How much can a lowly risk professional earn in this day and age? Try £300k for a European head of credit and £100k for a mid-ranking credit risk professional with three years’ experience, according to a salary survey courtesy of risk recruiters GRS. The overall conclusion? Work in a hedge fund.

Credit risk management pay in investment banking 2008/2009

European head of credit risk: Average salary: £150k, average bonus: up to 100%.

Emerging markets risk (five years’ experience): Average salary: £75k, average bonus: up to 50%.

Structured credit/leveraged finance risk (five years’ experience): Average salary: £90k, average bonus: up to 80%.

Corporate risk (five years’ experience): Average salary: £70k, average bonus: up to 50%.

Financial institution risk (five years’ experience): Average salary: £70k, average bonus: up to 40%.

Credit risk methodology (five years’ experience): Average salary: £80k, average bonus: up to 80%.

Market risk management pay in investment banking 2008/2009

Quant risk (five years’ experience ): Average salary: £70k, average bonus: 30-50%.

Traded market risk (front office, five years’ experience): Average salary: £70k, average bonus: 30-50%.

Model validation (five years’ experience): Average salary: £80k, average bonus: 30-50%.

Risk jobs in asset managers 2008/2009

Head of risk and compliance (five years’ experience): Average salary: £105k, average bonus: 30-60%.

Operational risk (five years’ experience) : Average salary: £75k, average bonus: 20-30%.

Hedge funds – enterprise-wide risk (five years’ experience): Average salary: £180k, average bonus: 180%.