Every Level of a Career, and What Changes at Each One

10. An office assistant

One chief executive's total pay for one year topped $31 million. Here are ten career levels, from first job to the top. Number ten: an office assistant. At the World Bank Group's headquarters, the lowest grade pays from $34,300 a year.

The top of its range is $63,700. The bank sets these salaries net of tax. Administrative roles typically require a bachelor's degree or equivalent experience. They give the support that keeps teams and programs running, the bank says.

In twenty twenty-four, the average salary at this grade was $46,680. Benefits averaged another $24,325. All staff get basic life and accident insurance at no cost. Just 0.01% of headquarters staff held this grade.

By our count, its top is about 1.9 times its bottom. 63,700 divided by 34,300 is about 1.9. Pay for staff hired in other countries follows local market surveys. If this helps, subscribe: every source is an official page or filing, linked below.

9. A program assistant

Number nine: a program assistant. This grade runs from 50,000 to $93,000 a year. Its midpoint is $71,500. Program assistants and information assistants share this grade.

4.4% of headquarters staff held it in twenty twenty-four. This grade averaged $69,474 in salary. Average benefits added $36,203. Staff recruited at headquarters can choose from three medical and dental plans.

New staff get twenty-six days of annual leave and fifteen days of sick leave a year. Now the title names a program, not an office. Jobs at the bank are typically open for applications for two weeks. A selection committee then recommends a shortlist of three to five people to interview.

The whole process is typically completed within sixty to ninety days. By our count, this grade's bottom is $15,700 above level ten's bottom. 50,000 minus 34,300 is 15,700. Hiring steps differ from employer to employer.

8. An analyst

Number eight: an analyst. From this grade to vice president, roles usually require a master's degree or a PhD, with work experience. The analyst grade pays from $81,900. Its top is $152,100.

About 9% of headquarters staff were analysts in twenty twenty-four. Analysts averaged $100,777 in salary. Benefits on top averaged $52,516. At this level and above, the bank also hires extended-term consultants, for at least ninety days.

Those contracts can renew, up to a three-year lifetime cap. A mentoring program focuses on staff under thirty-five. Staff are encouraged to work one day a week from home. Here the job shifts from support to analysis.

By our count, an analyst's average salary is more than double level ten's. 100,777 divided by 46,680 is about 2.2. Degree rules differ by employer and by field.

7. A professional

Number seven: a professional. The professional range begins at $108,900. It goes up to $202,400. Nearly a quarter of headquarters staff held this grade in twenty twenty-four.

The average salary was $131,521. The bank's Young Professionals Program hires at this grade, as a term appointment. It asks for a graduate degree and two to six years of experience. The program lasts two years, with three rotations of eight months each.

At least one rotation must be based in a country office. After the program, participants are placed in a role for five more years, based on performance. International appointments are paid in dollars, and local ones in local currency. For international hires, the bank pays relocation on joining and resettlement at the end.

The program page says its salary and benefits are not individually negotiated. By our count, the program and the placement add up to seven years. Two years plus five years is seven years. Entry programs like this one differ by employer.

6. A senior professional

Number six: a senior professional. Senior professionals are paid from $141,400. The range tops out at $262,500. This is the biggest group, with about 40% of headquarters staff in twenty twenty-four.

On average, they were paid $184,145. Average benefits came to $95,959. Only a relatively small minority of staff reach the upper third of a salary range, the report says. The bank revises its salary ranges every year, using private and public sector comparators.

Parental leave is 100 days for a primary caregiver and fifty for a secondary one. Now the title adds senior, in the same professional and technical stream. By our count, top and bottom here are $121,100 apart. 262,500 minus 141,400 is 121,100.

Pay differs where you live. That's halfway: five levels done, from a first job up to a senior professional. The last five go from a manager up to a chief executive, with the top last.

5. A manager

Number five: a manager. Managers and lead professionals share a grade that starts at $190,400. The ceiling is $353,800. Managerial roles guide teams, shape work programs and oversee resources and budgets, the bank says.

They are typically filled by experienced professionals with demonstrated leadership. About 15% of headquarters staff were at this grade in twenty twenty-four. Average pay at this grade was $257,328. Benefits averaged $134,096.

A financial assistance program offers five types of loans, including education and housing. Flexible options include telecommuting, reduced schedules, flextime and job sharing, at the hiring manager's discretion. Now the job is leading people, not only doing the work. By our count, benefits here equal about half the average salary.

134,096 divided by 257,328 is about 0.52. Management pay differs where you live.

4. A director

Number four: a director. The director grade opens at $286,100, shared with senior advisors. The range reaches $429,400. Only about 2% of headquarters staff held this grade in twenty twenty-four.

At this grade, salaries averaged $336,847. Their benefits averaged $175,534. All staff can join a retirement savings plan, and the bank says it adds a generous match. Staff can also take hundreds of courses, from languages to leadership.

All offices close at the end of the year, from December twenty-sixth to the thirty-first. At this level, managers set strategic direction, the bank says. By our count, average pay at this grade is about seven times level ten's. 336,847 divided by 46,680 is about 7.2.

Senior pay differs where you live.

3. A vice president

Number three: a vice president. The vice president range runs from $350,000 a year. Its top is $473,600. The midpoint sits at $411,800.

0.37% of headquarters staff held this grade in twenty twenty-four. Vice presidents averaged $387,988 in salary. Average benefits reached $202,184. The bank reviews its executive salary structure every year.

With approval, staff may get one day a year of leave to volunteer with a nonprofit group. Vice presidents are the top grade of the managerial stream, the bank's FAQ says. By our count, vice presidents' minimum is about ten times level ten's minimum. 350,000 divided by 34,300 is about 10.2.

Executive pay rules differ where you live.

2. A managing director

Number two: a managing director. The scale's top grade starts at $389,200. Its maximum is $526,400. Managing directors, executive vice presidents and senior vice presidents share this grade.

Only 0.07% of headquarters staff held it in twenty twenty-four. Their average salary was $441,109. Benefits at this grade averaged $202,612. One member institution says its managing director's salary sits within this grade's range.

Even at this grade, staff must retire by their sixty-seventh birthday. Beyond this grade, the board of directors sets the president's salary. By our count, level two's top is about fifteen times level ten's bottom. 526,400 divided by 34,300 is about 15.3.

Top grades and titles differ from one employer to another. Before number one, a guess: how much of a top chief executive's pay is salary?

1. A chief executive

Number one: a chief executive. At Coca-Cola, the chief executive's total pay for twenty twenty-five was $31.2 million. The same person is also chairman of the board. Of that total, base salary was $1,675,000.

The company says salary was 6% of the chief executive's direct pay. The yearly incentive was 17%, and long-term incentives 77%. Stock awards were $12.5 million, and option awards 10.4 million. The company says 94% of that direct pay was tied to performance.

Shareowners vote on executive pay every year. At this company, most of that pay comes from incentives, not salary. By our count, that total is about 910 times level ten's net minimum. 31.2 million divided by 34,300 is about 910.

Executive pay differs from company to company. So, every level: an office assistant, a program assistant, an analyst, a professional and a senior professional. Then a manager, a director, a vice president, a managing director and a chief executive. Pay, benefits and rules differ by employer and where you live.

So check the careers pages of employers you like, and see what they list. Which level are you aiming for? Tell us the number in the comments. Results vary, and this is information only, not financial advice.

This is Wealth Filings. Next on Wealth Filings, watch every level of watches, and what changes at each one.