He posted a congratulatory message to incoming Premier Gladys Berejiklian on Facebook, moments after she was elected as his replacement unopposed by the Liberal party room.

There was no accompanying tweet, however. Mr Baird deleted his Twitter account on Monday after saying his resignation would be a chance for more time with his family and less on social media, with which he has had an ambivalent relationship.

But after he walked a couple of hundred metres down Macquarie Street on Monday afternoon to hand in his resignation as premier, Mr Baird is free to focus on life after politics.

Mr Baird told the media on announcing his resignation that there had been no shortage of offers during his time as Premier.

"I have had people tell me in the past, 'if ever you leave politics come talk to us'," the Premier said last Thursday, without specifying.

It's understood the offers have come rolling in since then, but Mr Baird said he would spend time with family before he turns his mind to his next professional step.

Mr Baird had an 18-year career in finance before moving into politics, serving lastly as the head of institutional banking for the multinational HSBC Australia and New Zealand. Politics was understood to have entailed a severe salary cut for Mr Baird, even on the premier's wage of $350,000 a year.

"He could command a total package of no less than a million dollars," said Jason Johnson, a founder and partner of Johnson, an executive search company.

"In the eyes of most business leaders he's been a very successful premier; there's a very strong interest in Mike's skills and networks."

Mr Johnson said he expected Mr Baird would field offers outside the world of banking to become a CEO, in the same mould as former Liberal leader John Brogden.

Unlike other MPs who have retired recently, Mr Baird will not be entitled to generous post-politics perks.

He came into politics in 2007, after the introduction of a new parliamentary superannuation scheme that will not entitle him to a salary for life, such as the $150,000 a year enjoyed by Barry O'Farrell.

Mr Baird received a 9.5 per cent contribution to his superannuation account for each year he was in office.

Under reforms brought in by the Coalition government Mr Baird will not qualify for perks such as an office, staff and free travel because he served less than five years as Premier.