What Do You Really Earn in Investment Banking?

Key Takeaways

Investment banking salaries vary significantly by region, bank type, and career level, especially when it comes to bonuses, purchasing power, and total compensation.
Entry-level investment banking pay consists of base salary, bonus, and additional benefits, with clear differences between bulge brackets, elite boutiques, and mid-market banks.

Few industries are as well known for high pay and at the same time as opaque as investment banking. What do analysts really earn at the start of their careers? How important are bonuses, working hours, and additional benefits in total compensation? And how do pay structures differ across bank types, from bulge brackets and elite boutiques to mid market firms? 💸

In this section, you will find a clear and practical overview of investment banking salaries, bonuses, and compensation models. The goal is to make them easy to understand, comparable across firms, and grounded in real world insights.

Investment Banking Salaries Around the World

Investment banking pay can differ substantially from country to country. In some markets, bonuses account for a large share of total compensation. In others, base salaries tend to be more stable. In many cases, purchasing power matters more than the headline number in an offer letter.

Here, we break down analyst and associate salaries across key regions, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Singapore, Canada, and the UAE. The articles explain which markets pay the most, where living costs have a stronger impact, and how compensation can develop depending on location.