Discover your dream Career
For Recruiters

Here's how much you ought to be earning as a VP or MD in M&A

Courtesy of The Cornell Partnership, you now know how much you should be earning as an associate in M&A.

Here's what you should be earning if you're a little more senior. The figures below aren't, unfortunately, broken out bank by bank like last time. They are also derived from the Cornell Partnership, and from a selection of other search firms in the market.

They are neither hard nor fast, but they give an indication of what you might be able to expect. We've omitted directors as the sample size was small (and they appeared to be earning less than VP3s).

VP1: Mean base: 121k; Mean bonus: 188k; Mean total compensation: 309k; Percentage deferred: 0-70%

VP2: Mean base: 132.5k; Mean bonus: 221k; Mean total compensation: 353.5k; Percentage deferred:20-70%

VP3: Mean base: 138k; Mean bonus: 375k; Mean total compensation: 513k; Percentage deferred: 25-70%

MD: Mean base: 260k; Mean bonus: 661k; Mean total compensation: 924k; Percentage deferred: 20-75%

author-card-avatar
AUTHORSarah Butcher Global Editor
  • Pe
    Pete
    12 March 2011

    What about for asset management at the big banks?

  • Mi
    Mika
    11 March 2011

    I always find these numbers inflated .... I don't work in M&A but in Capital Markets ... I am first year Director. The base seems correct, however either I am being screwed or the bonus numbers are inflated by 50% (the jump from VP2 to VP3 seems excessive). VP3 numbers seem more like Director levels.

  • In
    InaBotiq
    11 March 2011

    I think M&A boutiques pay much lower. Salaries for VP1 ~ 85-95k and bonuses are much lower too. Hours are much better.

  • AL
    ALAN
    11 March 2011

    A JOKE? TRY HALF OR LESS. MORON.

  • eq
    equity sales guy
    11 March 2011

    Fair point from smug accountant. There are a lot of jobs in the city that pay similar amounts to M&A, but require half the hours.

Sign up to Morning Coffee!

Coffee mug

The essential daily roundup of news and analysis read by everyone from senior bankers and traders to new recruits.

Sign up to Morning Coffee!

Coffee mug

The essential daily roundup of news and analysis read by everyone from senior bankers and traders to new recruits.