To be filed under “Are you shitting me?”:

“Workers at the largest financial institutions are on track to earn as much money this year as they did before the financial crisis began, because of the strong start of the year for bank profits.

Even as the industry’s compensation has been put in the spotlight for being so high at a time when many banks have received taxpayer help, six of the biggest banks set aside over $36 billion in the first quarter to pay their employees, according to a review of financial statements.”

Astonishing . . .

click for larger chart
^[1]
via NYT ^[1]

>

Source:
After Off Year, Wall Street Pay Is Bouncing Back ^[1]
LOUISE STORY
NYT, April 25, 2009

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/26/business/26pay.html