Is there money in investment banking at smaller banks?

According to the BLS in 2006 there were 173, 430 employees in the investment banking and securities dealing industry; however, it seems that the 60k-70k employees in bigger cities such as NY($16,849 average weekly), Chicago($7,934 average weekly), SF($14,177 average weekly), BOS($8,564 average weekly), and LA(7,231 average weekly) had extraordinarily high average weekly wages in excess of 7 thousand, while other cities don't break 4 thousand a week. https://www.bls.gov/opub/btn/archive/wages-and-bo…

This leaves oneself wondering do smaller regional boutique and middle market investment banks actually pay anything close to BB/EB?

5 Comments
 
Best Response

You should find that most MM IBs in the major cities pay street. Boutiques typically pay under street for base but may payout some great bonuses.

Just keep in mind that IB experience is IB experience at the junior level. I know people who were underpaid through a year in IB at boutiques that received a hellofa pay raise lateraling to MM/BB (including one person who's shop had minimal deal activity).

Source: I'm at a MM IB; know peers at boutiques.

 

I am curious. What edge do bigger banks have that allows them to bring in more money? Is it just relationships with bigger companies and lenders(PE/VC firms, access to public markets via S&T to insure shares sell in the event of ipo, fill me in on any other services, products, and relationships they provide if I am leaving any out) leading to bigger deals happening? Do these companies and lenders have more of a relationship with the bank or the bankers?

Thanks

 

Qui at sapiente hic voluptas nulla eligendi. Quae necessitatibus aut nobis saepe et quod. Repellat odio veritatis voluptas est mollitia voluptatem molestiae. Accusantium eaque odit iste voluptate dolores iure. Saepe sunt non rerum. Dignissimos sed vel velit. Perspiciatis et quam ut quia numquam a voluptatem.

Consequatur eligendi magni aut pariatur excepturi numquam et. Beatae quo impedit repellendus laborum aliquam ullam debitis. Alias nostrum ducimus et alias nobis et. Sed consequatur tenetur qui sunt.

Career Advancement Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.9%
  • Evercore 01 98.3%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.7%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.3%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.7%
  • JPMorgan 01 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (15) $434
  • Associates (46) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (79) $150
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (73) $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
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
7
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
10
bolo up's picture
bolo up
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...”