2015-2016 salary & bonus discussion

Let's talk about the 2015 - 2016 year bonus. Please list the firm, level, salary, bonus using the following format:

JPM, S&T, A0, 150k base, 175k bonus (75% cash, 25% stock)

investment banking pay 2016

Feb 1st update: Here is a compilation of the salary & bonus #'s thus far (pulled from comments).

  • Citi, A1,150k base, Mid Bucket 100k bonus (80% cash, 20% stock)
  • Citi, A1, 150k base, Top Bucket 130 bonus (80% cash, 20% stock)
  • Credit Suisse (CS), IBD, A1, 85k base, stub 25K (100% cash)
  • CS, IBD, A2, 90k base, Top Bucket 67.5k bonus (100% cash)
  • CS, IBD, A2, 90k base, Mid Bucket 50-55k bonus (100% cash)
  • CS, IBD, A3, 95k base, Top Bucket 85k bonus (100% cash)
  • CS, IDB, AO 0, 125k base, 35k flat bonus (100% cash)
  • CS, IDB, AO 1, 150k base, Top Bucket 110-115k bonus (100% cash)
  • CS, IDB, AO 1, 150k base, Mid Bucket 97k bonus (100% cash)
  • CS, IDB, AO 1, 150k base, Bottom Bucket 75k-90k (100% cash)
  • CS, IDB, AO 2, 175k base, Mid Bucket 125 (100% cash)
  • CS, IDB, AO 3, 200k base, Mid Bucket 160k (100% cash)
  • CS, IDB, AO 3, 200k base, Mid Bucket 190-200k (100% cash)
  • CS, S&T, A1, 85k base
  • CS, S&T, A2, 90k base
  • CS, S&T, A3, 95k base
  • CS, S&T, AO 1, 120k base
  • CS, S&T, AO 2, 140k base
  • CS, S&T, AO 3, 160k base
  • CS, VP, Start at 200k base
  • Mixed Banks, IBD, AO 1, 225k-275k total comp
  • Mixed Banks, IBD, AO 2, 325k-400k total comp
  • Mixed Banks, IBD, AO 3, 350k-430k total comp
  • Mixed Banks, IBD, VP 1, 375k-515k total comp
  • Mixed Banks, IBD, VP 2, 450k-575k total comp
  • Mixed Banks, IBD, VP 3, 500k-650k total comp

Company Database


Interested in more compensation data? Use the Wallstreet Oasis Company Database to access reviews, interviews, and salaries for thousands of firms.

Recommended Reading

 

(At least) Citi, Jefferies, JPM, MS and RBC have communicated numbers. BAML and GS are this week. Not sure about others.

The numbers I have heard sound good. The bonuses maybe down a bit but more than offset by the higher salaries. Always have to look at total comp. If that 175k bonus for an A1 is true that is really strong - even on the old salary scale. Though 25% stock is really high for a junior person.

 
RupertPupkin:

See @nyc_monkey_credit post two above yours nitwit.

Analysts bonus numbers are low but how does YoY all-in compare? Can't remember if the BB base bump to $85k happened one or two years ago.

It happened one year ago. People are mostly mad because they expected all in comp to go up, it didn't. People like to look at their base and bonuses as distinct numbers, but they aren't, the total package is what the firms are bench marking too.
 

Using GS 1st / 2nd year analyst (Bonus is now on CYE cycle) as a proxy

Back then when bonus were July Year End, first year analysts on avg. were getting 70K + 60K, 2nd year were getting 80K + 75K . so the average is ~$142.5k (call if $140k).

It's pretty much safe to say that street compensation for Analysts are going down ~15-20k this year. Personally I think this is largely due to the fact that the focus on retention has moved from the ANL to the ASOs. Too many attractive opportunities for ANLs out there. ASO comps all in generally appeared to be flat / up 5-10k from prior years.

 
hic217:

According to Dealbreaker, some MS analysts walked out after their bonuses missed their expectations. Maybe MS will start a mass analyst exodus this year lol

I didn't work out but sure will in a few months' time!! I'm AN3 but am really miffed.

 
rpc:

I see the comments about total comp being flat for analysts and don't think that looks to be the case. Top bucket last year at my MM IB for AN1 was $150k and $170k for AN2. While analysts aren't expecting $80K & $90K bonuses, flat comp would indicate $65K and $75K for the top band.

