Wall Street Bonuses are Set to Surge, from Trading Floors to M&A Desks
Business Insider
Year-end bonuses are projected to rise across nearly every business line, according to a new report released Wednesday by compensation consultancy Johnson Associates, with traders being the big winners — who could see up to 25% increases — followed by mergers advisors and wealth managers. Only a handful of sectors, like real estate and venture capital, were projected to remain flat.
Yet the same report delivers a warning that automation is about to reshape the financial workforce. Head count could fall 10% to 20% in the next three to five years as banks and asset managers accelerate the adoption of artificial intelligence to streamline operations and trim costs, it warns.
“If you have skills, you may do better,” Johnson told Business Insider. “There’ll be fewer of you — but you’ll be cherished more.”
The industry’s gains shine a light on the widening chasm between Wall Street and Main Street, Johnson said, agreeing with lawmakers who say “if you make under $200,000 or $250,000 in America, you may be hurting. If you make under $100,000, you may be hungry. I think that’s well said.” He added: “People who aren’t as well off enough continue not to get ahead.”
Business Insider / November 5, 2025
