The Biggest Losers: Traders

Although overall Wall Street compensation is expected to rise this year versus last, traders of both fixed income securities and equities will likely see their all-in pay decline when all is said and done for 2010.

According to compensation expert Alan Johnson (interviewed by the ), private equity employees and M&A bankers will see their pay rise by as much as 5 percent, while retail bankers will experience a 5 to 10 percent rise in pay. "The big losers," according to Johnson, "will be traders in fixed income and equities, with only some groups, like commodities traders, doing better."

The big winners, says Johnson, will be those standing atop the org chart. That is, the likes of Lloyd Blankfein, Jamie Dimon and the rest of their big swinging CEO pals. “Senior executive pay will go up more than the rest," says Johsons. "I think executives are saying 'I didn’t get paid much for two years and now I want something.'"