The banking and finance sector remains one of the highest-paying industries, with professionals earning base salaries exceeding $300,000+, along with substantial bonuses and profit-sharing. All figures are true at the time of writing (February 2025) and are based on live roles on our site with their estimated maximum base salaries.
This guide covers the highest-paying roles, what makes them lucrative, and which companies and U.S. states offer the most competitive salaries.
Top High-Paying Jobs in Banking & Finance
1. Investment Banking Vice President & Director Roles
- Salary: $300,000 – $350,000
- Key Roles:
- Vice President, Investment Banking – Healthcare ($350,000)
- Investment Banking Industrials Director ($330,000)
- Investment Banking Director | Restructuring ($300,000)
- Investment Banking - Energy - Associate ($300,000)
- Why It Pays Well:
Investment banking offers some of the highest salaries, with large deal bonuses. VPs and Directors lead mergers & acquisitions (M&A), equity capital markets (ECM), and advisory services.
2. Private Equity & Corporate M&A Roles
- Salary: $300,000 – $350,000
- Key Roles:
- Vice President, Private Equity ($320,000)
- Vice President, Corporate Development – Private Equity ($320,000)
- Corporate M&A/Private Equity Lawyer ($350,000)
- Chief Financial Officer – Private Equity Portfolio Company ($310,000)
- Why It Pays Well:
Private equity professionals manage multi-billion dollar investments and often receive profit-sharing and carried interest, increasing earnings significantly beyond base salaries.
3. Portfolio Management & Hedge Funds
- Salary: $300,000 – $350,000+
- Key Roles:
- CorePM Portfolio Manager – Systematic Active Equity ($350,000)
- State Street Global Advisors – Senior Portfolio Manager, VP ($300,000)
- Why It Pays Well:
Portfolio managers oversee large investment funds and hedge funds, with their earnings tied directly to fund performance.
4. Fintech & Digital Banking Leadership
- Salary: $300,000 – $320,000
- Key Roles:
- Vice President of Fintech Sales ($320,000)
- Senior Kotlin/JVM Software Engineer, Digital Banking Tools ($310,000)
- Digital Banking Consultant ($330,000)
- Why It Pays Well:
With the rise of fintech, technology-driven roles in banking now command competitive salaries and strong growth opportunities.
5. Chief Financial Officer & Executive Leadership
- Salary: $300,000 – $310,000
- Key Roles:
- Chief Financial Officer – Multi-Location Commercial Services – Private Equity ($310,000)
- Chief Financial Officer – Private Equity Portfolio Company ($310,000)
- Vice President, Legal and Chief Compliance Officer ($300,000)
- Why It Pays Well:
CFOs lead financial operations, oversee fundraising, M&A, and regulatory compliance, making them essential for large firms and private equity-backed businesses.
Top States for High-Paying Jobs in Finance
Salaries in finance vary significantly by location. The highest-paying states for banking and finance roles in 2025 include:
| State |
Median Maximum Salary |
| Montana |
$171,798 |
| New York |
$163,257 |
| North Carolina |
$145,753 |
| California |
$145,789 |
| Delaware |
$141,035 |
| District of Columbia |
$141,857 |
| Massachusetts |
$139,905 |
| Nevada |
$138,153 |
| Connecticut |
$137,314 |
| New Jersey |
$137,428 |
New York remains the financial capital, offering some of the highest salaries for investment banking and asset management. California and Massachusetts also provide high earnings, particularly in fintech and hedge fund roles.
Top Employers Offering the Highest Salaries in Banking & Finance
This table highlights some of the top-paying finance and banking companies, along with their median maximum salaries in 2025.
| Company |
Median Maximum Salary |
| Metis Search |
$293,449 |
| Palo Alto Staffing |
$323,599 |
| CPA Firm |
$250,829 |
| CBIZ |
$253,472 |
| Grant Thornton |
$253,222 |
| JPMorgan Chase Bank |
$233,487 |
| Creative Planning |
$234,484 |
| Amazon (Finance Roles) |
$231,838 |
| BeachFleischman |
$224,612 |
| Comcast Corporation |
$217,253 |
Banking and finance remain some of the highest-paying industries, with investment banking, private equity, and fintech leading in earnings. Many roles in these sectors offer six-figure base salaries, with bonus structures that can double or triple total compensation.
.gif)
.gif)
.svg)
