The investment industry, especially quantitative trading firms, can offer lucrative career opportunities. However, accurate and reliable salary data is difficult to obtain. This article analyzes public US visa application records to uncover compensation levels and career progression insights at leading quant firms like Cutler Investment Group.
Median base salaries at top quant firms range from $150k to $250k
According to the H1B visa database, median base salaries for quant researchers and developers at firms like Two Sigma, Citadel, and Cutler range from $150,000 to $250,000. More senior roles like quant portfolio managers can earn total compensation up to $500k or more with bonuses.
Much room for fast career growth and promotion
Employees at quant investing powerhouses often get promoted quickly from analyst to senior analyst to VP or director level within just 3-5 years. This allows them to rapidly increase their compensation from initial offers near $150k to over $300-400k in total pay.
Significant bonuses on top of base salaries
Bonuses at top quant trading and investment firms often match or exceed base pay. For example, a quant developer with a $180,000 salary may receive an additional $150k or more in annual performance bonus. Bonus percentages can range from 50% to over 100%.
Quant investing firms like Cutler offer some of the most lucrative career opportunities in finance. Talented candidates can achieve Median base salaries from $150k to $250k, get rapid promotions, and substantial bonus pay.