Salaries: Private Markets & Alternatives – Q3 2026

The latest salary surveys

2026 Private Markets Compensation Outlook (Johnson Associates)

Johnson Associates explores five forces that are reshaping the private markets industry, each of which has a direct impact on 2026 compensation and carried interest.

Hedge Fund vs Private Equity Salaries (Mergers & Inquisitions)

Hedge fund compensation is more variable than private equity salaries plus bonuses, but at the junior levels, you’ll most likely earn a bit more in private equity.

Private Equity-Backed CFO Compensation Survey (Heidrick & Struggles)

Explore data from private equity professionals in North America and Europe on organizational structure and compensation for this critical role.

PE Salary, Bonus, and Carried Interest Levels (Mergers & Inquisitions)

A Managing Partner, aged 40+, can expect a combined base salary and bonus of $1-3 million, plus potential carry (as a percentage of cash compensation) of 200-400%.

VC Salaries by Role, City & Fund Size 2026 (VC Beast)

Complete 2026 salary and compensation data for every VC role — from first-year analyst to managing partner.

Private Credit Salary Guide 2026 (Wall Street Careers)

This guide covers the roles, salaries, top firms, and how to build a career in private credit in 2026.

How Much Do Hedge Fund Jobs Really Pay? (eFinancialCareers)

Hedge funds are home to some of the highest paid people in finance. Elite portfolio managers can make tens, if not hundreds of millions of dollars.

Private Equity Salary Australia: What You Actually Earn 2026 (LNK)

This article is a complete breakdown of private equity compensation in Australia — base salary, bonuses, carried interest, and how pay varies by fund size and seniority.

Asset Mgt., Hedge Fund, Private Equity Salary Guide (Heidrick & Struggles)

This tabular guide covers roles across: asset management, hedge funds, private equity, risk and compliance, and even back office.

Previous salary surveys

Australian Fund Management & PE Pay 2025 (Money Management)

This blog discusses Robert Walters’ Salary Guide 2025 examining the salary ranges for public markets fund management, private equity, and private credit.

VC Compensation & Carry Benchmarks 2025 (Rebel Fund)

The 2025 VC compensation landscape reveals significant disparities between junior and senior roles, particularly in seed-stage funds managing sub-$100M vehicles.

PE & Direct Lending German Compensation Review 2026 (Bohill Partners)

In this report, you will find an annual review of base salaries and bonuses for Germany-based professionals.