If the minimum wage had increased as much as Wall Street bonuses since 1985, it would be worth $61.75 today.
By Sarah Anderson, Inequality.org
While inflation has wiped away wage gains for most U.S. workers, just-released data reveal that Wall Street employees are enjoying their biggest bonus bonanza since the 2008 crash.
The Inflation Divide
The average annual bonus for New York City-based securities industry employees rose 20 percent to $257,500 in 2021, far above the 7 percent annual inflation rate. By contrast, typical American workers lost earnings power in 2021. Average weekly earnings for all U.S. private sector employees rose by only 2 percent between January 2021 and January 2022, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Unlike hourly wage data, average weekly earnings reflect the fact that many Americans had to cut back on work hours last year, largely due to Covid-related illness, lack of child care, and other family care pressures. The average weekly hours worked by U.S. private sector employees dropped from 35.0 to 34.5 between 2020 and 2021.
Recent Posts
The FBI Sought Search Warrants For Columbia Students’ Social Media
June 5, 2025
Take Action Now New court documents reveal how the feds tried to unmask the Columbia students — and got blocked by federal judges on First Amendment…
Greta Thunberg Speaks From Aid Ship Heading To Gaza Despite Israeli Threats: It’s My Moral Obligation
June 5, 2025
Take Action Now “We cannot have climate justice without social justice. The reason why I am a climate activist is not because I want to protect…
Democratic Party Leaders Just Met For The First Time In Months. When Will They Take Real Action?
June 4, 2025
Take Action Now Countless Americans want the party leadership to stand up for democracy. Instead, the executive committee remains in a bubbleBy…
In California, The Biggest State Democratic Party Is Adrift
June 4, 2025
Take Action Now Many in the party are tired of the status quo — but few are willing to say so publicly.By Josh Koehn, The San Francisco Standard……