Moelis & Company Analyst & Associate Salary
Complete compensation breakdown for investment banking professionals at Moelis & Company, including base salary, bonuses, and total compensation at every level.
Figures re-verified July 2026 against 2025-26 bonus-cycle data · By the Superday AI editorial team
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$120,000
$205,000 - $235,000
$415,000 - $485,000
Analysis
Moelis & Company pays first-year analysts $120,000 base plus a $10,000 signing bonus, with total first-year compensation of roughly $205K-$235K in the 2025-26 cycle and an entrepreneurial bonus structure that rewards analysts who drive deal flow.
Key facts
- Moelis first-year analysts earn a $120,000 base salary — corroborated by H1B filings — plus a $10,000 signing bonus, with year-end bonuses of $75K-$105K.
- Total first-year analyst compensation runs roughly $205K-$235K in the 2025-26 cycle.
- By AN3, total compensation reaches $250K-$285K.
- First-year associates see total packages of $415K-$485K.
- Moelis first-year totals run roughly $25K-$40K above Goldman, Morgan Stanley, and JPMorgan.
Base & Bonus
First-year analysts start at a $120,000 base salary with a $10,000 signing bonus. Year-end bonuses range from $75K to $105K. The bonus structure is performance-driven, and Moelis's entrepreneurial culture creates meaningful differentiation between analysts who drive deal flow and those who execute. First-year associates earn packages of $415K-$485K.
Total Compensation
Total first-year analyst compensation lands at roughly $205K-$235K in the 2025-26 cycle. By AN3, total comp reaches $250K-$285K. Moelis also offers overtime pay, meal and transportation benefits, healthcare, and 401(k) contributions. The global platform creates opportunities for international deal exposure that enhance the long-term career return.
How It Compares
Moelis sits in the elite boutique tier alongside PJT Partners, a notch ahead of Lazard. Total comp remains competitive with PJT through the analyst years, though below the Evercore and Centerview ceiling. First-year totals run roughly $25K-$40K above Goldman, Morgan Stanley, and JPMorgan, and meaningfully exceed Bank of America and Citi.
What Drives Pay
Moelis treats analysts as future bankers rather than transient labor. Ken Moelis's philosophy of building from within means top-performing analysts receive disproportionate investment in compensation, deal exposure, and career development. The firm's activist advisory and shareholder defense practice can be particularly lucrative, since these engagements generate significant fees from compact teams. Analysts who embrace the firm's aggressive deal-sourcing mentality and contribute to business development often see compensation at the top of the range.
Moelis & Company Comp: Bucket Dispersion, Peer Comparison & Exit Math
Moelis pays among the leaders on the Street for analyst and associate compensation and is consistently grouped with PJT, Centerview, and Evercore in any conversation about elite boutique pay. First-year analyst all-in compensation runs $205K to $235K in the 2025-26 cycle — a $120K base, a $10K signing bonus, and year-end bonuses in the $75K to $105K range, with top-bucket performers at the high end.
Moelis is publicly listed and discloses aggregate compensation expense in its filings; the compensation-to-revenue ratio has historically tracked in the 60% to 70% range. The firm pays cash bonuses on a calendar-year cycle, typically in March, with stock awards layered in for senior associates and above. One feature that distinguishes Moelis at the senior level is the firm's equity ownership structure — partners hold a meaningful equity stake.
Restructuring bankers are paid on parity with M&A bankers. Two-and-out exits to private equity, hedge funds, and growth equity are common, and the firm's analyst program has a strong track record of placing into megafund private equity seats.
Analyst Compensation
First-year analysts at Moelis & Company earn a base salary of $120,000 with a year-end bonus of $75,000 - $105,000, bringing total first-year compensation to approximately $205,000 - $235,000. Second-year analysts earn approximately $230,000 - $260,000 total comp, rising to $250,000 - $285,000 in the third year.
| Level | Base Salary | Year-End Bonus | Total Comp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Analyst 1 | $120,000 | $75,000 - $105,000 | $205,000 - $235,000 |
| Analyst 2 | $135,000 | $95,000 - $125,000 | $230,000 - $260,000 |
| Analyst 3 | $145,000 | $105,000 - $140,000 | $250,000 - $285,000 |
Methodology: year-1 totals are base + signing + first full-year bonus for the 2025-26 cycle, compiled from self-reported data (WSO bonus threads, H1B filings, Levels.fyi, Glassdoor). Bucket spread at the same bank can run $30-50K top to bottom; figures for firms with limited public disclosures, and year 2+ and associate rows, are directional estimates.
Associate Compensation
| Level | Base Salary | Year-End Bonus | Total Comp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Associate 1 | $200,000 | $140,000 - $210,000 | $415,000 - $485,000 |
| Associate 2 | $225,000 | $170,000 - $250,000 | $395,000 - $475,000 |
How Moelis & Company Compares
Moelis sits in the elite boutique tier alongside PJT Partners, a notch ahead of Lazard. First-year totals run roughly $25-40K above Goldman, Morgan Stanley, and JPMorgan, and meaningfully exceed Bank of America and Citi.
Benefits & Perks
Meals & Transportation
Dinner provided, car service after 9pm
Moelis & Company Compensation Overview
Moelis & Company delivers elite boutique compensation with an entrepreneurial twist. As a publicly traded independent advisory, Moelis balances high bonuses with a culture of ownership and long-term thinking. First-year bonuses typically range $75-105K on a $120K base, and Mergers & Inquisitions' 2024 bonus report had Moelis leading the street that cycle. The firm's sector-focused model means analysts in hot industries (tech, healthcare, consumer) can see bonuses at the top of the band. Moelis emphasizes meritocracy and early responsibility, with analysts working directly on CEO-level pitches and execution. The partnership track is accessible for top performers, creating incentives beyond pure compensation. While hours are intense, the firm's flat structure and direct economics from advisory fees support strong pay.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total compensation for a first-year analyst at Moelis & Company?
First-year analysts at Moelis & Company earn a base salary of $120,000 with a year-end bonus of $75,000 - $105,000, bringing total compensation to approximately $205,000 - $235,000.
How do Moelis & Company bonuses compare to other Elite Boutique banks?
Moelis sits in the elite boutique tier alongside PJT Partners, a notch ahead of Lazard. First-year totals run roughly $25-40K above Goldman, Morgan Stanley, and JPMorgan, and meaningfully exceed Bank of America and Citi.
Does Moelis & Company pay overtime?
No, Moelis & Company does not pay overtime. Compensation is structured as base salary plus discretionary year-end bonuses.
More Moelis & Company Resources
Sources
- Moelis & Company - Campus Recruiting. Moelis & Company (accessed 2026-05-14)
- Johnson Associates - Compensation Reports. Johnson Associates (accessed 2026-05-14)
- Wall Street Bonus Pool to Grow as Bank Revenue Boosted by Rally (2025). Bloomberg (accessed 2026-05-14)
- Moelis & Company - H1B Salary Filings (base salary disclosures). H1B Salary Database (accessed 2026-07-29)