Follow Newser on Twitter   Friend Newser on Facebook
Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Wall Street Pay Packages Roar Back, Led by Goldman

Goldman set to pay $700K per employee at current levels

By Jason Farago,  Newser Staff

Posted Jul 2, 2009 5:32 AM CDT

(Newser) – It didn't take long: After a year of public apologies and vows to change, big pay packages are back on Wall Street. Goldman Sachs is set to pay about $700,000 per employee in 2009 based on current figures, nearly double last year's figure and even higher than before the crash. "I'm seeing deals like it's 2007 again," one employment lawyer told the Wall Street Journal.

The most lucrative pay is for traders in improving markets, such as junk bonds, while compensation and even job stability remain low in sclerotic markets like asset-backed securities. Such high pay is dependent on continued market resilience; if a new crisis arises, the banks may hold back on compensation. "If the fourth quarter is significantly down, I would expect bonuses not to recover too much from 2008 levels," said a Wall Street headhunter.

Goldman Sachs headquarters in New York. The firm is on course to pay out $20 billion in compensation, or about $700,000 per employee, in 2009.
Goldman Sachs headquarters in New York. The firm is on course to pay out $20 billion in compensation, or about $700,000 per employee, in 2009.   (AP Photo/ Louis Lanzano)
Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein, left, and JPMorgan Chase CEO James Dimon testify on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2009, before the House Financial Services Committee.
Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein, left, and JPMorgan Chase CEO James Dimon testify on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2009, before the House Financial Services Committee.   (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
After a year of vows to reform executive compensation, big pay packages are back on Wall Street.
After a year of vows to reform executive compensation, big pay packages are back on Wall Street.   (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Be the first to comment on this story.

More Newser Stories

Hey, Wall Street: Shut Up About Bonuses

Boss Divvies Up $15M to Surprised Employees

Wall Street Bonuses to Plummet

Senate Probe: Goldman Sachs Shafted Clients, Lied to Us

JPMorgan CEO Gets 1500% Raise


NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne