Salary progression at Barclays IBD in London?

Question

Hey,
does anyone know how pay evolves at Barclays once you're promoted from analyst to associate? Curious how competitive they are, especially compared to U.S. BBs in London like GS or MS.

Thanks!

Answer 1

Hey! 😊

From what I’ve seen and heard from people in the industry, here’s how salary progression typically looks like at Barclays IBD in London:

Analyst (Years 1–3): Base salary is usually around £60–70k, with a bonus that varies a lot depending on performance, maybe 20–30% in year one, increasing over time.
Associate (Post-promotion): Base jumps to around £100–120k, and bonuses can range anywhere from 50% to 100%, depending on the year and your performance.

Compared to US bulge brackets like GS or MS, Barclays tends to be slightly below in total comp especially on the bonus side. The gap isn’t massive, and a lot depends on the specific group and how well the bank is doing that year.

Also, Barclays tends to have a bit more of a “European” culture... so slightly better work-life balance than what you might find at the big US firms (though of course, it's still banking 😅).

Hope this gives you a clearer picture!

Answer 2

Hey!

At Barclays' Investment Banking Division in London, salary progression from analyst to associate is competitive but slightly below that of U.S. bulge bracket banks. As an analyst (Years 1–3), base salaries typically range from £60,000 to £70,000, with bonuses varying based on performance.

Upon promotion to associate, base salaries increase to approximately £100,000–£120,000, with bonuses ranging from 50% to 100% of the base salary, depending on individual and firm performance. While Barclays' total compensation may be slightly lower than that of U.S. firms like Goldman Sachs or Morgan Stanley, the difference is not substantial, and many professionals find the work-life balance and European culture at Barclays appealing.