Venture capital salary, by level
A venture capital associate in Europe earns a base salary of $95k to $120k with a modest cash bonus, so roughly $140k in total. Partner cash reaches about $505k. Cash is the small half of venture compensation: carry is long-dated, and fund size drives pay more than seniority does.
Seed funds run small management fees and pay accordingly. Growth funds pay closer to private equity. The same job title means very different money at the two ends.
Every level
| Level | Base | Bonus | Total (mid) | Reached at |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Analyst | $70k to $90k | 10% to 30% | $95k | On joining |
| Associate | $95k to $120k | 15% to 40% | $140k | 2y |
| Senior Associate | $120k to $150k | 20% to 50% | $185k | 4y |
| Principal | $150k to $205k | 25% to 60% | $255k | 6y |
| Partner | $230k to $380k | 30% to 100% | $505k | 9y |
Aggregated and rounded from several published data sets. Ranges, not offers. Compare all five tracks.
What the cash figures leave out
Cash is the small half. Carry is long-dated and highly uncertain, a fund can take a decade to return capital, and most junior hires leave before any of theirs vests. Seed funds run small management fees and pay accordingly; growth funds pay closer to private equity.
Weighing it against something else
Other tracks
For what these jobs involve day to day and how people get into them, see the career track map. For live application windows, the opportunity tracker.
Getting to the next rung
Analyst to associate
Most people arrive here from a banking analyst job. This is that decision, including when to stay and when to move across.
Buyside Recruitment Bootcamp
The headhunter playbook, the modelling test and the case, for anyone crossing into private equity, hedge funds or asset management.