What pays more investment banking or hedge fund?
For now, you just need to know that investment bankers make more than hedge fund analysts at the start, but hedge fund analysts can see their comp rise faster with how good their investment performance is. Hours: It's true that the average hedge fund analyst works less than the average investment banking analyst.
The field is quite popular amongst top-performing students as first-year investment bankers have consistently held the top spot for new grad compensation (for business majors).
While ZipRecruiter is seeing salaries as high as $242,849 and as low as $32,804, the majority of salaries within the Hedge Fund jobs category currently range between $66,587 (25th percentile) to $117,017 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $165,000 annually in California.
Can you become a millionaire as an investment banker? It is possible to become a millionaire as an investment banker, but it is not easy. Investment bankers typically earn salaries in the $200,000 to $700,000 range, with bonuses that can bring their total income up to several million dollars per year.
Generally, hedge fund managers tend to earn more than investment bankers. Hedge fund managers typically earn a performance-based fee for managing a client's portfolio, which can be quite large.
- Chief financial officer. ...
- Private equity associate. ...
- Hedge fund manager. ...
- Insurance advisor. ...
- Financial advisor. ...
- Compliance analyst. ...
- Information technology auditor. ...
- Investment banker. Investment bankers help businesses and government groups invest their money.
As an associate, compensation rises significantly. The next level up is Vice President, which can make upwards of 500k. Highest on the food chain is the Managing Director, who makes anywhere from 500k to several million dollars. Investment banking associates are typically hired after business school.
On an hourly basis, most sales & trading professionals earned a lot more than bankers in 2023. Credit sales & trading professionals earned $147 per hour on average, for instance.
Successful mid-career investment bankers can make tens of millions of dollars a year.
In 2023, the highest-paid hedge fund manager was Ken Griffin of Citadel, who earned $4.1 billion. He was followed by Izzy Englander of Millennium Management, who earned $3.2. billion.
What is the highest paying job in a hedge fund?
Job Title | Annual Salary | Monthly Pay |
---|---|---|
Hedge Fund Attorney | $175,207 | $14,600 |
Cfo Hedge Fund | $157,532 | $13,127 |
Private Equity Fund Controller | $154,999 | $12,916 |
Hedge Fund General Counsel | $151,643 | $12,636 |
Hedge funds employ some of the best-paid business professionals anywhere, but landing your first job in the industry is no cakewalk. Building a hedge fund career takes determination, networking stamina, and a fierce competitive streak. Here are some steps to help get you to that interview and then land that job.
Investment bankers make money through the fees charged to their clients. As discussed above, this includes underwriting fees for arranging the sale of securities and advisory fees for providing strategic guidance.
1. Goldman Sachs is the highest paying bank overall - $398k in combined salaries and bonuses, on average. Goldman Sachs, which paid average salaries of $200k and average bonuses of $199k for 2023, was the highest paying bank we polled. It took top position by virtue a leap in bonus payments.
Even with education, experience, and enthusiasm, investment banking might not be for you. Investment bankers work long hours and often earn a high income. Lack of work-life balance is one reason to avoid becoming an investment banker. Investment bankers must also be able to manage high-pressure situations.
Field | Percentage Entering | Total Compensation |
---|---|---|
Hedge Funds | 6% | $345K |
Investment Banking | 3% | $329K |
Consulting | 25% | $254K |
Venture Capital | 6% | $245K |
Hedge funds seem to rake in billions of dollars a year for their professional investment acumen and portfolio management across a range of strategies. Hedge funds make money as part of a fee structure paid by fund investors based on assets under management (AUM).
Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | |
---|---|---|
Top Earners | $114,000 | $9,500 |
75th Percentile | $100,000 | $8,333 |
Average | $77,940 | $6,495 |
25th Percentile | $51,000 | $4,250 |
Finance roles that typically pay the most include positions such as investment banking managing directors, hedge fund managers, or private equity partners. Chief financial officers (CFOs) of large corporations are also highly paid positions.
Finance can be a fiercely competitive field. It's a famously high-paying industry known to deal out six or seven figures in salaries and bonuses for those at the top. Even those on the bottom rung can expect to start at a good wage compared with other fields.
What degree do you need to be an investment banker?
For those seeking a career in investment banking, a bachelor's degree in finance is a prerequisite. Other potential acceptable majors include bachelors in economics or bachelors in business supplemented with a minor in finance.
- Entrepreneur.
- Entertainer.
- Law Firm Partner.
- Pro Athlete.
- Hedge Fund Manager.
- Real Estate Agent.
- Software Developer.
- E-commerce Business Owner.
As of Apr 8, 2024, the average hourly pay for a 500K A Year in California is $22.82 an hour. While ZipRecruiter is seeing salaries as high as $35.11 and as low as $5.22, the majority of 500K A Year salaries currently range between $18.51 (25th percentile) to $31.54 (75th percentile) in California.
How can you earn a six-figure salary at top investment banking firms without any experience in 2023. On average, a first-year investment banker makes a 5-digit salary, in the range of $70,000 – $90,000, while a 7-digit salary is considered above average and is difficult to achieve for most people in their careers.
Position Title | Typical Age Range | Base Salary (USD) |
---|---|---|
Associate | 25-35 | $175-$225K |
Vice President (VP) | 28-40 | $250-$300K |
Director / Senior Vice President (SVP) | 32-45 | $300-$350K |
Managing Director (MD) | 35-50 | $400-$600K |