Morgan Stanley Employee Salaries 2026: Average Pay & Compensation
Morgan Stanley employee salaries are estimated at $157,363 average pay in 2025-2026, with $141,627 median pay and $251,781 average total compensation. Compare Morgan Stanley employee salaries by role, level, bonus, equity, benefits, and New York, NY location context before evaluating an offer.
Average Salary
$157,363
$13,114/mo
Total Compensation
$251,781
base + bonus + equity
Employees
82K
large company
Rating
4.1
★★★★☆
Direct answer
Morgan Stanley employee salaries 2025-2026: average pay and compensation
The average salary for Morgan Stanley employees is estimated at $157,363 in 2025-2026, with median pay of $141,627 and average total compensation of $251,781 when bonus, equity, and incentive pay are included. Entry-level roles start around $94,418, senior roles average $251,781, and the highest listed role benchmark is Investment Banker at $205,000.
Reviewed by Brazora Monk · Page reviewed May 26, 2026 · Salary data last updated May 19, 2026. Source basis: employee-reported compensation, public filings where applicable, and BLS wage baselines; this is a planning estimate, not a guaranteed offer or internal HR pay band.
Search intent match
Morgan Stanley average employee salary, compensation and role pay
These are the four compensation questions people usually compare before applying to Morgan Stanley: average employee salary, average compensation per employee, salary by role, and salary range by level.
| Search question | 2026 answer | How to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Morgan Stanley average employee salary 2026 | $157,363 average base salary | Compare against the Finance peer average of $154,662. |
| Morgan Stanley average compensation per employee | $251,781 average total compensation | Separate base salary from bonus and equity before comparing offers. |
| Morgan Stanley employee salaries by role | Investment Banker: $205,000 | Quantitative Analyst: $181,000 | Actuary: $165,000 | Use role-specific benchmarks instead of negotiating from the company average alone. |
| Morgan Stanley salary range 2025-2026 | $94,418 to $251,781 across listed entry-to-senior levels | Adjust for level, team, location, bonus cycle, and New York, NY cost context. |
Company-specific pay benchmark
Morgan Stanley Employee Salaries by Role: 2025-2026 Snapshot
Morgan Stanley employee salaries average $157,363 base pay and $251,781 average total compensation in this 2025-2026 benchmark. Within Finance, that puts Morgan Stanley above the peer salary average of $154,662 by +2%. Use this snapshot to compare base salary, bonus potential, senior-level upside, and role-specific pay before accepting or negotiating an offer.
Vs. Finance peers
+2%
peer avg $154,662
Total comp position
+12%
peer avg $223,855
Role pay spread
$71,000
Financial Analyst to Investment Banker
Senior premium
+167%
senior vs entry-level salary
| Negotiation area | Morgan Stanley benchmark | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Base salary | $157,363 average, $141,627 median | Compare the offer against the Finance peer average and your exact role level. |
| Bonus target | 17% target, about $26,752 on average salary | Ask whether the target is guaranteed, discretionary, prorated, or tied to company performance. |
| Equity or incentives | 38% of estimated total comp is above base salary | Check vesting schedule, refresh grants, strike price or RSU value, and liquidity timing. |
| Location economics | New York, NY headquarters, $13,114 monthly average pay | Adjust for state taxes, local taxes, rent, commute cost, hybrid policy, and relocation support. |
Morgan Stanley Salary by Level
Salary progression from entry-level to director positions at Morgan Stanley.
Entry-level employees at Morgan Stanley earn around $94,418, while directors can earn $390,261 or more.
Morgan Stanley Average Pay by Role
| Role | Base Salary | Est. Total Comp |
|---|---|---|
| Investment Banker | $205,000 | $239,850 |
| Quantitative Analyst | $181,000 | $211,770 |
| Actuary | $165,000 | $193,050 |
| Risk Analyst | $142,000 | $166,140 |
| Financial Analyst | $134,000 | $156,780 |
Total compensation estimates include base salary and an average 17% bonus. Stock options/equity are offered but vary significantly by role and level.
Morgan Stanley Benefits & Perks
Morgan Stanley Salary Calculator
Select a role and experience level to estimate your salary at Morgan Stanley.
