Financial Professionals See Slower Salary Growth in 2025 Amid Resource Constraints and AI Uncertainty
Event summary
- Average base salaries for financial professionals rose 3.7% in 2025, down from 3.9% in 2024.
- 66% of organizations used cash bonuses (88%) and stock-based incentives (36%) to retain talent.
- 41% of financial professionals cited limited resources as their top challenge.
- 48% of respondents were uncertain or ambivalent about AI's impact on career opportunities.
The big picture
The AFP survey highlights a strategic tension between controlling fixed payroll costs through bonuses and addressing deeper operational challenges like resource limitations. As economic growth slows, organizations are balancing short-term retention tactics with long-term talent development, particularly amid uncertainty around AI's role in the industry. The survey's findings reflect broader trends in financial services, where automation and economic pressures are reshaping workforce dynamics.
What we're watching
- Talent Retention
- Whether organizations can sustain retention through bonuses alone or must address resource constraints to prevent burnout.
- AI Adoption
- How financial professionals' ambivalence toward AI will affect its integration and long-term value in treasury and finance functions.
- Economic Impact
- The pace at which slowing economic growth will continue to influence salary growth and compensation strategies in 2026.
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