Now, a new eFinancialCareers report has shed some light on what different finance jobs pay. The data is sourced from a survey of 2,500 workers in the financial sector taken between February and March 2025.
Those taking part in the survey worked across the financial sector, with top banks such as Goldman Sachs, UBS, and JP Morgan—which rank among the best banks to work for—represented, alongside major financial institutions including the likes of Citadel, the world’s most successful hedge fund.
Many of these prestigious firms hire from top MBA and specialized masters cohorts each year. So, what are the best paying jobs in finance that successful grads could land?
Let’s take a closer look.
The best paying jobs in finance
21. Operations ($143,149)
Average salary: $116,815
Average bonus: $58,696
A role in operations requires both financial mastery and operational knowledge of a business. People working in this area are responsible for ensuring a business is financially streamlined, robust, and efficient.
Although average salaries in this area are among the lowest in finance, there has been a 20% increase in bonuses between 2022 and 2024.
20. Compliance ($183,070)
Average salary: $142,503
Average bonus: $40,568
Change in bonus: +12.8%
Compliance officers and managers are responsible for ensuring their company adheres to the various financial rules and regulations.
Average bonuses rose again after a sharp drop in 2023. The total average compensation remains a very competitive salary in the finance industry.
READ: Is Finance A Good Career Path?
19. Finance ($188,032)
Average salary: $127,919
Average bonus: $60,113
Change in bonus: +4.9%
Although average salaries in general finance roles saw a big decrease, it was somewhat counterbalanced by a near 5% increase in bonuses.
18. Private credit ($202,479)
Average salary: $113,475
Average bonus: $89,033
Change in bonus: +6.2%
Total compensation for private credit roles rose above $200k thanks to a healthy increase in average bonus, which now stands at $89k.
17. Private equity ($218,250)
Average salary: $136,835
Average bonus: $81,415
Change in bonus: +46.1%
Private equity professionals have a range of possible job functions. They could identify companies to purchase, monitor ongoing investments, manage relationships with businesses, and forecast future returns.
After private equity bonuses remained static in 2023, they saw the biggest increase of any finance role in 2024.
16. Commodities ($220,007)
Average salary: $134,549
Average bonus: $85,458
Change in bonus: +39.0%
Commodity professionals work with physical goods such as gold, oil, or coffee. Although the average salary is fairly low in this list, average bonuses saw a huge increase in 2024.
15. Technology ($222,578)
Average salary: $144,308
Average bonus: $78,270
Change in bonus: +5.7%
As more and more investment pours into tech, finance professionals are vital not just for managing that cash flow, but also attracting new investment and ensuring tech companies become profitable. As such, bonuses for finance professionals in tech have risen by more than 20% in the past two years.
14. Compliance and risk ($229,828)
Average salary: $170,429
Average bonus: $52,399
Change in bonus: +29.7%
It probably won’t come as a surprise to learn that this area of finance is all about complying with regulations and minimizing risk within an organization. It’s about plotting the potential financial pitfalls that a company could face using your forecasting and data analysis skills. Bonuses in this area saw a huge increase in 2024.
13. Risk ($226,925)
Average salary: $173,077
Average bonus: $57,097
Change in bonus: +34.0%
Another area of finance that saw a huge average increase in bonuses in 2024, risk professionals are responsible for assessing and minimising potential financial threats for a company.
12. Research ($274,122)
Average salary: $145,967
Average bonus: $128,155
Change in bonus: +17.7%
Across financial research roles in 2024, bonuses were almost as high as salaries after a 17.7% increase. It’s one of the few finance roles in this list where bonuses match or exceed average salaries.
11. Debt capital markets (DCM) ($306,689)
Average salary: $177,853
Average bonus: $128,837
Change in bonus: +18.2%
A company working in debt capital markets (DCM) helps governments and large organizations to borrow money in the form of tradeable securities. An analyst in this area would assess the credit quality and debt maturity of various companies. They saw an average increase in bonuses of almost 20% in 2024.
READ: Top 25 Best Banks To Work For
10. Credit ($310,489)
Average salary: $153,085
Average bonus: $157,405
Change in bonus: +19.6%
Broadly speaking, people working within credit sales are responsible for assessing the ability of individuals and organizations to settle debts or pay at a later date. It’s one of the few areas where bonuses exceed salaries—which is just as well, because they rose by nearly 20% in 2024.
9. Quant ($311,336)
Average salary: $205,625
Average bonus: $105,711
Change in bonus: +15.7%
Quants (quantitative traders) use their knowledge of mathematical models and algorithms to identify trading opportunities and set up automated trades. They’re ultimately responsible for generating profits for trading firms. Across the sector, total average compensation broke into the top 10 after solid YoY increases in bonuses.
8. Traditional asset manager ($324,878)
Average salary: $184,600
Average bonus: $140,279
Change in bonus: +7.5%
‘Traditional’ assets include stocks, bonds, and real estate. Traditional asset managers are responsible for returning a profit on those investments. Bonuses rose in 2024, helping it to become one of the highest-paid jobs in finance.
7. Equity capital markets (ECM) ($332,318)
Average salary: $210,167
Average bonus: $122,151
Change in bonus: -9.4%
A role in equity capital markets (ECM) remains one of the best-paying jobs in finance. Broadly speaking, in this role you would help companies raise capital through channels such as share sales and public offerings. It was the only job in finance where bonuses fell in 2024.
6. Investment banking ($360,767)
Average salary: $188,142
Average bonus: $172,535
Change in bonus: +28.4%
According to survey respondents, bonuses for investment banking roles increased by almost 30% between 2023 and 2024. It’s one of the best-paid jobs in finance.
READ: 10 Best MBAs For Finance Careers In 2024
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5. Sales and trading ($384,893)
Average salary: $194,488
Average bonus: $190,405
Change in bonus: +33.2%
Sales and trading is another way of saying ‘buying and selling stocks’, or maybe just ‘playing the stock market.’ After a 33% increase in bonuses this year, it’s now the fifth-best-paid role in finance.
4. Equities ($396,266)
Average salary: $197,009
Average bonus: $199,256
Change in bonus: +36.6%
Equities is one of very few areas in finance where average bonuses have now surpassed salaries. It takes the total average compensation to almost $400k.
3. M&A ($423,701)
Average salary: $194,783
Average bonus: $228,918
Change in bonus: +42%
M&A stands for mergers and acquisitions. Professionals in this area help companies to acquire or merge with other companies. Although average salaries actually dipped in 2024, that was more than offset by a massive increase in bonuses of 42%.
2. Macro ($495,078)
Average salary: $247,119
Average bonus: $247,959
Change in bonus: +38.5%
Macro traders make investments based on global trends, geopolitical events, and other macroeconomic factors. It was another area that saw a slight decrease in average salaries in 2024, but a 38.5% increase in bonuses more than made up for it.
1. Hedge funds ($631,553)
Average salary: $178,386
Average bonus: $453,167
Change in bonus: +48.1%
High risk, high reward. The best-paid finance job in 2025 is in hedge funds. Hedge funds invest the capital of high-worth individuals or investors, but normally in higher-risk investments. It was already the best-paid job in finance, but a bigger increase in bonuses than any other role stretched its lead at the top.
What do finance jobs pay in total?
If you're interested in finding out how you can launch a career in finance, including free advice from b-school careers experts, download our BusinessBecause Careers Guide: What's Next After Business School
