The average Wall Street bonus rose two percent in 2014 as hiring in New York City 's financial sector picked up , according to a government report on Wednesday . The average bonus for New York City 's security industry rose to $ 172,860 in 2014 , the highest level since the financial crisis , said a report by the office of the New York State Comptroller . The loftier bonuses came despite a 4.5 percent drop in broker/dealer profits in 2014 to $ 16 billion , the report said . Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange on Wednesday . The average Wall Street bonus rose two percent in 2014 as hiring in city 's financial sector picked up according to a government report . The decline in profits was due to weakness in some trading divisions , costly legal settlements at large banks and higher capital reserve requirements imposed by regulators after the financial crisis . The industry added 2,300 jobs in New York City in 2014 , the first year of positive job growth in the sector since 2011 . 'The cost of legal settlements related to the 2008 financial crisis continues to be a drag on Wall Street profits , but the securities industry remains profitable and well-compensated even as it adjusts to regulatory changes , ' said New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli . 'The resumption of job growth in the securities industry bodes well for New York 's economy , but it remains to be seen whether this trend will be sustained . ' 'One area that anecdotally we keep hearing is a growth sector is compliance , ' DiNapoli said . The average increase in bonuses in 2014 was well below the rise notched in the previous two years . Average bonuses fell from a peak of $ 191,360 on average in 2006 to $ 100,850 in 2008 during the financial crisis . Average bonuses had fallen from a peak of $ 191,360 in 2006 to $ 100,850 in 2008 during the financial crisis . The average salary including bonuses on Wall Street was $ 355,500 in 2013 , according to an October report from the comptroller 's office . 'The compensation is five times the average for private employment in the city , ' DiNapoli said . 'But it 's a challenging work environment , and in recent years because of the downsizing it 's been harder to get these positions . ' Authorities have blamed inflated mortgage-backed securities that plummeted along with the U.S. housing market for the financial crisis in 2008 . Regulatory reforms since have included larger reserve requirements , new limits on proprietary trading and measures intended to reduce risk . Securities firms now pay a smaller share of bonuses in the current year with more deferred . DiNapoli added that it 's important to be concerned about excessive risk-taking and possible regulatory rollbacks to be sure there is n't another meltdown , noting the industry is key to the economic viability of the city and state . The goal should be a business model with sustainable profits , he said , not the short-term , high-risk , high-reward profits 'that invariably results in the periodic downturn or crash as we had . '
revenues for the ##ark City 's security industry fell on average by 10 percent in 2014 . Increase came despite 4.5 percent decline in broker / dealer profits . Average bonuses had fallen from a peak of $ 191,360 in 2003 to $ 100,850 in 2008 during the financial crisis .