MM&K Launches its 31st Annual PE/VC Compensation Survey

MM&K’s annual PE/VC Compensation Survey continues to provide one of the industry’s most established benchmarks for compensation, incentives and workforce trends across private capital. The market is shifting rapidly. Compensation structures, talent strategies and organisational models are changing in ways firms can no longer ignore. The 2026 survey will capture those changes and provide firms with the data needed to make informed decisions.

Why does the survey matter?

Firms are facing new pressures around talent attraction, retention and long-term alignment. At the same time, operating models are evolving and expectations are changing. Reliable market data matters more than ever.

The MM&K PE/VC Compensation Survey helps firms understand:

• How peers are rewarding talent
• How incentive structures are changing
• How organisational models are evolving
• Where competitive pressures are emerging
• The trends shaping future decisions.

What will the survey explore?

The survey will examine compensation trends across the private capital landscape, including:

• Base salary movements
• Bonus structures and quantum
• Carried interest participation and vesting
• Long-term incentive plans
• Benefits and reward frameworks
• Team structures and workforce trends.

The survey also looks beyond compensation numbers. It examines how firms are adapting to changing business priorities and talent expectations.

What early signals are already emerging?

Several themes are beginning to attract attention.

AI may already be reshaping organisational structures. Fewer Partners and fewer Senior Partners could signal the start of leaner PE hierarchies.

Long-term incentives remain relatively uncommon. Only 20% of firms currently use LTIs, raising questions around future talent strategies. Read more in our Culture is just as critical to success as operational performance article published in the March edition of our Newsletter.

Traditional approaches to carry may also be shifting. Ten-year vesting schedules appear less fixed than before.

Meanwhile, salary growth continues despite softer market conditions. Median salary increases reached 9% in 2025, reinforcing the ongoing competition for talent. The full picture is still developing.

The 2026 survey will determine whether these are isolated signals or broader market trends.

Why participate?

The value of any benchmark depends on the quality and breadth of participation. Contributing firms receive access to stronger market intelligence and more meaningful comparisons.

As the industry evolves, firms need more than assumptions. They need evidence. The 31st annual MM&K PE/VC Compensation Survey will provide exactly that.

For further information or to participate, please contact Margarita Skripina margarita.skripina@mm-k.com.

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