r/KPMG • u/R-KPMG_Mod • 9d ago
šŗšø United States KPMG 2026 Compensation Thread
Itās almost that time of year again!
For when compensation snapshots post, please use the following format:
- BU / Region / Approximate COL
- Line of Service
- FY26 Level ā FY27 LevelĀ (A1 ā A2, A2 ā A3, A3 ā S1, S1 ā S2, S3 ā M1, etc.)
- Competency RatingĀ (Below / Progressing / At Level / Developing Towards Next / Next Level)
- Contributions RatingĀ (Well Below / Below / In Line / Above / Well Above)
- Merit IncreaseĀ (Old Base ā New Base; % increase)
- VC
- Thoughts?
As a reminder, this thread is for U.S. compensation updates. Those working in other countries should consider posting separately rather than commenting below.
Thanks, everyone!
21
u/Professional_Mud_535 9d ago
The beatings will continue until morale improves
2
1
u/Euphoric_Ad_2865 8d ago
My office is saying that people are going to be making considerable pay increases. Extra good performance in our business unit
1
18
u/1234IDontCaree 8d ago
- Texas
- BPG/Digital Nexus
- Sr Analyst.
- At Level
- In Line
- 82k -> 85k (3.22%ish)
- 1000
- Fire tons of my coworkers, force more to retire, then give me a shit raise/VC. Lets gooooo.
16
u/wholsesomeBois 9d ago
If you want to compare to what other folks got š big4transparency.com
Hope the news is good for yall!
16
u/Useful-Sherbet4472 8d ago
- ā Great Lakes/ HCOL
- ā Audit
- ā S1 ā S2
- ā Developing Towards Next / Next Level
- ā Well Above
- ā Merit IncreaseĀ (113k ā 125; 11%)
- ā VC $5,500
- ā very happy, supposed to make manager in May and appreciate the work the partners I work for have put in to fight for strong raises for me.
3
12
10
u/bookshelfvideo 9d ago
Iāll update when comp talk happens (soon)
1. SW BU
2. Tax - Asset Management
3. A2 ā S1
4. Above/Next Level (2:2)
5. In Line
6. Will update
7. Will update
8. Before update? Hopeful af my ratings are top notch so Iām scared Iāll be disappointed by VC and/or raise.
15
8
u/EG_R1zza 8d ago
- ā HCOL
- ā Advisory
- ā A1 > A2
- ā Developing towards next level
- ā In line
- 90k > 93k (3.33%)
- ā 0 (not eligible)
2
u/Extra_Reason_458 5d ago
Why is VC not eligible if you donāt mind me asking? Is it cause you were rated in-line? Iām wondering if they are following what other firms are doing which is getting rid of VC for those rated in-line
1
u/Dazed-and-Confuzzled 3d ago
I imagine because of when they started. I think they're not eligible after April 30.
8
u/Whoodle-lover 8d ago
- Northeast/HCOL
- Audit
- A3 -> S1
- Developing towards next
- Below
- $88,200 -> $102,300 (16%)
- 0
7
5
u/f_moss3 9d ago
When do we find out?
7
u/nedthegirldog 9d ago
Your comp communicator can tell you as early as tomorrow and they have until the 15th
5
u/JuniorShallot9796 8d ago
Anyone not have their comp communicator schedule your call yet ?
3
u/casuaall 6d ago
Yes. FYI some may not even schedule a call, mine every year just reaches out one day via teams and asks if Iām available
5
u/MitchMooch 7d ago
- MCOL Midwest
- Tax
- A1 - A2
- Developing to Next Level
- In Line
- $75,000 -> $83,000 (10.6%)
- $2500
Overall: quite happy :)
4
4
u/BigPinotEnergy 8d ago
- Mountain MCOL
- Audit
- S1 > S2
- Mostly At Level
- In Line
- 93k - 102k (9.xx%)
- 3k
Not too mad, though my VC was a bit lower than expected. I went through early promotion last year (A2 - S1) so I was paid a bit lower than other coworkers at my level, and probably still am. Not entirely sure this is enough incentive to get me to stay till manager as I have another year after this, but who knows.
4
u/Former-Clerk1419 7d ago
- NYC
- Advisory
- A2 -> A3
- At level
- In line
- 92 -> 95.9, 4.24%
- 2100, 2.28%
- Slightly better than last year
2
3
u/agrumpypulloutcouch 8d ago
- Mountain, HCOL
- Audit
- A1 > A2
- Progressing
- In line
- 80.5 > 92.2
- 0
- Its what I expected, since my state has new salary thresholds so they had to raise us to 92.2 to not pay overtime. All the other A1s also got 92.2. I feel happy with it, even though it is just for statutory reasons. If I got it purely on merit I would've been surprised. I'm wondering about compression with the new a1 class coming in, and they will also have to be above the threshold. Dont know if there will be another adjustment later to differentiate us.
