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Create CVIf you’re searching for the highest paying jobs on Wall Street, you’re really asking a deeper question: where is the real money in finance, and how do top performers actually earn multi-million dollar compensation packages?
This guide breaks down Wall Street salaries in the US, including base salary, bonuses, and total compensation (TC), while also explaining how compensation is determined, negotiated, and scaled at top firms like investment banks, hedge funds, and private equity firms.
We’ll go beyond averages and show you what top 10% performers earn, how recruiters benchmark compensation, and how candidates position themselves for elite pay.
Wall Street compensation is heavily skewed toward performance-based roles. The highest paying positions are those that directly generate revenue or manage capital.
Investment Banker (M&A, Capital Markets)
Hedge Fund Manager / Portfolio Manager
Private Equity Associate / Partner
Sales & Trading (Institutional)
Quantitative Analyst / Quant Trader
Asset Management Director / Portfolio Manager
Venture Capital Investor
Investment banking remains one of the most searched and competitive finance careers.
Entry-Level Analyst: $110,000 – $150,000 base
Associate: $175,000 – $250,000 base
Vice President: $250,000 – $400,000 base
Managing Director: $400,000 – $1,000,000+ base
Analyst: $150,000 – $250,000 TC
Associate: $250,000 – $450,000 TC
Hedge funds represent the highest upside in Wall Street compensation due to profit participation.
Junior Analyst: $120,000 – $200,000 base
Senior Analyst: $200,000 – $400,000 base
Portfolio Manager: $300,000 – $1,000,000+ base
Analyst: $200,000 – $600,000 TC
PM: $1M – $10M+ TC
Hedge funds operate on the :
These roles dominate searches like:
highest paying finance jobs USA
Wall Street salary per year
top paying investment banking jobs
VP: $400,000 – $700,000 TC
MD: $1M – $5M+ TC
Bonuses can be 50% to 200% of base salary, depending on deal flow and firm performance.
Investment banking compensation is tied to:
Deal volume (M&A, IPOs)
Revenue generated per banker
Group performance (e.g., Tech vs Industrials)
Firm tier (Bulge Bracket vs Boutique)
Top 1% MDs can earn $10M+ in strong years.
2% management fee
20% performance fee
Top portfolio managers earn based on P&L contribution, not salary.
Hedge funds hire extremely selectively. Compensation is determined by:
Proven track record (returns)
Risk-adjusted performance
Capital allocation responsibility
Private equity is one of the most sought-after careers post-investment banking.
Analyst: $120,000 – $160,000 base
Associate: $150,000 – $250,000 base
VP: $250,000 – $400,000 base
Partner: $500,000 – $2M+ base
Associate: $250,000 – $500,000 TC
VP: $500,000 – $1M+ TC
Partner: $1M – $20M+ TC
Private equity professionals earn:
Base salary
Bonus
Carried interest (profit share)
Carry is where wealth is built. Top partners can earn tens of millions per fund.
Quants are among the highest paid technical roles on Wall Street.
Entry-Level Quant: $150,000 – $250,000 base
Mid-Level: $200,000 – $350,000 base
Senior Quant: $300,000 – $500,000+ base
Entry-Level: $200,000 – $400,000 TC
Senior: $500,000 – $1M+ TC
Scarcity of talent (math, AI, programming)
Direct trading impact
High-frequency trading profitability
Firms like hedge funds and prop trading firms aggressively compete for top quant talent.
Sales & Trading compensation depends heavily on market conditions.
Analyst: $100,000 – $140,000 base
Associate: $150,000 – $225,000 base
VP: $200,000 – $350,000 base
Analyst: $150,000 – $250,000 TC
VP: $300,000 – $800,000 TC
MD: $1M+ TC
Trading desk performance
Market volatility
Client relationships
Top traders with strong P&L can outperform bankers in compensation.
$100,000 – $200,000 base
$150,000 – $300,000 total compensation
$200,000 – $400,000 base
$400,000 – $800,000 total compensation
$300,000 – $800,000 base
$800,000 – $3M+ total compensation
$500,000 – $2M+ base
$2M – $20M+ total compensation
Wall Street pay is not random. It is driven by clear internal frameworks.
The more revenue you directly generate, the higher your pay ceiling.
Bankers close deals
Traders generate P&L
PE professionals drive returns
Bulge Bracket Banks: structured salaries, predictable bonuses
Hedge Funds: volatile but high upside
Private Equity: long-term wealth via carry
Roles like quants command higher salaries due to:
Technical skill shortage
High business impact
Compensation fluctuates with:
Deal activity
Interest rates
Stock market performance
Move from banking → private equity or hedge funds
Specialize in high-demand sectors (tech, healthcare)
Transition into revenue-generating roles
Build a track record (especially in trading/investing)
Candidates who earn the most:
Have deal or performance metrics
Can justify their economic value
Understand how compensation bands work
Negotiation on Wall Street is subtle and data-driven.
Always negotiate total compensation, not just base
Bonuses are often more flexible than base salary
Sign-on bonuses can bridge compensation gaps
“I was hoping for a higher salary.”
“Based on market data for VP-level roles in M&A and my deal volume, I’m targeting total compensation in the $600K–$700K range.”
Hiring managers approve compensation based on:
Internal pay bands
Candidate comparables
Budget constraints
If you anchor too low, your offer will reflect it.
Highest compensation globally
Premium for top talent
Strong for tech-focused finance roles
Higher base salaries, equity exposure
Strong for trading firms
Competitive but slightly lower than NYC
Emerging finance hubs
Lower base, but lifestyle appeal
Wall Street remains one of the highest-paying industries globally.
Increased demand for quant and AI talent
Growth in private markets (PE, VC)
Higher performance-based pay structures
Top 1% of Wall Street professionals:
Earn $5M – $50M+ annually
Build wealth through equity and carry
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