In the world of finance, salaries and compensation are a key factor when choosing a career path. While investor relations may not have the glitzy reputation some other finance careers have represented in Hollywood hits like The Wolf of Wall Street or The Big Short, it’s often the case that money talks, wealth whispers.
IR Magazine’s annual Global IR Salary and Careers Report breaks down the expected salary range for investor relations professionals across the globe. You can access the report here. For the purposes of this article, all figures are in $USD.
Learn How To Get a Job in Investor Relations
Investor Relations Salaries
The global median salary in the 2022 report was $75k- $100k for IROs and up to $200k for Heads of IR. Notably, the highest salary and compensation ranges were found in North America and the lowest in Asia.
In addition to geography, the largest disparities in salary were evident when comparing companies based on market capitalization. Mega-cap companies had the highest average compensation, with over 75% of respondents reporting a six-figure salary. Salary disparities between small, medium, and large-cap companies were smaller, with only 25-40% of respondents reporting six-figure salaries.
Bonus Compensation For Investor Relations Professionals
Approximately 85% of IROs across all market caps reported earning a bonus on top of their salary, with bonus figures representing on average 28% of base salary. Heads of IR were even more likely to report receiving a bonus, with over 90% of those at medium cap or larger business reporting a bonus equivalent to on average 38% of their salary.
Investor relations is a unique role in that your efforts on the job can make a direct and measurable impact on your company’s valuation, making stock compensation a highly lucrative option for some.
Other Perks of Investor Relations
In addition to monetary compensation, investor relations professionals have the unique opportunity to build relationships with key executives across all areas of the business. Not only do investor relations professionals work closely with the CEO and CFO, IR professionals may also work closely with key figures in Legal, Communications, and Product, as well as the board itself. These relationships can be a helpful stepping stone for those looking to climb the corporate ladder.
Conclusion
Despite the quieter representation of investor relations professionals in popular media, Investor Relations is still a highly rewarding finance career. Investor relations salaries show a clear and proportionate increase in pay based on seniority and experience, and beyond monetary compensation, there is an unparalleled opportunity to work with top executives within your company.