Mid Career (5-9 yrs)
Estimated Salary at Morgan Stanley
$190,000
$15,833/month · $91.35/hr
Est. total comp with 17% bonus: $222,300
About Morgan Stanley
Morgan Stanley is a leading finance company headquartered in New York, NY. With approximately 82K employees, it plays a significant role in the finance sector, offering competitive salaries and comprehensive benefits packages.
Headquarters
New York, NY
Founded
1935
Industry
Finance
Company Size
large
Employees
82,000
Median Salary
$141,627
Hourly Rate
$75.66/hr
Monthly Pay
$13,114
Morgan Stanley Employee Ratings
4.1
★★★★☆
Overall Rating
Similar Finance Companies
JPMorgan Chase
Citigroup
Wells Fargo
Bank of America
TD Bank
Marsh McLennan
Methodology & Sources for Morgan Stanley Salary Data
How we estimate Morgan Stanley compensation data: Our salary figures combine self-reported employee compensation data (Glassdoor, Levels.fyi, Comparably, Blind), SEC filings for public companies (DEF 14A proxy statements include executive compensation), and BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics for industry baselines. We weight recent data points (last 2 years) higher to reflect current market conditions.
- Base salary distribution aggregated from employee-reported data points. Morgan Stanley (founded 1935, 82K employees, headquartered in New York, NY) is in the Finance sector.
- Total compensation includes base salary, bonus, and where applicable, equity or other long-term incentives. At Morgan Stanley, bonuses vary by role, level, location, performance cycle, and business division.
- Level mapping normalizes role names across companies (Entry/Junior/Mid/Senior/Lead/Principal/Director) for cross-company comparison.
- Cost-of-living adjustment uses BLS regional CPI-U data when comparing Morgan Stanley's New York, NY salaries to other markets.
- Industry benchmarking compares Morgan Stanley compensation to BLS national averages for Finance sector occupations.
Authoritative compensation data sources:
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — national salary baselines for Finance
- SEC EDGAR — Company Filings — public company executive compensation in DEF 14A proxies
- BLS Industries at a Glance — Finance — sector employment, wages, productivity
- BLS Employment Cost Index — quarterly compensation trend data
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) — county-level wage data by industry
- DOL Wage and Hour Division — federal wage compliance and minimum wage
Disclaimer: Morgan Stanley compensation data is aggregated from multiple sources and reflects general patterns, not guaranteed offers. Actual salaries vary based on level, location, negotiation, performance, and equity vesting. For personalized career advice, consult HR professionals or executive coaches. For job offers, always negotiate based on multiple data points and your unique value.
Reviewed by Brazora Monk · Salary data last updated May 19, 2026 · Page reviewed May 26, 2026 · BLS data current as of latest annual release
Morgan Stanley Salary FAQ
What is the average salary at Morgan Stanley in 2026?
The average salary at Morgan Stanley is $157,363 per year in 2026. Entry-level positions start around $94,418, while senior professionals earn up to $251,781. Total compensation including bonuses and equity averages $251,781.
What benefits does Morgan Stanley offer?
Morgan Stanley offers a comprehensive benefits package including Health/dental/vision, Gym membership, Professional development budget, and 2 more benefits. The company also offers stock options or equity compensation. The average bonus is approximately 17% of base salary.
What are the highest paying roles at Morgan Stanley?
The highest paying roles at Morgan Stanley include Investment Banker ($205,000), Quantitative Analyst ($181,000), Actuary ($165,000). Executive-level positions can earn up to $409,144 or more annually.
How does Morgan Stanley compare to other Finance companies?
Morgan Stanley has a 4.1/5.0 employee rating and $157,363 average salary. Compared to peers like JPMorgan Chase and Citigroup, it offers above-average compensation in the Finance sector.
Is Morgan Stanley a good company to work for?
Morgan Stanley has a 4.1/5.0 overall rating and 3.3/5.0 work-life balance score. Employees generally rate the company highly. The company is headquartered in New York, NY and was founded in 1935, employing 82K people worldwide.
What is the total compensation at Morgan Stanley?
Total compensation at Morgan Stanley averages $251,781 per year, which includes base salary ($157,363), bonuses (approximately 17% of base), and equity or long-term incentive grants. Senior and executive roles can see significantly higher total compensation packages.
Explore More Company Salaries
Compare salary data for 285 top companies across all industries. Find out what you should be earning.