Wall Street had its most lucrative bonus season on record in 2025, with the average payout climbing to $246,900 — roughly $15,000 more than the previous year. According to a report by New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, this marks a 6% year-over-year increase, reflecting the industry’s strongest performance in years.
The total bonus pool across New York City’s financial sector swelled to $49.2 billion, a 9% jump from 2024, covering cash bonuses for Wall Street employees based specifically in New York City.
What Fueled the Surge
The record-breaking numbers were largely driven by Wall Street profits topping $65.1 billion in 2025 — a rise of more than 30% compared to the prior year. Bustling trading floors and higher client management fees were key contributors to the windfall. Chris Connors of compensation consulting firm Johnson Associates called 2025 “probably the best year since 2021 for many firms.”
A Boost for New York’s Economy
The financial gains extended well beyond bankers’ pockets. Wall Street contributed 19.4% of New York State’s total tax collections in fiscal year 2025. DiNapoli estimates the 2025 bonuses will generate an additional $199 million in state income tax revenue and $91 million more for New York City compared to 2024.
Despite the strong profits, the industry shed a modest number of jobs, dipping to 198,200 employees from a 30-year high of 201,500 in 2024.
For broader context, Wall Street workers’ average total 2024 compensation — the most recent full salary data available — stood at $505,677, nearly five times that of the average private-sector worker in New York City.