Private Banking & Wealth Mgmt · VP

Investment Counselor – Private Wealth Salary

Compensation benchmarks from 255 verified sources including industry surveys, published reports, and market intelligence.

National Compensation Range

P25

$120,000

25th percentile

P50

$155,000

Median

P75

$195,000

75th percentile

CANDIDATE MARKET

Competitive

Scarcity: 5/10

EST. CANDIDATE POOL

80-200

Active candidates nationally

DEMAND TREND

Stable

6% year-over-year

RETENTION

4.5 yr avg tenure

15% annual turnover

Investment Counselor – Private Wealth Salary by City

New York City, NY$215,000
San Francisco, CA$200,000
Palm Beach, FL$200,000
Boston, MA$195,000
Los Angeles, CA$185,000

Median (P50) adjusted for metro cost of labor.

Market Trends

CFA increasingly mandatory. Growing demand for alternative investment expertise. ESG integration now expected.

Also Known As

Investment Advisor – Private Banking, Wealth Investment Specialist, Private Client Investment Consultant

What Does an Investment Counselor – Private Wealth Do?

The Investment Counselor – Private Wealth operates within private banks, wealth management firms, and trust companies, serving high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth clients with investment advisory, estate planning, and banking services. Professionals in this role typically bring 5 to 10 years of relevant experience. Classified at the VP level, this position draws from a competitive candidate pool, though specialized qualifications and sector-specific experience remain key differentiators in hiring.

What Drives Investment Counselor – Private Wealth Compensation?

The median (P50) compensation for an Investment Counselor – Private Wealth is $155,000, with the 25th to 75th percentile range spanning $120,000 to $195,000. The 48% spread between P25 and P75 reflects significant pay variation driven by book size and client AUM, revenue generated, client segment (HNW vs. UHNW), product complexity, regulatory licensing, and the firm's compensation model (salary + bonus vs. revenue share). Demand for this role is trending upward with 0.06% year-over-year growth, which is putting upward pressure on compensation at all levels.

Investment Counselor – Private Wealth Career Path

Professionals who move into Investment Counselor – Private Wealth roles most commonly come from institutional banking, financial advisory, trust and estate law, investment management, or family office operations. From this position, the typical trajectory leads toward managing director and market head positions, regional leadership, or transitioning to independent RIA or multi-family office platforms. The average tenure in this role is approximately 4.5 years, with an annual turnover rate of 15%.

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