Wall Street Bonuses on Track to Break Records

Wall Street is heading toward another record-breaking bonus season as profits surge and dealmaking returns after a long slowdown.

Rising compensation costs suggest that bonus checks could swell once again. Spending on pay jumped almost 10% in the first half of the year compared with 2024, following last year’s unprecedented average bonus of $244,700.

Earlier forecasts had predicted a slump in bonuses due to global instability, but those projections have been reversed. Compensation firm Johnson Associates now expects payouts to climb as mergers, acquisitions, and capital-market deals regain momentum.