Money makers in the banks?

From highest to lowest (in my experience -- anyone feel free to correct me) 1 - You did not mention traders, but the best prop traders make a ton - usually more than any banker. Also, the guys who run internal PE funds (think Goldman SSG and their head's 70M+ comp).

From your list (for top performers) 1. Superstar sector coverage Managing Directors (corpfin, all products) 2. Superstar product Managing Directors (e.g. M&A) 3. Superstar equity research analysts

From your list (on average) 1. Probably a toss up between Product MDs and Sector MDs 2. Equity research comes in WAY below

Don't forget the commercial side for citi/jpmorgan :)

Seriously though, not a finance person but would guess fixed income in every single bank.

I was assuming you meant divisions, not paychecks.

When I think of Goldman PE, I think of GS Capital Partners and not GS SSG. I realize they have a pretty broad investment criteria, but doesn't the SSG group (in conjunction with GS SLG) do mostly mezz / other junior debt investments?

Examples: Buying distressed Japanese Golf Courses or distressed nursing homes

Smuguy97 is right, SSG is technically a division of FICC. It does distressed debt, crisis lending and post-bankruptcy equity. They probably do a bunch of even cooler stuff that people who don't work there (like me) are never going to know about.

equity research, as a department, LOSES money. The actual people in ER get paid okay, but nothing special by wall st standards.