RJ and Makay

About three dozen of the top publicly held securities and investment-services firms—which include banks, investment banks, hedge funds, money-management firms and securities exchanges—are set to pay $144 billion in compensation and benefits this year, a 4% increase from the $139 billion paid out in 2009, according a report in Tuesday’s Wall Street Journal.

The pay numbers show that firms continue to base their pay on economic and market conditions rather than the level of pressure coming from regulators in Washington and overseas.

The firms surveyed said it is too early to comment on 2010 compensation levels, but many claim they risk losing top talent if employees aren’t adequately compensated.