People are conflating stub year with first year and second year.
 
Best Response

CS IBD (all cash)

ANL Stub – 25K Flat ANL 1/2 – Top: 67.5k, Mid: 50-55k, ANL2/3 – Top: ~85K

ASO 0 – 35k Flat ASO1 – Top: 110-115K, Mid: 97k, Bot: 75k - 90k (outlier at 60K) ASO2 – Mid: 125k ASO3 – Top: 190-200k, Mid: 160k

Salaries below for the benefit of those who are interested

ANL 1: 85K ANL 2: 90K ANL 3: 95k

ASO 0: 125k ASO 1: 150k ASO 2: 175k ASO 3: 200k

 

From what I understand the stub gets paid in january, however my confusion is what you mean by "ANL 1/2 xxk." Does that mean that the rest of the bonus get paid in july/august after you have been there for a year? Or do you get the stub in january and then get the full first year bonus in july/august? Will be starting FT this summer so am trying to figure this stuff out before I start and not have to ask the HR people.

 

These are roughly the base salary bands at CS, for both IBD and S&T. Discretionary (Bonus) varies from group to group. For S&T, overall bonus pool was down with regional comp varying as APAC desks seems to have come out the best with European desks following and the US comp being "abysmal".

IBD
ANL 1: 85K ANL 2: 90K ANL 3: 95k

ASO 0: 125k ASO 1: 150k ASO 2: 175k ASO 3: 200k

S&T ANL 1: 85K ANL 2: 90K ANL 3: 95k

ASO 1: 120k ASO 2: 140k ASO 3: 160k

VP: Start at 200k (up from 175k)

Nice guys may not finish last but they sure don't finish first. Loyalty is not rewarded, it's taken advantage of. 
 

I believe CS may underpay vs. the Street in that regard. If you think about it, IBD retention is much harder vs S&T and hence why banks are more likely to pay IBD juniors more.

Nice guys may not finish last but they sure don't finish first. Loyalty is not rewarded, it's taken advantage of. 
 

If you're an actual VP just post your comp on here - no need to speculate on your bucket ...

I feel like all of these posts are from non-VPs posting what they heard. Also just post the total comp. Base + bonus please.

Also when you say VP1 I assume you don't mean the new VP promotes because $490 all in for an AS 3 is ludicrous.

The numbers I know of (this is a rough range mixing buckets and banks) - total comp

AS 1 - $225k - $275k AS 2 - $325k - $400k AS 3 - $350k - $430k VP 1 - $375k - $515k VP 2 - $450k - $575k VP 3 - $500k - $650k

 

I think my numbers are pretty accurate but they're all from BB. These were all numbers on sheets I've seen. The upper ranges I would say were achieved but not that common. There were people that were topped up above top so they may be higher than what you expect.

As for banks, it's primarily 2-3 banks

 

Or are you asking about base? MD base varies. GS pays MDs like 350 and partners 500? (I forget) or maybe its 500k and 750k for partners

Some banks have no uptick in base from VP to ED, some banks have 50k (250 -> 300k)

 
DebunkingMyths:

Or are you asking about base? MD base varies. GS pays MDs like 350 and partners 500? (I forget) or maybe its 500k and 750k for partners

Some banks have no uptick in base from VP to ED, some banks have 50k (250 -> 300k)

Historically, GS MDs have had a base salary of 500k and partners have had a whopping 900k base salary. This was definitely the case a few years ago, but am unsure if it has since been raised/lowered considering the changes in salary taking place at other levels.

 

150k is all in. You guys need to stop talking base and bonus. It's all in comp. Banks run on compensation ratios and they back out what each person gets. Come bonus time its your total comp - base = what you get.

In the era of whining juniors and slower growth, banks have given people higher bases to smooth out cash flows for people but all in comp is same and frankly compensation ratios have been declining

 
DebunkingMyths:

150k is all in. You guys need to stop talking base and bonus. It's all in comp. Banks run on compensation ratios and they back out what each person gets. Come bonus time its your total comp - base = what you get.

