Private Equity Research Analysts and Associates
Overview
Introduction
Private equity (PE) research analysts and associates conduct research on potential investment targets (i.e., companies to purchase outright or invest in) for PE funds. These investment targets are provided by their employer, and analysts and associates are also expected to generate their own ideas about potential acquisition targets. They also conduct due diligence on primary funds and other investments, monitor the performance of portfolio companies and make suggestions for improvement, and perform other tasks as assigned by managi...
Quick Facts
Median Salary
Employment Prospects
Minimum Education Level
Experience
Skills
Personality Traits
Earnings
New college graduates with a bachelor’s degree in finance earned average starting salaries of $58,464 in 2019, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers.
Private equity analysts earned median annual salaries of $83,174 in June 2020, according to Glassdoor. Salaries ranged from $56,000 to $125,000.
Private equity research analysts and associates usually receiv...
Work Environment
Research analysts and associates work in typical office settings, and utilize the latest office equipment and financial software to do their work. They frequently travel to portfolio companies, target investment companies, and trade shows. Many private equity and venture capital professionals work extremely long hours (in some cases more than 70 hours a week). This often is the case with lower-...
Outlook
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) does not provide an employment outlook for private equity research analysts and associates, but it does report that job opportunities for financial analysts (including those who work for securities, commodities, and other financial investment and related firms) are expected to grow by 6 percent from 2018 to 2028, according to the U.S. Department of Labor, abou...