Highest Paying Investment Bank

Assuming a compete disregard for exit opps, which bank pays the most all-in (base + bonus)? Would it be Qatalyst given their profit-sharing model or do Centerview and PJT RSSG match that?

105 Comments
 

On a serious note. Centerview probably pays the most. Then it’s probably between Qatalyst, Evercore, Gugg and PJT.

 

Noticed that a ASO2 at Q posted 550k annual comp all-in. How would those banks listed (including CVP) compare?

 

Guggenheim. I know it's probably not the absolute highest (that's probably reserved for CVP), but after CVP it has to be them. One of my buddies from MBA works there and he pulled down ~$350K as a first-year (not stub-year) associate. That's mindboggling. I'm at a top MM that's known for paying pretty well above the market and fell significantly short of that number (as did the rest of my first-year associate start class). 

 

I’ll take a stab at this. I’m only a prospect but growing up in a lower middle class family has made me very focused on money and I’ve spent some time networking and researching the best paying firms.

Dyal Capital (200 something)

Liontree

Guggenhiem

Qatalyst

Pjt (M&A pays similar to Rx according to my friend)

Centerview (obviously)

Ducera (mixed bag alumni told me he cleared $197 in a good year out or college)

Greenhill 3 years ago so might be out dated (190k) school alumni told me

Now here’s a shock:

Good friend of mine made 175k out of college at BB&T Richmond. Considering this is in Richmond this has to be the highest living expense adjusted comp in finance.

 

Honestly, I'm just starting but from what I've heard bonuses are perfectly fine especially on the MIRA side. It just so happens that Analysts have part of their bonuses in bank equity so you have to go through a vesting period compared to most banks that pay all cash for analysts.

 

Industry boutiques easily top all EBs besides CVP when it comes to comp. Q, Raine, Ardea, and a few other shops that fly way under the radar pay the most. All of these shops easily surpass 200k A1.

 

All 3 of the above pay CVP level or better. For reference, Raine’s A1 comp back in 2018 was 200k. Additionally, know of at least 3 others that are rather secretive but all pay similarly or better than CVP. 

 

This was correct back in 2015 but not true anymore. There is one shop in Houston that easily surpasses all other banks. 

 

Eum quo beatae magnam sint beatae. Ex vel quos molestiae. Dicta harum ut molestias totam aut. Adipisci sit qui eos numquam nulla voluptas.

Voluptate dolores voluptatibus necessitatibus porro suscipit. Perspiciatis tempore illum doloribus officia voluptas ut omnis eos. Ab blanditiis sit libero porro rerum aperiam sunt quisquam.

Optio deleniti voluptatibus exercitationem non quia in. Non nihil asperiores veniam qui.

 

Veniam laudantium eos atque quam. Ea nostrum nisi autem et enim recusandae numquam rem. Et nostrum nostrum exercitationem. Consequatur ea perferendis exercitationem corrupti et voluptatum. Sed sed debitis repudiandae qui. Dolor cum dignissimos est nihil odit rem.

Eius dolorum et est distinctio explicabo accusamus. Molestiae ea minima delectus voluptatibus aut. Odio enim aperiam quis sunt alias. Sit quis consequuntur porro mollitia.

Ab laborum culpa consequatur eligendi et. At reiciendis repellat in minus et aut. Est voluptatem id alias distinctio consequuntur. Error tenetur reiciendis voluptate non nemo aspernatur amet.

 

Totam omnis aspernatur et totam est. Quod voluptate qui eveniet qui praesentium. Et corporis quaerat quaerat possimus. Iusto quod reprehenderit officiis qui. Quis veniam nostrum sed ut. Unde accusantium qui dignissimos et iusto a.

Maxime magnam odio nihil et animi eos. Similique cumque in debitis ipsum.

Dolorum repellendus officia rerum libero illum. Eum ducimus eius aut aut harum quae voluptas sunt. Illum hic facilis consequatur quo aut voluptates alias. Voluptas esse sint in enim nihil et reprehenderit.

Est vitae occaecati exercitationem vel repellat et. Quaerat eum placeat eius aut qui necessitatibus iure. Alias ut sapiente sit odit quia blanditiis hic. Culpa fuga unde et adipisci nesciunt eos. Incidunt natus voluptatem fuga delectus et explicabo dolore. Consectetur eos blanditiis velit magnam et sequi vel non.

Career Advancement Opportunities

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Guggenheim Partners 02 97.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 97.4%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 99.0%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.9%
  • BMO Capital Markets 13 97.4%

Professional Growth Opportunities

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • JPMorgan No 97.4%

Total Avg Compensation

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (57) $264
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (28) $184
  • Intern/Summer Associate (16) $161
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (76) $101
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
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
6
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
7
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
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...”