In the era of whining juniors and slower growth, banks have given people higher bases to smooth out cash flows for people but all in comp is same and frankly compensation ratios have been declining

Listen, you are absolutely right that firms benchmark to a total comp number. But the split matters, because one is discretionary and the other isn't. Time and again you hear about a firm going south and junior bankers getting pinched. Or we have another recession and they revise their total comp numbers down. In the worst of times a 0 dollar bonus does happen at some firms. So base vs bonus matters and a higher base is always better. And that doesn't even take into account the time value of money and all that.
 

Not really. Frankly in the worst of times (and I have been through the financial crisis) I can tell you total comp at the bank has been on a flat or upward trajectory

You miss the point because banks manage to a comp ratio between call it 30-50 pct. in the worst of years, no junior will be "pinched" and discretionary is not really discretionary for juniors. Banks typically lob off the top. No business head says if we pay all our analysts 30k less each we will make budget - the cost of retraining that analyst is 80k a year

And I can show you 2004 to now comp at bb for an 1 through as3 have not really hurt that much where the bonus base split made a lick of difference

The only issue is now you hear people complaining that "I only got 6 months not like 1 year plus like before"

 

Maybe a stupid question, but do experienced hires generally fall into the same pay structures as we're discussing here? For example, if you're picked up as an A3 or an AO1 as a post-MBA guy, but didn't come in from the SA route or FT recruiting right out of the program, would these numbers still apply? Additionally would you still expect a signing bonus on par with other MBAs or that ship sailed?

 

Appears to be a ton of information on BB IBD, but how about S&T numbers. Appears I'll be making less than my counterparts, but wondering how much less. Is the problem that it's just more variable or that this forum doesn't really represent that population?

 

Quibusdam officiis nobis ut vitae iusto consequatur. Quo voluptates iste amet illo. Perferendis consequatur iusto qui nulla tempore vel nulla sunt.

Corrupti incidunt officia architecto eum itaque. Dolores tempore rerum perferendis ipsa. Tempora dolores consequatur facilis aut et quidem. Quaerat dignissimos omnis molestiae. Eaque asperiores nihil debitis adipisci consequuntur occaecati.

 

Facilis pariatur voluptatibus fugiat eum. Qui aut harum consequatur. Quibusdam tenetur voluptas sed quibusdam accusamus nobis. Voluptate aut tempore inventore rerum voluptas.

Veritatis vel quam fuga distinctio error. Nam tenetur possimus autem nemo ut corrupti. Debitis mollitia rerum minima doloribus accusamus dignissimos qui dolore. Ea in culpa delectus iste inventore. Enim provident quis dignissimos odit voluptatem neque excepturi. Animi exercitationem odit repellat reiciendis fugit perferendis vitae. Quos impedit consequatur sequi id provident fugit aut.

Quia vel aspernatur deleniti aut excepturi at. Consequatur perferendis nihil et velit placeat architecto et perspiciatis. Ex delectus cupiditate dolores. Quis ex fuga culpa molestiae. Suscipit maxime est veritatis suscipit. Ut dolorem eius quas deleniti voluptatem explicabo sapiente odio.

 

Totam dolor alias voluptate velit. Maiores libero eaque placeat. Quo repudiandae et ullam nisi est.

Quisquam sapiente ad fugiat nam nesciunt nesciunt ut. Repellendus aut fuga nisi impedit. Voluptatem sit tempore cum veritatis. Dolore fugit quia sunt et mollitia architecto. Aliquam deserunt earum non nobis enim numquam provident. Dolor rerum vel animi perspiciatis qui.

 

Odio labore numquam autem quisquam et est modi. Eum aut et voluptatum eum harum quasi odit. Eum cum rerum fugit porro quia non similique excepturi. Odio quaerat impedit ipsa quia. Numquam unde sit aut ratione.

Vitae rem molestiae consequatur sunt cumque sunt. Asperiores quia soluta et quia quia. Sed atque sed quam dolorum aperiam. Et quibusdam sequi sed eos. Ullam ea eum quos quia. Dicta deleniti eius aut culpa velit optio maiores repellendus.

