---
title: These Jobs Give Workers the Biggest Holiday Bonuses
description: A new survey from LinkedIn found that investment banking associates received the largest annual bonus of all careers studied, at $100,000.
authors:
  - name: Kerry Close
    url: https://money.com/author/kerry-close/
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published: '2016-12-19T21:22:37.000Z'
modified: '2024-04-17T04:50:48.000Z'
section: Career Advice
tags:
  - bonuses
  - Holidays
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word_count: 236
canonical: https://money.com/workers-holiday-bonuses/
type: Article
source: structured-blocks
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> **Disclosure:** We research all brands listed and may earn a fee from our partners. Research and financial considerations may influence how brands are displayed. Not all brands are included. [Learn more](https://money.com/page/disclaimer/).

![Christmas Bonus](https://img.money.com/2016/12/gettyimages-172421583.jpg)
*Investment banking associates take home $100,000 in annual bonus pay.*

Thinking of making a career switch in 2017? You might want to consider a career in investment banking.

Investment banking associates took home $100,000, the highest amount in year-end bonuses, according to a [LinkedIn analysis](https://blog.linkedin.com/2016/12/19/the-jobs-and-industries-with-the-biggest-bonuses-in-2016-linkedin) of careers and industries that gave employees the largest annual bonuses in 2016. They're followed by surgeons, who pocket $60,000 in bonuses at the end of the year, and radiologists, who are gifted with an additional $47,500 for the holidays.

Rounding out the recipients of the top five biggest [bonuses](https://money.com/democrats-republicans-holiday-bonuses/) were investment-banking analysts, who received $45,000, and medical directors, who netted $40,000. But if this falls out side your specialty, don't worry: the analysis also found that 75% of companies are planning to give annual bonuses this year.

In terms of careers, energy and mining in general provided the most lucrative bonuses for all employees, averaging about $10,000. It was followed by hardware and networking, which gave workers about $9,000 in extra cash at the end of the year, and software and IT services, which gave about an $8,000 bump.

Most of us, unfortunately, aren't as fortunate as the top earners. LinkedIn said the average bonus for professionals in the U.S. is $5,225, or 7.6% of their median annual salary. Some estimate that number to be even lower: A 2015 survey from Accounting Principals found that the [average company bonus](https://money.com/average-christmas-bonus/?iid=sr-link2) is $858, while just 21% of bonuses are $1,000 or more.

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