How Fat are Fat-Cat Bankers?

How fat do you have to be to be considered a fat cat? That's not a tongue-twister, but a serious question in light of some salary research from Glassdoor. Those numbers, showing the average pay for the rank-and-file at the country's eight largest banks, remind us just how much things have changed as Wall Street investment banks have gobbled up some of their Main Street brethren.

We all remember reports of Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein bringing home $68 million-a record bonus-in 2007, before the financial crisis hit. The next year, he didn't get a bonus. And since then, a number of investment banks have merged with less-glitzy commercial banks that paid their employees significantly less. The result is that the average 'personal banker' at JP Morgan Chase-no doubt from the Chase side of the house-makes about $33,400, despite the business card that begins "JP Morgan." Before the merger with Chase, I'd be surprised if many professionals at JP Morgan made that little.

Here's how total compensation (including bonuses) at the eight biggest banks break down through the rank of vice-president:

Personal Banker (Citigroup, Morgan Stanley, and Goldman Sachs do not use this title)

• High: $46,438 (JP Morgan Chase)
• Low: $32,301 (US Bank)
• Average: $38,556

• High: $87,515 (Goldman Sachs)
• Low: $56,326 (Wells Fargo)
• Average: $68,512

• High: $102,645 (Goldman Sachs)
• Low: $78,350 (Wells Fargo)
• Average: $99,089

• High: $197,745 (Wells Fargo)
• Low: $120,348 (Bank of America)
• Average: $152,585

Do you think these numbers are accurate? And do these particular bankers qualify as fat cats?

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