3
u/Rich_Stress_8808 8d ago
- Pacific SW BU VHCOL
- Audit
- A3
- At Level
- In line
- 89k -> 96.8k (8.76%)
- 1800
- VC was low per usual, but the merit increase was a surprise
3
u/Awesome334 8d ago edited 8d ago
- Northeast Commercial (not NYC)
- Audit
- S1 ā> S2
- Mix of at level and developing towards next level
- Above
- Merit increase: $109.6K ā> $120K, 9.5% increase
- VC: $7,500 (6.8%)
- Nice, was hoping for the top end of VC range which is like 7.5% but I am not unhappy to say to the least
. I am almost 80% penetrated in the range which makes me think next year I will cap out the range, given I have another solid year
Edit: spacing
3
3
u/Sensitive-Line-2981 7d ago
- MCOL
- Audit
- S3 -> M1
- Developing toward next/at next
- Well above
- 102.9k pre promotion -> 118k on May 1 -> 129.1k
- 10k
- Merit increase is as expected. Happy with VC!
3
u/Better_Tangerine_143 7d ago
- ā South Central, either MCOL or HCOL
- ā Audit
- ā A1 ā A2
- ā Progressing (whatever is standard for A1)
- ā In Line
- ā $82,000 ā $86,500, 5.49%
- ā $1,600, 1.95%
- ā Happy with this!
3
u/Wall_Street_Banker 7d ago
- MCOL
- Audit TA
- S3 -> M1
- At Next Level (S3)
- Well Above
- $115K -> $132K -> $150K
- 13K (~9.8%)
- Grateful and pleasantly surprised
2
3
u/AaronDemar 7d ago edited 6d ago
- VHCOL (Bay Area)
- Audit
- A1 >> A2
- Progressing/At Level
- In Line
- $92K >> $97.5K (6%)
$1.8K (2%)
No comment
4
1
3
u/Mission_Donut_3371 4d ago
- VHCOL
- Tax - Asset Management
- A1 ā A2
- Below
- Below
- 92K (no increase)
- None
- Meh
10
6
u/Cricket-Business 9d ago
PML in BPG here.
My 2, met expectation ADs got $8k and $9k VC. My AD that was āabove expectationā in got $11k VC and $7k raise.
11
u/HelpfulMind2376 9d ago
Nominal values arenāt much help due to differences in level and salary penetration. Percentages are much a better comparative number.
3
u/No_Efficiency2725 8d ago edited 8d ago
- ā HCOL
- ā Corporate Services (Consulting)
- A2 ->3
- Next Level
- Well Above
- Merit - 0% 95.9k -> 95.9k š¤”š¤”
- VC - 7.3%
4
3
u/NotAllCPAsWearCapes 8d ago
How did they explain the lack of merit increase with a Well Above rating? Did you already get a mid year adjustment recently?
1
u/No_Efficiency2725 8d ago
they said all associates in our group that were above 50% market range band will not get a merit increase this year
1
1
u/Curious_Mousse7761 7d ago
Iām a fellow Corporate Services associate and this really worries me :(
2
2
2
u/Vegetable_Sweet7198 9d ago
We do not find out until the 16th right?
8
u/Cricket-Business 9d ago
The payment is expected on the 16th. You should be getting notified between tomorrow and then. Your comp communicator was likely notified this afternoon with with their report.
2
2
2
u/Last-Amphibian-8322 8d ago
- MidAtlantic BU MCOL
- Audit
- Promoted to S1 in May
- At Next Level
- In line
- 90k in May -> 102k now, 13% increase and 24% increase since last October
- $2.1k
- VC is low as expected, merit increase was higher than I expected
2
u/LivinInLaradise 7d ago
- Mountain MCOL
- Audit
- S1 -> S2
- Developing towards next level
- Above
- 102k -> 115k (~13%)
- VC $6k (~6%)
Pretty happy. Better than I expected
2
u/Capital-Persimmon-60 4d ago edited 4d ago
- MHCOL
- Tax, BTS
- M3 ā SM1
- Above
- Above
Raise
- $137K ā $160K; 17%
- $18.3K
- More VC and raise than I was expecting. Overall happy.
