Wall Street bonus pot surges to record-high $47.5 billion, but the outlook is dim

State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli attends as Eric Adams kicks off his general election campaign for Mayor at City Hall Park. (Credit: Photo by Lev Radin/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images)

• Employment in New York’s securities industry reached the highest level in three decades at more than 200,000 workers, reported state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli on Wednesday. And along with sky-high employment, the total estimated 2024 bonus pool among New York Stock Exchange member firms is the largest on record since 1987. But looming uncertainty due to federal policy is muddying the industry outlook for 2025.

Wall Street is back and profits are soaring. And according to a new report, so are bonuses.