Wall Street Bonuses Reach Record $49.2 Billion in 2025

New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli reported Thursday that Wall Street's bonus pool reached a record $49.2 billion in 2025, marking a 9 percent increase from the previous year, as the securities industry posted strong profits despite economic volatility.

The average bonus for employees in New York City's securities sector climbed 6 percent to $246,900, reflecting a more than 30 percent rise in industry profits to $65.1 billion. DiNapoli attributed the gains to robust trading activity, underwriting and asset management fees. "Wall Street saw strong performance for much of last year, despite all of the ongoing domestic and international upheavals," he said in a statement.

The financial sector navigated a turbulent year marked by market swings driven by concerns over tariffs, interest rates and potential bubbles in areas like artificial intelligence technology. Despite several sharp declines, the S&P 500 index returned nearly 18 percent for the year and hit a record high on December 24, marking its third consecutive year of significant gains. Trading revenue alone generated a record $134 billion, providing momentum into 2026.

Industry experts noted the bonuses aligned with...