Lead Equity Research Analyst Salary.
Across 81 U.S. cities.
$168,000
national median salary
$145,000 to $201,000. Last updated August 2026.
Orbyt prices 10 titles at this same figure, including Lead Financial Analyst, Lead FP&A Analyst, and Lead Quantitative Strategist. Orbyt does not hold title-level wage data that would separate them.
Government benchmark for this occupation
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $102,740 for Financial and Investment Analysts (SOC 13-2051) across the United States, based on 361,980 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$63,720
25th percentile
$79,290
Median
$102,740
75th percentile
$133,340
90th percentile
$180,860
Workers surveyed
361,980
What BLS published in each release
May 2024 release
$101,350
May 2025 release
$102,740
These are two separate published estimates, not a time series. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not encourage the use of OEWS data for time-series analysis. Differences between releases reflect changes in occupational classification, survey methodology, and the three-year pooled sample as well as any change in pay, so the two figures should not be read as a rate of wage growth.
Why this differs from the estimate above. The Orbyt estimate of $168,000 is 64% higher than this published figure. That is usually not an error in either number: BLS reports by occupation code, and Financial and Investment Analysts covers a different population than the Lead Equity Research Analyst title as it is typically advertised. Both are shown, unreconciled, so you can judge which one describes the job you mean.
BLS publishes wages by occupation code, not by job title, so this figure covers every role mapped to Financial and Investment Analysts (SOC 13-2051) rather than Lead Equity Research Analystspecifically. The national range at the top of this page is Orbyt’s role-level estimate, which is a different thing and is labelled as such.
View the BLS source for SOC 13-2051Highest Paying
$234,000
San Jose, CA
Best Purchasing Power
$175,000
Portland, OR
Lowest Paying
$134,000
Charleston, WV
The salary figures on this page are computed estimates, not observed wages. Each one is a national role baseline scaled by a Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parity cost-of-living multiplier (2025 index) and rounded to the nearest $1,000. No published wage percentile is consulted and no wage survey response enters the calculation, so an Orbyt estimate must not be cited as a Bureau of Labor Statistics figure or as measured pay. The published wage data Orbyt holds is Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, and Department of Labor H-1B Labor Condition Application filings, which record a filed minimum visa base wage rather than market pay. Where BLS publishes a wage for the occupation a role maps to, it is shown on that role's page as a separate benchmark, labelled with its occupation code, metro area and the number of employed workers it covers. Last updated August 2026. This role maps to BLS occupation code 13-2051. Full methodology.
Orbyt estimates the average Lead Equity Research Analyst salary in the United States at $168,000 in 2026, within a range of $145,000 to $201,000. These figures are Orbyt estimates, computed rather than measured, and must not be cited as Bureau of Labor Statistics figures; the published BLS wage for the occupation this role maps to is shown separately on this page. This figure is not specific to this title: Orbyt prices 10 titles at the same estimate. San Jose is the highest of the 81 cities at $234,000, while Portland offers the best purchasing power after cost-of-living adjustments. Lead Equity Research Analyst compensation is driven by publication record, domain specialization, and whether the work involves production model training or applied research.
Lead Equity Research Analyst salary by city.
Skills that increase Lead Equity Research Analyst pay.
The skills below command measurable salary premiums for Lead Equity Research Analysts based on job posting data. Learning the top skill here could add $23,520 to your annual compensation.
≈ +$23,520 per year
≈ +$21,840 per year
≈ +$20,160 per year
≈ +$18,480 per year
≈ +$18,480 per year
≈ +$16,800 per year
≈ +$16,800 per year
≈ +$15,120 per year
What you should know.
Lead Equity Research Analyst compensation is driven by publication record, domain specialization, and whether the work involves production model training or applied research. Base salary carries most of the total compensation, with bonuses adding roughly 8% in a typical year. Within finance and business operations, licensure (CFA, CPA, FP&A) and industry (tech, banking, consulting) shift the compensation band by 20–40%.
Lead Equity Research Analysts progress from entry to senior over 5 to 10 years, with principal and staff levels typically requiring a PhD or equivalent publication-backed expertise. For Lead Equity Research Analysts specifically, the seniority anchor typically means 7 to 12 years of experience with demonstrated independent scope.
Total compensation for Lead Equity Research Analysts runs roughly $153K at median when factoring base + typical bonus (~8% of base). Base salary carries most of the compensation; benefits (healthcare, 401(k) match, PTO) add an estimated 15–25% in imputed value on top. In corporate finance and banking, bonus is a major component and can double the base in top-performing years (investment banking) or add 20–40% (corporate finance).
Total compensation breakdown.
Salary by company size
Remote salary adjustment
Remote Lead Equity Research Analysts typically earn $148,000 (12% less than on-site). This reflects location-adjusted pay policies at companies using geographic salary bands. Some companies pay flat national rates regardless of location.
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Common questions about Lead Equity Research Analyst pay.
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