HiPlease take a look at this site: http://careers-in-finance.com/ibsal.htmIt shows salaries in investment banking. Doesn't those figures seem a bit high? Yeah, I know they get really good money in IB, but the figures I've read about at Wilmott are much lower (although I guess people could have been talking about salaries at other places than IBs). Also, if you got some time over, check the average salary for a hedge fund employee (scroll down, I'm not refering to the top #10 list in the beginning): http://www.careers-in-finance.com/hfsal.htmThat sounds a bit high too. What do you say, are these numbers credible or are they just trying to fool young people like myself into the financial sector? Please share your thoughts about this/John

The salaries quoted are somewhat accurate. I would say that the salaries listed in the first article are about 20% higher than what the actual salaries are.

That's about what I suspected. I guess it can change a lot though, depending on whether there's a boom or a recession. I read somewhere that salaries had fallen with 30 % in London since the beginning of this crisis. Don't know if that's true, but wouldn't surprise me.They also make it sound quite easy on that page - yeah, they do write a "warning" list for those who wants to get into IB, saying that there are like five or ten times as many applicants as there are jobs (at an entry level). However, they could have mentioned that many, if not the majority, of those with an education in finance/economics will end up at the local bank office working for an average salary spending their days giving out or refusing loans to couples who want to buy houses and cars. Something like Jim Carrey in Yes man (no, I didn't get my education in finance from that movie, just want to make sure everyone knows what I'm talking about).I'm not trying to sound pessimistic, I just think that if you as a student realize you may end up at the local bank, chances are you will plan more and do more to make sure that won't happen. If you just take it for given that you'll become a VP at an IB, then the risk is 99 % that you'll end up being the guy who grants a loan to some old lady who wants to start a bakery with a stupid specialtyIsn't there some truth in that?/John

Also the years of experience quoted may be inaccurate. It normally takes 7 years to become VP. The article says 3-6 years for VP.

what is the typical bonus size of a new buy-side quant with fresh phd? and after 5 years experience? 300% - 500% of base is reasonable?

HiHow many people can become VPs btw? And what happens to those who have been associates for three years or something who doesn't get promoted? Do they just continue being associates until they retire, or is it like you either get promoted or fired?Hedge funds seem to pay well too... what are the differences in working environment? Like, do they work longer/shorter than those at IBs, is there more or less stress etc?/John

QuoteOriginally posted by: amerikanHow many people can become VPs btw?For people that I know, it's pretty automatic if you have the right amount of seniority. Also the salaries for people at the VP level in the posted article seem quite high to me.QuoteAnd what happens to those who have been associates for three years or something who doesn't get promoted? Do they just continue being associates until they retire, or is it like you either get promoted or fired?You might stay associate for three or four years. If you don't make VP shortly after that, then something is seriously wrong, and you probably should be looking for work elsewhere. Lots of people stay VP until retirement since the next step is pretty discretionary. Also I suspect that one reason the article gives misleading numbers is that salaries for associates are pretty standard while salaries for VP's vary all over the map..

Quote ... 300% - 500% of base is reasonable?keep dreaming pray for 100% to 200%

The salaries quoted in the Michael page review seem to me more reasonable:http://www.michaelpage.co.uk/mediabank/ ... S_SS_3.pdf

QuoteOriginally posted by: amerikanI'm not trying to sound pessimistic, I just think that if you as a student realize you may end up at the local bank, chances are you will plan more and do more to make sure that won't happen. If you just take it for given that you'll become a VP at an IB, then the risk is 99 % that you'll end up being the guy who grants a loan to some old lady who wants to start a bakery with a stupid specialtyDepends on the background. I don't know of anyone with a physics Ph.D.'s that has wanted to be VP at an investment bank that didn't end up being a VP at an investment bank. Technical geeks tend to be hired at the associate level.

QuoteOriginally posted by: amerikanHiPlease take a look at this site: http://careers-in-finance.com/ibsal.htmIt shows salaries in investment banking. Doesn't those figures seem a bit high? Yeah, I know they get really good money in IB, but the figures I've read about at Wilmott are much lower (although I guess people could have been talking about salaries at other places than IBs). Also, if you got some time over, check the average salary for a hedge fund employee (scroll down, I'm not refering to the top #10 list in the beginning): http://www.careers-in-finance.com/hfsal.htmThat sounds a bit high too. What do you say, are these numbers credible or are they just trying to fool young people like myself into the financial sector? Please share your thoughts about this/JohnBest place to look for is glassdoor.com, it is pretty accurate.

Try this site. I searched for Citadel because I knew the site had a listing for them, but it does for other companies.People in a couple of these firms told me the quotes are about right though may be a year or two old.http://www.salarylist.com/all-real-jobs ... -l-l-c.htm

QuoteOriginally posted by: twofishI don't know of anyone with a physics Ph.D.'s that has wanted to be VP at an investment bank that didn't end up being a VP at an investment bank. Technical geeks tend to be hired at the associate level. so you are still a veep? at least veeps get a pension plan; associates have no pension plan.

QuoteOriginally posted by: jfuquahttp://www.salarylist.com/all-real-jobs-salary ... -l-l-c.htm salaries given are for base. they don't tell you the bonus, which could be as much as 5X base.