Quantitative finance offers some of the highest compensation in any industry. Top quant firms compete aggressively for talent, resulting in compensation packages that often dwarf those at leading tech companies.
This guide breaks down what quants actually earn across different roles, firms, and experience levels based on publicly available data and industry reports.
Entry-Level Salaries (0-2 Years)
New graduates and early-career quants at top firms can expect substantial compensation right out of school:
Top Tier
Jane Street, Citadel, HRT
$300-500K
Total Comp
Mid Tier
Two Sigma, DE Shaw
$250-350K
Total Comp
Other Quant Firms
Smaller props, banks
$160-250K
Total Comp
Mid-Level Salaries (3-7 Years)
After a few years, proven performers see significant compensation growth:
Senior Salaries (8+ Years)
Senior quants and partners at top firms can earn extraordinary compensation:
$1M-3M+
Top Tier
$575K-1.2M
Mid Tier
$375-700K
Other Firms
Salary by Role Type
Quant Developer
Highest base salaries due to tech competition. C++ skills command premium.
Quant Researcher
Compensation tied to P&L. Enormous upside for successful researchers.
Quant Trader
Highest variance. Top traders earn 8-figure bonuses in exceptional years.
Top Paying Firms
How the top quant firms rank in terms of compensation:
Jane Street
Consistently highest total comp
Citadel
Top tier, especially for traders
HRT
Known for developer comp
Two Sigma
Competitive with strong benefits
DE Shaw
Strong for researchers
Note: Rankings vary by role and year. Bonuses depend on firm and desk performance.
Quant vs Big Tech
How does quant comp compare to FAANG/Big Tech?
Entry (L3-L4)
Quant Firms
$300-500K
Big Tech
$180-280K
Mid (L5-L6)
Quant Firms
$500K-1M
Big Tech
$350-600K
Senior (L7+)
Quant Firms
$1M-3M+
Big Tech
$600K-1.5M
Quant firms generally pay 30-100% more than Big Tech at equivalent levels, but with higher variance and job security risk.
Frequently Asked Questions
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