CEO COMPENSATION IN PE-BACKED FIRE & SAFETY SERVICES FIRMS
We analysed compensation data from 23 CEOs operating within Private Equity-backed Fire & Safety Services businesses across North America.
The data is segmented by revenue size to illustrate how CEO compensation, incentive structures, and equity participation evolve as platforms scale in compliance complexity and recurring service revenue.
RESPONDENT BREAKDOWN
-
39% from firms with under $50M revenue
-
48% from firms with $50M–$150M revenue
-
13% from firms with over $150M revenue
BASE SALARY
Firms < $50M Revenue
-
Lowest: $250,000
-
Median: $300,000
-
Highest: $350,000
Firms $50M–$150M Revenue
-
Lowest: $265,000
-
Median: $350,000
-
Highest: $400,000
Firms > $150M Revenue
-
Lowest: $400,000
-
Median: $450,000
-
Highest: $500,000+
BONUS STRUCTURE
-
92% of CEOs at firms < $50M receive a bonus of 50% or less
-
78% of CEOs at firms $50M–$150M receive a bonus of 50% or less
-
71% of CEOs at firms > $150M receive a bonus of 50% or less
Key insight: Bonus structures remain conservative across the sector, even as platforms scale, reinforcing disciplined EBITDA and compliance-focused growth models.
EQUITY & PROFIT PARTICIPATION
-
83% of CEOs at firms < $50M receive carry or profit/partner share
-
89% of CEOs at firms $50M–$150M receive carry or profit/partner share
-
100% of CEOs at firms > $150M receive carry or profit/partner share
Equity participation is exceptionally strong across all revenue bands, reflecting the sector’s recurring revenue profile and PE’s emphasis on ownership alignment.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
-
CEO base salaries scale steadily with revenue, increasing from a $300K median in sub-$50M firms to $450K in businesses exceeding $150M.
-
Bonus structures are tightly capped, with the majority of CEOs across all tiers receiving ≤50% bonus targets.
-
Equity participation is widespread, particularly in larger platforms where ownership alignment is universal.
-
Cash compensation dispersion is narrower than other sectors, reflecting the predictable, recurring-revenue nature of fire & safety services.
Bottom Line
CEO compensation in PE-backed Fire & Safety Services firms is equity-heavy, disciplined, and aligned to recurring revenue value creation.
While base salaries increase with scale, the primary driver of upside remains carry participation tied to operational execution and exit performance.
Looking to benchmark CEO compensation or hire a proven Fire & Safety Services leader for your portfolio company?
Connect with mohammed.vali@raw-selection.com
Raw Selection | De-Risking Executive Search for Private Equity firms across Europe & North America
All insights in this salary report are derived from Raw Selection’s proprietary data.
