Private Equity Analyst
PE Analysts evaluate whole companies and decide whether they're worth buying.
Don't just read it — play it
Clock in at 9am and make the calls a Private Equity Analyst makes all day. Six decisions, real consequences, a score at 5pm.
What this role really is
Private equity is where many banking analysts go next, and a few firms now hire directly out of undergrad. You model acquisitions, dig through diligence materials, and help decide how to make an owned company more valuable. The work is intense, the pay is high, and the bar for precision is unforgiving.
- Build LBO and returns models
- Run diligence on target companies
- Write investment memos
- Support portfolio companies post-close
- Track industry deal activity
What it pays
- Entry level
- $120k–$180k
- Mid career
- $250k–$400k
- Senior
- $500k+
60–80 hours, spiking during live deals
Majors that get you here
Entry roles: PE Analyst · Investment Analyst · Growth Equity Analyst · PE Summer Analyst
Your 9-to-5, hour by hour
A realistic ordinary day — not the highlight reel.
9:30 AM
Deal screen
Three inbound opportunities. You kill two in an hour with quick math.
11:00 AM
Model build
You layer debt onto the operating case and test returns at three exit multiples.
2:00 PM
Diligence call
You question management about customer churn and don't accept the first answer.
5:00 PM
Memo writing
You draft the investment thesis and the three reasons this could fail.
9:00 PM
Partner comments
Feedback arrives. You rework two sections before midnight.
Great for you if
- You like businesses, not just spreadsheets
- You're competitive and detail-obsessed
- You want compounding earnings early
Probably not for you if
- You want balance in your twenties
- You dislike being wrong in public