PRIVATE EQUITY CEO SALARY GUIDE

Private Equity CEO Salaries Overview

Explore executive compensation in the private equity sector with our in-depth Private Equity CEO Salary Guide.

Designed for investment partners, board members, and private equity recruiters, this guide delivers critical insights into CEO salaries across portfolio companies, fund structures, and geographies.

The Private Equity CEO Salary Guide presents a comprehensive breakdown of average compensation by portfolio company size, fund stage (early, growth, buyout), and industry vertical.

Why use our Private Equity Chief Executive Officer Salary Guide?

Our executive search practice is deeply embedded within the private equity ecosystem. We gather data directly from placed candidates, PE-backed CEOs, and hiring firms through our proprietary compensation surveys.

This hands-on methodology ensures that our Private Equity CEO Salary Guide is the most accurate and industry-relevant source available.

This isn’t generalist data. Our insights come from decades of work with private equity boards, operating partners, and C-level executives.

Whether you’re preparing for a CEO succession plan, negotiating a leadership package, or hiring for a high-growth portfolio company, our guide provides current, real-world figures.

How do we ensure accuracy?

We maintain one of the most comprehensive databases of private equity-backed executives in North America and Europe.

Our data includes not only base salaries for private equity CEOs, but also carried interest, equity grants, performance bonuses, and bespoke benefits like relocation support, legal fee coverage, and strategic advisory retainers.

Our approach reflects the nuanced compensation structures in private equity—where incentives are often aligned with value creation milestones and exit timing.

Average Private Equity CEO Salary by Company Size & Fund Stage

CEO pay in the private equity world is influenced by several factors:

Portfolio Company Size: CEOs leading $500M+ revenue businesses typically command higher compensation, driven by scale, P&L complexity, and growth targets.

Fund Stage: Early-stage and growth equity-backed firms may offer modest base pay but high upside via equity. Mature buyout firms tend to offer higher base packages with structured bonus schemes.

Industry Focus: Certain verticals such as technology, healthcare, and industrials carry premium pay due to their high growth potential and strategic value.

Ownership Horizon: CEOs brought in closer to exit often receive short-term incentives tied to valuation multiples, while earlier hires participate more fully in long-term equity growth.

Beyond salary, total compensation often includes generous equity packages, cash bonuses tied to EBITDA growth or strategic milestones, and exit-related incentives. Our guide outlines how these elements combine to form full compensation packages.

Private Equity CEO Salary by Region & Sector

Private equity CEO salaries vary by geography and sector specialization. For instance:

New York, San Francisco, and London: Expect higher base and bonus structures, reflecting competitive markets and concentration of mid-to-large-cap PE firms.

Middle America or regional hubs: Compensation may include relocation incentives or enhanced equity to attract talent.

Sector-specific benchmarks: A CEO in a high-growth SaaS business may command a different package than a CEO leading a manufacturing turnaround.

Use this section to:

• Benchmark pay by region and industry
• Set competitive compensation for high-impact hires
• Gain insight into private equity CEO salary expectations during acquisition, scale-up, or exit

Included in our Private Equity CEO Salary Guide:

• Average salary of a private equity CEO
• Salary ranges by company size and fund maturity
• Bonus and equity benchmarks
• Variations by industry vertical (e.g., SaaS, healthcare, consumer, industrials)
• Regional compensation trends
• Data-backed insights for private equity recruiters and operating partners

Download your Private Equity CEO Salary Guide today.