Private equity and venture capital salaries rise by up to 6% in 2026

Brazil’s private equity and venture capital sectors are demonstrating significant resilience in executive compensation, with total pay rising between 3% and 6% on average in 2026. According to the latest salary guide from Fox Human Capital, this growth persists despite a challenging macroeconomic environment and a contraction in regional deal volume. The trend is heavily influenced by performance-based bonuses, which remain a critical tool for talent retention as firms navigate global fundraising uncertainties.

The "PE&VC Salary Guide" by Fox Human Capital, derived from interviews with 506 executives across 302 companies, reveals that compensation grew in five of the six segments analyzed. While domestic sectors saw gains, international private equity experienced a slight decline of 1% to 3%, primarily due to currency fluctuations and a more restrictive global environment for fundraising and exits. Filippe Apolo, founding partner at Fox Human Capital, noted that annual total pay ranges from R$132,200 for M&A analysts to R$3 million for managing directors at investment banks. A standout feature of the sector is the impact of bonuses; for instance, an Analyst 1 in international private equity can see a total median pay of R$323,400 against a base salary of R$148,800, indicating that performance incentives often exceed 100% of fixed pay.

Current hiring activity is largely concentrated at the entry-level, as the broader market faces a period of contraction. Data from a KPMG report shows that while global private equity investment reached $2.1 trillion in 2025, Latin American transactions fell to 9,100—the lowest level in five years. Ricardo Welikson, a partner at Exec, observes that there are no clear signs of increased demand for senior-level managers, with most high-level movement consisting of professionals shifting between existing asset managers. Consequently, recruiters are prioritizing candidates who possess strong critical thinking skills and the ability to execute the entire "deal flow," from building investment theses to formalizing purchases.

Looking toward the future, industry experts anticipate that demand for new hires will remain constrained through the 2026 election year due to macroeconomic uncertainty. However, a significant rebound is expected in 2027, with demand for professionals projected to rise by 25% to 30% as the political and economic landscape stabilizes. In the interim, Fox Human Capital suggests that firms must focus on aggressive bonus structures and long-term incentives to prevent talent from migrating to other industries. The recruitment process remains highly specialized and rigorous, with the average time to hire a specialist currently standing at approximately 110 days.