now I will get a carry allocation

Years of experience: 1 year full-time, other than that just internships whilst studying (age 26)

AUM: €5bn

Working hours: 35-50h/w, typically around 45h

1mo 
lixij14386, what's your opinion? Comment below:
[Comment removed by mod team]
1mo 
lixij14386, what's your opinion? Comment below:
[Comment removed by mod team]
1mo 
Nitrogenesis, what's your opinion? Comment below:

Market: HCOL (NYC/LA/SF)

YOE: 2

Base: $70K

Bonus: $0 first yr probably the same this year 

Role: D/E Placement

Yikes

  • Associate 1 in RE - Comm
1mo 

Market: Florida

YOE: 2.5

Base: 100K

Hotel Lending

26d 
LastFrontier, what's your opinion? Comment below:

What kind of lender? And bonus?

  • Investment Analyst in CB
1mo 

Market: Charlotte/Nashville/Atlanta

YOE: 1

Role: Underwriting at BB

Pay: $88

Bonus: 10-15%

Hours: 35-40

1mo 
YoC on my CoC, what's your opinion? Comment below:

Market: Major west coast

Firm: 2bn in multi

Role: Acquisitions

Base: 130k

Bonus: 15%

YOE: curious how others would view my industry experience as I transitioned after 2yrs public actg > 2yrs real estate fund management (minimal exposure directly to the real estate but would learn tidbits working w capital markets, AM, and Acq) > 1yr asset management > 1yr acquisitions (low deal volume in 2022)

- would most firms view as 2 or 4+ YOE?

Hours: 45~60

  • Analyst 1 in RE - Comm
1mo 

1st Year Analyst (Out of Undergrad)

Market: SF / Bay Area

Brokerage / Investment Banking

Base: 80k

Bonus: 30k

  • Analyst 1 in RE - Comm
1mo 

Eastdil?

  • Analyst 2 in RE - Comm
6d 

Lol only people who work at eastdil call themselves investment bankers when they do the same as anyone at other institutional shops. Looks like bonuses were slim for them this year.

  • Incoming Analyst in RE - Comm
26d 

Sr. RM at large regional bank

YOE: 10

Base: 150k

Bonus: 95k

Stock: 25k

Hours: 30-40

  • Incoming Analyst in RE - Comm
25d 

Is that typical comp as a Sr RM at a commercial bank?

I think it's a little light, but I've been at the same bank for a long time which makes it harder to get to market. If you can get to the next level the compensation can get really good but it just takes time in commercial banking. 

  • Associate 2 in RE - Comm
26d 

Firm type: REPE

Market: 2nd Tier City

YOE: 5 yrs

Title: Senior Associate

Base: $160k

Bonus: 50-75% (all cash)

Hours: 50-60ish

23d 
crecashflowz, what's your opinion? Comment below:

Firm type: Debt Fund

Market: (Atl, DFW, etc.)

YOE: 1

Title: Analyst

Base: $75k

Bonus: 40%

Hours: 40

  • Analyst 1 in RE - Comm
6d 

How did you end up at a small debt fund with 1YOE? Did you have prior real estate experience?

The sentiment I have found is that small debt funds only recruit people with prior real estate experience.

  • Associate 1 in RE - Other
6d 

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  • Analyst 1 in RE - Comm
6d 

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  • Associate 1 in RE - Comm
6d 

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5d 
TO.CRE, what's your opinion? Comment below:

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  • Associate 1 in RE - Res
5d 

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Start Discussion

Career Advancement Opportunities

March 2023 Investment Banking

  • Lazard Freres (+ +) 99.5%
  • Lincoln International (= =) 99.1%
  • Jefferies & Company (▽02) 98.6%
  • Financial Technology Partners (▽01) 98.2%
  • William Blair (▲10) 97.7%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

March 2023 Investment Banking

  • William Blair (▲04) 99.5%
  • Lincoln International (▲11) 99.1%
  • Canaccord Genuity (▲17) 98.6%
  • Stephens Inc (▲10) 98.1%
  • Financial Technology Partners (▲04) 97.7%

Professional Growth Opportunities

March 2023 Investment Banking

  • Financial Technology Partners (▲05) 99.5%
  • Lincoln International (▲01) 99.1%
  • Lazard Freres (▲14) 98.6%
  • Jefferies & Company (▽03) 98.1%
  • William Blair (▲02) 97.7%

Total Avg Compensation

March 2023 Investment Banking

  • Director/MD (6) $592
  • Vice President (27) $425
  • Associates (141) $260
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (9) $194
  • 2nd Year Analyst (86) $170
  • 1st Year Analyst (264) $171
  • Intern/Summer Associate (45) $165
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (194) $92