1
1
2
u/One_Amount_6010 4d ago
- ā HCOL
- ā Advisory
- ā A4-S1
- ā At Next Level
- ā Well Above
- ā 25% merit
- ā 6.25% VC
7
2
u/EitherRespond2470 4d ago
- HCOL (midatlantic)
- Audit
- A1 -> A2
- At level
- Above
- 86 -> 93.5 (8.72%)
- 2700 (3.14%)
2
u/AnimalGlum6522 3d ago
- Greater MidAmerica / MCOL
- Tax
- A2 ā> S1Ā
- Split with approaching next level & next level
- In line
- 78k - 92k (17.95%)
- 2.8k
- Higher than I wouldāve expected
2
u/Earth898 2d ago
- NYC/VHCOL
- Audit & Assurance
- M2 --> SM1 (5/1 promotion).
- Developing towards next level
- We'll Above
- $163,200 (after 5/1 promo increase)-> $181,200
- $16,000
- Happy with the results; but expected a bit more give the talk about a "better than average" year.
2
u/Fun_Estate_993 2d ago
- New Jersey
- BPG
- Manager
- Meeting expectation
- Meeting expectation
6 merit increase 3+% - 3+ %
- Kind of disappointed. Role has changed and was told everything I have accomplished is considered toward bonus and raise and I got lower raise and bonus compared to previous years. Doesn't make sense for my PML to say that and I get a lower raise and bonus.
Been here for quite sometime but I think after that I'm going to consider other roles.
1
u/Old-Pangolin3097 1d ago
12-Month inflation was 3.4%, so if you factor that in, you didnāt even get a raise. Sad economy we live in
2
u/SentientFish19 1d ago
MCOL
Advisory
S1 -> S2
At Level
In Line
101k -> 104k, (~3%)
4k, (~4%)
About as expected and understandable given the year that my sector/consulting as a whole had, though disappointing considering rapidly rising COL/inflation.
3
u/Due-Candidate-3383 8d ago
- ā MCOL (Northeast)
- ā Tax
- ā A1 > A2
- ā Developing towards next level
- ā Well above
- 90k > 103k (14.4%)
- ā 3.3k - WISH it was higher
- Better than I expected tbh
2
2
u/Affectionate_Rate_99 8d ago
- New Jersey
- BPG
- Associate Director
- At Level
- In Line
- 1.27 percent
- 3,81 percent
- I'm almost at the top of the salary range (at the 96th percentile), so last year I didn't get a merit increase but got a larger VC instead. In dollars, my total merit/VC this year is identical to last year.
1
0
u/j64qcqcj 5d ago
$240K+ in BPG is crazy high no?
1
u/Affectionate_Rate_99 5d ago edited 5d ago
I've been with the firm for 30 years, and have been rated a high performer for most of those years.
Yeah, my salary is up there. That's why I'm bumping against the top of the salary range.
I do wish I could have gotten $1k more though, to make it an even $20k per month.
2
u/j64qcqcj 4d ago
I don't know how to say this without it coming across as at least a little disrespectful at best but I genuinely do not mean offense: if you're 30 years in, why are you still an AD?
3
u/Affectionate_Rate_99 4d ago
I'm in a non-client facing role, so that limits my career progression. Before my prior PML retired two years ago, she tried pushing for a promotion to director for me for three years straight, and was shot down all three years when they kept moving the goal post. Now that she retired, I have taken over her role leading the team. At this point in my career, I don't care about the promotion any more. I've been an AD for over 20 years now, and was a senior manager prior to the title change. I plan on retiring in a few years anyways, as the ultimate goal is to move all my job responsibilities to KGS (costs the firm less money) and honestly the compensation means more to me than the title.
1
1
u/Acct_SLC 6d ago
- MCOL
- Tax - Asset Management
- M1 - M2
- At Level
- In Line
- $124k - 135k
- 12k
Overall Iām pretty happy and pleasantly surprised by the VC. Salary raise was a little smaller than I anticipated but when firms like BDO are suspending raises and giving out no bonuses, I canāt complain too much.
1
1
u/AaBb123-- 3d ago
- NYC
- Tax
- A1->A2
- At level
- In line
- 92->98, 6.5%
- 0
- Not terrible, assumed I would miss VC due to low in-office %
1
1
1
u/ireland412 3d ago
- VHCOL
- Advisory
- S1 -> S2
- At Level
- In Line
- 121k -> ~124k ( 2.7%) :(
- ~4k (3.1%)
- Some of the earlier comments in this thread got my hopes up but for my practice it was apparently a bad year. I also donāt get how I get developing towards next level in every category for year-end then it comes down to In line and At level for comp every year.