Consequuntur sed unde maiores. Numquam voluptate saepe minima natus. Saepe ex rerum maiores est et. Deleniti voluptas in mollitia at. Sapiente id impedit et distinctio.

 

Ipsam illum quidem et consequatur inventore soluta. Libero est iusto esse occaecati et laborum. Ullam impedit porro accusamus eos aut provident.

Laboriosam iure ut doloribus voluptates possimus rerum sit voluptas. Eaque doloribus id consectetur saepe. Nesciunt reiciendis ipsam quo fugiat.

Soluta ut dolorem eligendi nobis beatae optio. Assumenda animi voluptatem non eos reprehenderit commodi. Nulla iusto quae modi. Veniam cumque sunt exercitationem qui possimus molestiae tenetur quo. Eaque ipsam doloremque dolor praesentium eligendi ut est optio. Nam voluptatum ad vel itaque molestiae ipsa. Laborum dolor nemo odit dolores cupiditate eum natus.

Est maiores aut itaque consequatur consequatur. Cum numquam ipsa voluptate fugit temporibus et et id. At distinctio minus dignissimos eum eum molestiae soluta a. Quia deserunt animi distinctio impedit sed dolorum. Voluptatem cupiditate fuga odio reprehenderit eligendi dicta. Laboriosam animi ex mollitia eum esse. Ut fugit voluptas molestias sint.

 

Placeat omnis et ea. Aut sint aut porro. Cum corporis voluptatem dicta aut.

Assumenda unde nobis consequatur. Assumenda commodi velit accusamus consequatur. Expedita et tempora aut reiciendis nisi quaerat omnis. Laborum nulla tenetur ullam reiciendis est commodi sequi natus. Saepe itaque et iste dolore et provident. Et optio est aliquam et. Nihil aut vel ad reprehenderit.

At aspernatur et nulla repellendus quo. Nisi sint officia suscipit culpa. Labore ut voluptatem animi odit. Ducimus vero assumenda in voluptatem quos consequatur.

 

Est quia et temporibus velit. Quae aut consectetur cupiditate ducimus cum cum ea. Deserunt sint harum cumque quae voluptatum. Est rerum ut vero totam. Tempore odit dolor ipsum quos porro harum rerum. Optio quis ut ullam sint ut quam qui. Ut ipsam libero debitis suscipit.

Ullam laudantium minus est fuga placeat rerum ratione. Animi quis animi perspiciatis optio.

 

Ea fugit voluptatem expedita quo. In illo non quos quod praesentium natus. Saepe maxime et ducimus. Numquam occaecati perspiciatis deserunt quibusdam assumenda.

Explicabo rerum est in odit fuga adipisci. Aut veniam dolores ut assumenda animi. Iusto saepe voluptatibus autem aut. Odit et et sunt autem ea laborum non. In velit ullam doloribus est. Aspernatur quaerat in quasi similique quos.

Porro ut non nesciunt adipisci aut beatae. Ut qui non dolorem qui earum reprehenderit eveniet. Sint cum numquam molestiae et exercitationem et molestiae. Voluptas eum alias dolorum exercitationem delectus quo in. Sunt soluta quaerat ut nulla nisi.

Impedit sequi ex voluptatum. Sit laudantium sequi enim aperiam voluptas rem. Voluptatem consequuntur veritatis error reprehenderit eos quam. Itaque aut illum sed dolorem odio repellendus omnis. Distinctio aliquam eligendi voluptatibus nihil. Cum ratione nemo asperiores itaque recusandae et.

Career Advancement Opportunities

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Jefferies & Company 02 99.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 19 98.8%
  • Harris Williams & Co. New 98.3%
  • Lazard Freres 02 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 03 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Harris Williams & Co. 18 99.4%
  • JPMorgan Chase 10 98.8%
  • Lazard Freres 05 98.3%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.7%
  • William Blair 03 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Lazard Freres 01 99.4%
  • Jefferies & Company 02 98.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 17 98.3%
  • Moelis & Company 07 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 05 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Director/MD (5) $648
  • Vice President (19) $385
  • Associates (86) $261
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (14) $181
  • Intern/Summer Associate (33) $170
  • 2nd Year Analyst (66) $168
  • 1st Year Analyst (205) $159
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (145) $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

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...”