How many hours a week is private equity?
Investors need to know they can rely on what you say and the analysis you're producing. The average during a busy time for associates and analysts is usually around ~60-70 hours per week. But it's all dependent on how many deals and investments are on the go. The above hours will vary based on if there's a live deal.
Investors need to know they can rely on what you say and the analysis you're producing. The average during a busy time for associates and analysts is usually around ~60-70 hours per week. But it's all dependent on how many deals and investments are on the go. The above hours will vary based on if there's a live deal.
So there's definitely a lot of work to go around in private equity. Again, you're going to be working on average ~65 hours. And mega funds tend to be slightly grindier. However, I think it's best to think of the typical hours you work in private equity as a distribution.
Does Private Equity Have Better Hours Than Investment Banking? Both investment banking and private equity are demanding careers that require long working hours, although private equity firms tend to have a more relaxed work environment and offer a more flexible schedule.
It's extremely difficult to get into private equity, and once you're in, the job is stressful and requires long hours and sacrifices, especially when deals are in their final stages.
Most Private Equity Associates work with Senior Executives, Senior Associates, Vice Presidents, Principals, and Directors or Partners. They consistently work over 40-hours per week, usually onsite. Some firms will offer the option of working remotely one or two days per week.
Private Equity Associate Lifestyle and Hours
At many smaller funds and middle-market funds, you can expect to work 60-70 hours per week, mostly on weekdays, with occasional weekend work when deals heat up.
Why Leave Private Equity? The short, simple answer is that you might work in the field for a few years and find out it's not for you. For example, maybe you have to do a lot of “sourcing” (cold calling), which you dislike. Or you find it boring to look at deals constantly but reject 99% of them.
Landing a career in private equity is very difficult because there are few jobs on the market in this profession and so it can be very competitive. Coming into private equity with no experience is impossible, so finding an internship or having previous experience in a related field is highly recommended.
For the vast majority of first-year private equity associates, the base salary is around $135k to $155k. Then, based on fund performance, bonuses tend to range from 100% to 150% of the base salary.
What pays more PE or IB?
Private equity firms are investment businesses comprising investors who use their capital to invest in private businesses. Those working in private equity can often achieve a higher salary, but their income may be less stable than those working in investment banking.
And if you don't stay to see the long-term results of your deals over many years, you won't receive the benefits of carry. The bottom line is that yes, the pay ceiling is higher in private equity, and there are MDs and Partners who earn many times – sometimes hundreds of times – what MDs in banking earn.
Private equity roles are typically for individuals who already have work experience, so the jobs are not necessarily entry-level. Many investment bankers graduate to working in private equity, therefore, private equity salaries tend to be higher.
Private equity is a highly competitive and sought-after field. PE firms are small, tight-knit, and full of extremely smart and highly motivated people.
As we detailed earlier, the initial roles in private equity are focused on research and math. You'll need analytical skills and knowledge of formulas and financial modeling to work with the software that makes this data-driven culture function.
Private equity is an alluring career goal for those drawn to the financial world. These companies pay big salaries, plus incentives and bonuses. The potential is there to make a lot of money, even in your first year. And, the career carries a lot of prestige in the finance world.
In private equity, you'll work hard, but the hours are not nearly as bad. Generally, the lifestyle is comparable to banking when there is an active deal, but otherwise much more relaxed. That said, there is some upside other than money and career prospects.
Travelling Monday to Thursday as a consultant is not fun, but private equity professionals are also very often on the road. Trips are usually shorter and more frequent, which means that you will probably spend more nights home but you may end up more tired.
Many MDs and Partners stay in private equity indefinitely because there's no reason to leave unless they're forced out or the firm collapses.
| Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | |
|---|---|---|
| Top Earners | $241,298 | $20,108 |
| 75th Percentile | $187,500 | $15,625 |
| Average | $143,004 | $11,917 |
| 25th Percentile | $113,500 | $9,458 |
How well does private equity pay?
| Position Title | Typical Age Range | Base Salary + Bonus (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Associate | 24-28 | $150-$300K |
| Senior Associate | 26-32 | $250-$400K |
| Vice President (VP) | 30-35 | $350-$500K |
| Director or Principal | 33-39 | $500-$800K |
Private equity exit options and opportunities
Those who wish to broaden their horizons or simply desire a change of pace will often migrate to similar sectors such as hedge funds or portfolio management. Additional exit options include: Being hired as a chief analyst by another firm.
Most private equity associates stay in their positions for two to three years before being considered for a senior associate. Future roles at a private equity firm could also include Vice President/Principal before rising to Director/Partner.
The average base compensation among US CEOs surveyed for this report was $510,000 in 2023, and the average cash bonus received in 2022 was $390,000, for a total average cash compensation of $908,000.
Private-equity firms typically run leaner operations than banks and so have less need to cut jobs during slowdowns. But some have laid off about 5% to 15% of their staff, said Sasha Jensen, founder and chief executive of Jensen Partners, an executive-search firm for alternative-asset managers.