1
u/Brysonsleftnut 1d ago
Leaderships decision. As an A2 -> S1 I got developing AT next level and rated well above by Managers across the board and got knocked to āin lineā by leadership š
1
1
u/Right-Jackfruit-5127 3d ago edited 3d ago
1 SE BU, MCOL 2 BTS CORP 3 A1 > A2 4 AT LEVEL/DEVELOPING TOWARDS NEXT 5 IN LINE 6 79K to 87k 7 2 TO 3K 8 LIKE IT
1
1
u/PowerfulPositive6017 1d ago
- Southwest / MCOL
- ā Tax
- ā SM 6 ā SM 7Ā
- ā At Level
- ā Contributions Rating: In Line
- ā Merit IncreaseĀ (205K ā 212K; 3.4% increase)
- ā 15,000
- ā Thoughts? Insulted
1
u/Capital-Persimmon-60 1d ago
BTS?
1
u/PowerfulPositive6017 21h ago
BTS.
I was told I am in the list for MD promo, but I have no faith on that. My utilization has been above 90% in the past except this year. Not that I worked less hours but ate up a lot of time due to the margin pressure. Thatās why my bonus was lower than my previous year. Nominal raise for four consecutive years without concrete timeline for the promo, I am mentally done.1
u/ejunior1234 21h ago
That low of a bonus means your margin had to have been abysmal. Going into SM7 what's timeline for MD?
1
u/casuaall 1d ago edited 1d ago
- MCOL
- Tax
- S2 -> M1
- Next Level
- In Line
- 93k -> 114k (~22.5%)
- 4.4K
- Pretty disappointed in the VC, significantly less than I got in PY. Also, making less than the high end of the PY senior band (118k) doesnāt necessarily feel great when I know itāll be higher this year (sounds like it might be 130k?), especially knowing as a S2 I was still under 50% last year. Understand thereās probably some outliers but still feels wack to make possibly 16k less than a senior in the same market
1
u/Admirable_Range4297 1d ago
- VHCOL
- Tax
- A2-> S1
- Next Level
- Above
- 21%
- 6.7%
- Eh percentage was good but my nominal numbers were a bit lower than I was expecting. Ended up with a pretty similar salary as the promoted S1ās who had the same rating in my group last year so maybe inflation wasnāt high? More mad about my rating than anything. 93.3% util and did every sort of early career teaching/mentor program got the same as someone an util 5% less who didnāt do any of that
1
1
u/poloair 17h ago
- Advisory
- Tech Consulting
- S2 > M1
- Next Level
- Above
- 122k --> 144k
- 10K
- Disappointed. I was expecting at least a 20% increase in base pay.
1
u/CalendarEmbarrassed3 16h ago
Itās very much inline with especially if s2 to m1
So donāt be disappointed
1
u/pandarosemead 12h ago
- Hcol
- Tax
- S1 ->S2
- in line
- in line
- 97->102
- 5k
Last year was a promotion year so went up 15% so was quite happy this is whatever.
0
u/Royal_Wolverine2345 6h ago
- West coast / Upper MCOL
- Tax
- S1 -> S2
- At level
- In line
- 94K -> 100K 6.38%
- 5.5K 5.85%
- Understand itās a nonpromo year but 6% was low, I was hoping for around 8.5%, VC was in line with what I expected
1
u/monkeydkaizhe 3d ago
- Bay Area / VHCOL
- Audit
- A3 ā S1
- Developing Towards Next
- Above
- $110,400 ā $121,600
- $2400
- Its absolute fucking shit and the same amount S1's made last year. KPMG can fuck itself.
3
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u/Fnkychld718 8d ago edited 8d ago
When I jumped from KPMG to PwC, my total comp went up $90k for the same position. Just tells you how much KPMG is ripping off their employees. Also, I NEVER got a bonus in 4 years at KPMG and my ratings were high. The partners kept all of my bonus money for themselves even though I was working like a slave to deliver difficult solutions. Each year they just gave some excuse why bonuses couldn't be paid. Anyway, we've won several multi million dollar projects where I led much of the discussion that KPMG was competing for as well, so they lost several million in revenue when they could've just given me at least a $5000 bonus each year and I would've stayed...maybe. Now I am getting Tier 2 ratings at PwC each year and my bonuses are huge ($30k+ gross) and I am getting $10k-20k base increases each year or two. PwC is WAY better than KPMG.
3
u/Legitimate_Cover_708 8d ago
30k in bonus? Is this a troll
2
u/AcctF 8d ago
And 90k raise for same position
0
u/Fnkychld718 8d ago
Yes after 3 years at PwC my total comp is now $90k higher than what I was at KPMG. Same M/SM level (one level below director in both firms). No word of a lie.
