Quant Graduate Pay Index 2026: 62 Firms Ranked

Key Findings

Across 62 quant employers, the median graduate total compensation estimate is $275K a year (the midpoint of each firm's entry-level range, in US dollars). That figure comes from the Quantt Quant Graduate Pay Index 2026, which compiles the entry-level pay estimates in our quant firm directory into one comparable dataset.

• High-frequency trading firms pay graduates the most. Their median midpoint is $300K, against about $182K for investment bank quant teams - a gap of roughly $118K a year.
• The top of the index is a small group. Hudson River Trading, Jane Street, Jump Trading and Renaissance Technologies share the highest estimated graduate range.
• Hedge funds sit in the middle. Systematic and multi-strategy funds both have a median midpoint of $275K.
• Banks and quant asset managers pay least at entry level, but they hire far more graduates each year and are often the easier first step into the industry.

Every figure is an estimate built from self-reported and third-party data, not employer disclosures. See the methodology and limitations before relying on any single number.

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Graduate Pay by Firm Type

The ordering matches how the firms make money. High-frequency traders and market makers earn revenue directly from trading with small teams, so each hire carries a large share of profit. Banks and asset managers have larger headcounts, fee-based revenue and more structured pay bands.

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The Full Index: 62 Firms Ranked by Estimated Graduate Pay

Ranked by the midpoint of each firm's estimated first-year total compensation (base plus bonus) for graduate quant researchers, traders and developers, in US dollars. Firms with the same midpoint share a joint rank (shown with =) and are listed alphabetically. Click a firm for its full salary or interview guide.

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Methodology

Source data. Each firm's entry-level range comes from the Quantt firm directory, which records estimated first-year total compensation for graduate quantitative roles. 89% of ranges draw on Glassdoor submissions, often combined with levels.fyi; the remainder draw on levels.fyi or Wall Street Oasis. The source for each firm is listed on its directory page.

What is measured. Estimated first-year total compensation (base salary plus first-year bonus, as reported by the underlying sources) for graduate quantitative researchers, traders and developers, expressed in US dollars. Some self-reported figures may include sign-on bonuses.

Midpoint. The simple average of the low and high end of each firm's range. The index ranks firms by that midpoint.

Firm types. Based on each firm's primary business in the directory: high-frequency trading, prop trading and market making, systematic hedge funds, multi-strategy hedge funds, quant asset managers and investment bank quant teams.

Coverage. 62 of the 116 firms in our directory have enough public data for an entry-level range. Firms without a credible estimate are excluded rather than guessed.

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Limitations

• Self-reported data is noisy. Glassdoor and levels.fyi submissions skew towards people willing to share pay, and small samples can move a range.
• Roles are pooled. Graduate traders, researchers and developers are often paid differently at the same firm; the range covers the typical spread.
• Location is not normalised. Ranges are in US dollars and mostly reflect each firm's main hiring office. London and European packages are usually lower in nominal terms than New York or Chicago.
• Bonuses vary by year. First-year bonuses depend on firm and desk performance, so a strong or weak year shifts the real numbers.
• Firm guides can differ. Our firm-specific salary guides use more recent, role-specific data points, so they can sit above or below the directory range. For example, recent reports put Jane Street graduate trader offers at $400K - $700K, above its directory range. Where the two differ, the firm guide is the more detailed source.

For role-specific detail, see our US quant salary guide, UK quant salary guide and quant trader salary breakdown.

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How to Cite This Index

You are welcome to quote or republish figures from this index with attribution and a link:

Source: Quantt Quant Graduate Pay Index 2026, https://www.quantt.co.uk/resources/quant-graduate-pay-index-2026

Journalists, university careers services and student societies can request the underlying dataset through our contact page.

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Compensation & recruiting notes

All figures are illustrative estimates compiled from third-party and self-reported sources. They are not provided or endorsed by any firm listed, and actual offers vary by role, office, year and performance. Nothing here guarantees an interview, an offer or any outcome.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average graduate quant salary in 2026?

Across the 62 firms in the Quantt Quant Graduate Pay Index, the median estimated first-year total compensation for graduate quants is $275K a year in US dollars. Individual firms range from about $130K at the low end to $500K at the top.

Which quant firms pay graduates the most?

Hudson River Trading, Jane Street, