Making partner: Career progression at Goldman Sachs (2024)

Midterm elections aside, there’s another big round of promotions taking place in the U.S. this week, with Goldman Sachs set to announce its latest class of partners.

Goldman GS, +1.31% went public in 1999, meaning its partners — its highest-ranking staff — were no longer on the hook for losses, as they’d been in the past. Nevertheless, the bank took steps to maintain its partnership culture.

The biennial promotion round is still one of the most closely watched on Wall Street, and the 2018 list will draw particular attention, coming as it does just weeks after the elevation of David Solomon to chief executive of the bank.

Goldman has widely been touted to move away from a reliance on bond trading —a business line that defined the 12-year reign of CEO Lloyd Blankfein — under Solomon, with a focus on forging closer corporate ties expected.

The Wall Street Journal reported this week that Goldman’s 2018 class of partners was likely to be its smallest in 20 years, with around 65 employees getting the nod.

See: Partnership class shrinking at an increasingly exclusive Goldman Sachs under CEO David Solomon

The following is a run-through of how Goldman bankers make it to the top.

What is the path to partner at Goldman?

Goldman’s best entry-level analysts typically rise to become associates in around three years. Those who do not tend to leave the bank (voluntarily or otherwise). Three more successful years — give or take — will lead to a promotion to the rank of executive director or vice president. The best-performing EDs/VPs will eventually become managing directors — one level beneath partner.

Goldman’s MDs are all high-achieving bankers, fund managers and traders, but the step up to partner is never guaranteed. There is no limit to the amount of time an MD will stay at this level, and many will get passed over in promotion rounds before eventually getting the call from the CEO or moving on.

Who makes the decisions?

Those that make the cut are judged on more than their money-making credentials. They need top-notch managerial skills and must demonstrate a commitment to the bank’s culture and values.

A group of existing partners will solicit feedback on candidates from other managers and people who have worked closely with them — this process is known as “cross-ruffing.” A period of consultation with leaders of the candidates’ divisions follows before the successful few are personally given the good news by Goldman’s CEO or another member of the C-suite.

What’s life like at the top?

Being one of the 400-plus Goldman partners means holding a title still considered to be among the most coveted in finance. The financial benefits mean partners are able to share in the bank’s special partnership compensation pool. But there are other perks, too; Goldman has in the past run annual dinners for existing and former partners to keep the network going.

And what about after the partnership?

Partners who leave Goldman are certainly not short of opportunities in finance and elsewhere.

Former Goldman partners now run some of the world’s biggest financial companies, or hold top positions within them. Among their number is Pimco’s chief executive, Emmanuel Roman; JC Flowers & Co. co-founder and CEO J. Christopher Flowers; and London Stock Exchange UK:LSE boss David Schwimmer.

In politics, onetime Goldman CEO Hank Paulson went on to become U.S. Secretary of the Treasury under George W. Bush, while Mario Draghi, who’d been a managing director of the bank’s international division, is president of the European Central Bank. And then there’s Gary Cohn, who departed Goldman two years ago to join the Trump White House as chief economic adviser, departing that role in March.

Another big name to take note of is John Thornton, the former co-head of Goldman in London, who is now the executive chairman of Barrick Gold Corp. US:ABX.

Making partner: Career progression at Goldman Sachs (2024)

FAQs

How much do partners at Goldman Sachs make? ›

The estimated total pay for a Partner at Goldman Sachs is $563,031 per year.

What is the average tenure of a Goldman Sachs partner? ›

The average tenure of a partner is about eight years, in part because of natural attrition and retirements. Goldman insiders also note they have what they call an “up-and-out” culture, leading to the active management of the pool.

What is the career progression of Goldman Sachs? ›

Goldman's best entry-level analysts typically rise to become associates in around three years. Those who do not, tend to leave the bank (voluntarily or otherwise). Three more successful years, give or take, will lead to a promotion to the rank of executive director or vice-president.

What is the average age of a partner at Goldman? ›

Goldman added to its inner circle last week, when the firm named 58 new partners, a record crop. They are mostly in their 30's, and nearly all men, plucked from the ranks of the firm's more than 9,000 employees.

What is the salary level of a VP at Goldman Sachs? ›

The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. Jobs by Salary
Job TitleRangeAverage
Vice President (VP), OperationsRange:$70k - $168kAverage:$111,986
Financial AnalystRange:$49k - $86kAverage:$64,620
Operations AnalystRange:$45k - $69kAverage:$55,933
Vice President (VP), EngineeringRange:$117k - $215kAverage:$160,342
3 more rows

Who is the youngest partner at Goldman Sachs? ›

Fred Baba is one of Goldman's youngest partners at 34 years old.

What are the perks of being a Goldman Sachs partner? ›

A promotion to partner lends prestige — less than 1% of the entire firm are partners — but also has other privileges. In addition to base pay and bonuses typically north of $1 million, partners get access to private investment opportunities and a cut of profits from Goldman's investment funds. What do you think?

How much does a MD at Goldman Sachs earn? ›

As of Jun 12, 2023, the average annual pay for a Goldman Sachs Managing Director in the United States is $106,007 a year.

What are the highest paid positions in Goldman Sachs? ›

Highest paying jobs at Goldman Sachs
RankJob TitleAverage Goldman Sachs Salary
1Managing Director$274,338
2Vice President Research$170,311
3Finance Vice President$159,354
4Associate$127,037
11 more rows

What does a VP at Goldman Sachs do? ›

"VPs lead the layout of the presentations," says a Goldman banker. "They're responsible for making sure the pitch documents are put together and they will also have an active daily role in executing any deals that go ahead." A VP's domain is the day-to-day processes of a deal.

How long does it take to get promoted at Goldman Sachs? ›

Goldman's best entry-level analysts typically rise to become associates in around three years. Those who do not tend to leave the bank (voluntarily or otherwise). Three more successful years — give or take — will lead to a promotion to the rank of executive director or vice president.

How to become a partner in Goldman Sachs? ›

Making partner is a carryover from Goldman's history as a private partnership, which ended with its May 1999 public offering. The process of making partner hasn't changed much over there years. You have to run a significant business or have made the firm a lot of money, according to current partners.

Is Goldman harder to get into than Harvard? ›

Bagging a job at Goldman Sachs (GS)' is a phenomenon rarer than receiving an acceptance letter from Harvard University.

How many partners are there at Goldman Sachs? ›

Salaries go up. You also get access to a special portion of the bonus pool to share with the 400 or so other partners.

How many female partners does Goldman Sachs have? ›

The class is also the company's most diverse: among the new partners, a record 29% were women (from 27% in 2020) and 9% were Black (from 7%). Asian employees made up 24% of the class (up from 17%). However, the number of new Latino partners fell from 5% to 3%.

What is VP title at Goldman Sachs? ›

Goldman Sachs offers the title of Vice President to high performing employees, though the title typically does not come with any extra duties. However, it is necessary to become a Vice President at the company to be considered for further promotions to managing director or partner.

How much do top executives at Goldman Sachs make? ›

(GS. N) slashed compensation for its Chief Executive Officer David Solomon by 29% to $25 million for 2022, the bank said in a filing Friday. Solomon's pay comprises a $2 million base salary, $6.9 million cash bonus and $16.1 million in restricted stock. He was paid $35 million for 2021.

How much does a VP regional director make at Goldman Sachs? ›

How much does a Regional Director make at Goldman Sachs in the United States? The estimated average pay for Regional Director at this company in the United States is $82,186 per year, which is 15% below the national average.

What is the minimum net worth for Goldman Sachs? ›

Goldman Sachs Client Types and Minimum Account Sizes

In order to open an advisory or managed account, clients must have at least $1 million under Goldman Sachs' management or a net worth that exceeds $2.1 million. A client's total net worth can include assets that he or she holds jointly with a spouse.

How many black partners does Goldman Sachs have? ›

That 29% proportion marks an increase from 27% in 2020, the last year the bank named new partners. Goldman also promoted a greater share of Asian and Black employees to partner this time around. Asians represent 24% of the new class, up from 17% in 2020. About 9% of new partners are Black, up from 7% two years ago.

What is the salary of Goldman Sachs partner Glassdoor? ›

The estimated total pay for a Managing Partner at Goldman Sachs is $595,261 per year. This number represents the median, which is the midpoint of the ranges from our proprietary Total Pay Estimate model and based on salaries collected from our users.

Is it prestigious to work for Goldman Sachs? ›

Goldman Sachs & Co.

Goldman Sachs is widely known as the most prestigious investment bank on Wall Street. The bank's interns receive phenomenal training, hands-on experience, and the opportunity to rotate across many groups and desks.

Is working for Goldman Sachs prestigious? ›

Prestigious Reputation: Goldman Sachs is renowned as one of the leading global investment banks, providing a solid foundation for your professional profile and future opportunities.

What does partner mean at Goldman? ›

Published Thu, Nov 12 20203:50 PM EST. Hugh Son@hugh_son. WATCH LIVE. The firm on Thursday named 60 employees to the coveted rank of partner, the highest title at the New York-based bank and a nod to its history as a private partnership.

How to get promoted to MD at Goldman Sachs? ›

Candidates must demonstrate commercial effectiveness and an ability to enhance the value of the firm, which for front-office employees might mean you are bringing in business and your business ranks on the league tables or is profitable.

How long does it take to become a Goldman Sachs MD? ›

"It Takes Over 12 Years to Become an Investment Bank Managing Director." Mergers and Inquisitions. "Investment Banking Hours: Will You Really Work 105 Hours per Week at Goldman Sachs?"

What is the highest salary of Goldman Sachs analyst? ›

The typical Goldman Sachs Analyst salary is ₹18,00,000 per year. Analyst salaries at Goldman Sachs can range from ₹1,70,200 - ₹1,79,60,000 per year.

Does Goldman Sachs pay more than JP Morgan? ›

Key Takeaways. JPMorgan Chase (JPM) has outperformed Goldman Sachs (GS) slightly over the last five years in terms of stock price. JPM does pay a higher dividend yield at 2.2%, versus the 1.4% paid by GS. Market cap-wise, JPM is over 3.5 times the size of GS.

Does Goldman Sachs increase salary every year? ›

That made the average per employee compensation reach about $404,000 in 2021, up from $329,000 in 2020. The pay increase at Goldman largely tracked the year-over-year increase in non-interest revenues, a 33% jump to $52.9 billion, driven by a massive 55% gain in investment banking revenue.

Is Goldman the most prestigious? ›

Bankers continue to regard Goldman Sachs as the world's most prestigious bank, followed (as always) by Morgan Stanley and JP Morgan.

What are title levels at Goldman Sachs? ›

The structure of Goldman Sachs is best exemplified by its career advancement process. Recruits start as Analysts and are then promoted to Associate, Executive Director/Vice President, and occasionally, Managing Director.

What is the difference between VP and ED in Goldman? ›

The two titles are roughly equivalent, but ED is the term more commonly used in Europe while VP is used elsewhere. The new class comprises around 1,500 people in 45 offices worldwide. 48% are in the Americas, 28% are in Asia Pacific and just 24% are in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA).

How hard is it to get a full time job at Goldman Sachs? ›

With hundreds or thousands of applicants for every job opening, getting into this company is notoriously hard. In this article, we show you how to get a job at Goldman Sachs by breaking down the application and interview process and diving deep into the company culture and the career opportunities available.

How many hours a week at Goldman Sachs? ›

The well-known bulge bracket banks like Goldman Sachs, J.P. Morgan, and Bank of America tend to work analyst-level investment bankers at the industry standard scale of 60-80 hours per week.

What is the highest paying job at Goldman Sachs? ›

Managing Director

What do Big 4 partners make? ›

Big 4 partners get paid $450,000 a year, on average.

The Big Four are the top four accounting firms known for paying their staff high salaries (i.e., PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), KPMG, Ernst & Young (EY), and Deloitte).

What are the perks of Goldman Sachs partners? ›

A promotion to partner lends prestige — less than 1% of the entire firm are partners — but also has other privileges. In addition to base pay and bonuses typically north of $1 million, partners get access to private investment opportunities and a cut of profits from Goldman's investment funds. What do you think?

How many partners do Goldman Sachs have? ›

Salaries go up. You also get access to a special portion of the bonus pool to share with the 400 or so other partners.

What age do Big 4 partners retire? ›

In the United States, managing partners in most top 100 accounting firms have a mandatory retirement age of between 60 and 66, and certain Big 4 firms expect partners to retire as early as 55.

What is the average age of partners in the Big 4? ›

The average partner age remains steady at 53.0 years, as firms continue to replace retiring partners with younger ones. One in 14 firms has a partner group averaging age 60 and above, and one-third have an average partner age of 55 or older.

What is the average age to make partner at a law firm? ›

Average age to make partner at a law firm

The most common age to graduate law school is between 25 and 28 years old, so the average age to make partner probably falls somewhere around 35 to 38 years old.

How much does Goldman Sachs match for 401k? ›

Goldman Sachs matches 100% of the employee's 401(k) contributions each pay period up to 4% of the employee's base pay. Matched contributions become fully vested immediately.

What percentage of people get hired Goldman Sachs? ›

Among the revelations is the fact that every open job at the bank receives 300 applicants, a number suggesting that the average person applying to work at the bank has only a 0.33% chance of being successful. The good news is that it's easier to get any job at Goldman than an internship in particular.

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