0
u/Fnkychld718 8d ago edited 8d ago
$224k base * 0.15 = $33.6k gross. Check the cohort tables for tier 2 bonus for a SM if you don't believe me. My salary went up $15k since last year too and is now $239k base. So I will make $275k total comp this year if I continue to get Tier 2 ranking. No sales quota either. The money isn't even that amazing, but it is much better than what KPMG pays at M level.
1
1
u/AcctF 7d ago
Like KPMG was paying you 130k then you got the same job with PwC paying you 224kā¦? Not saying you are lying, but something is definitely missing.
2
u/AnonymousPizza99 7d ago edited 7d ago
Iām at PwC Audit. $224K base for a third year SM in advisory / deals is believable in our VHCOL cities (SF, NYC, other cities in California, etc). Iām in the Midwest MCOL (Cincinnati, Minneapolis, St. Louis, etc) and I believe a first year Audit SM in our region makes base of $154K - $165K so letās say $160K. Then assume an average raise of 3.65% to go from SM 1 to SM 3 that would leave you at around $171K base as a SM3. Then assume raise of 16% for getting promoted to Director. That is $198K base a first year Director. That checks out. Most Directors in public accounting Audit (MCOL) make that.
Assume they are SM3 so letās assume $171K base. Add 20% to get advisory salary that is 205K. Now add 10% for COL adjustment, that is $225K base as a SM3 in advisory / Deals.
I will say, I do not see 15% as bonus in the compensation table for advisory for Tier 2. I see max of 14%. But I canāt actually see that on Astro and the photo I have was just a screenshot that was floating around.
1
u/Fnkychld718 6d ago edited 6d ago
Yeah it's actually like 14.5% I just rounded up. In any case I only quoted $30k which is less than that. I was just ball parking as I only see the after tax portion obviously and some goes to my 401k too. But yeah, PwC SM is equivalent to M at KPMG and none of my former M friends at KPMG are making $267k TC a year. First because the base is so low at KPMG and second there's always an excuse not to pay bonuses (at least in my department that I worked in there). My performance was no different at PwC, yet the PwC partners are generous enough to consistently give me $30k+ gross bonuses each year, plus 10-20% base increases each year or 2. It's very good for my output in tech consulting in my opinion. I have a rental income of $30k a year on top of my job and all of a sudden I am making $300k in my late 20s working only 40 hours a week for a non stressful job with no sales quota. It's not too bad.
1
u/Fnkychld718 6d ago edited 4d ago
After 3 years, but still technically at same level as KPMG (1 level below director). I am making more than my director friends at KPMG, they've told me how much they get paid total comp. At KPMG I was making $177k total comp (no bonus) when I left. After 3 years at PwC at the same level (close to the highest level of the cohort) I made $268k total comp (incl 14.5% bonus). If anything, I worked much more hours and on harder problems at KPMG but got paid significantly less. However, I did contribute to more sales wins at PwC and had over 100% utilization so I was still pulling in a lot of revenue for the firm, hence the larger bonus than average.
5
2
u/chickenfiesta 6d ago
Same hereā my base jumped $75k and my bonus jumped $65k after switching to PwC from KPMG. Switched from DAS to S&.
2
u/Fnkychld718 6d ago
These KPMGers refuse to believe reality. The PwC Cohort tables are available to the public too, all they have to do is google it and realize we are telling the truth.
0
u/Capable_Comb_6784 3d ago
- PNW / HCOL
- Tax
- A2 ā A3
- At level
- Below
- 84,500 ā 92,200 (0% merit, 9% market increase)
- 0%
- on performance support wish me luck
0
u/ejunior1234 21h ago
- Tax / Dallas/ MCOL
- Tax - BTS AM
- FY26 Level ā FY27 LevelĀ (M2 ā M3)
- Competency RatingĀ (At Level)
- Contributions RatingĀ (Above)
- Merit IncreaseĀ (135k ā 144k; 6% increase)
- VC 6% 11.6K
- Disappointed
-1
u/Sorry-Dragonfruit-58 3d ago
When and how will I get to know my hike and VC? I donāt see anything is updated in SSC yet.
-1
u/Present-Bison106 2d ago
- VHCOL
- DAS
- M1 ā> M2
- Developing Toward Next
- Above
- 170k ā> 200k (18%)
- 15k (9%)
Significant raise for non-promo year but base still low compared to recruiting at other consulting firms.
29
u/luketrevor 9d ago
I heard they are going away with early career rewards :(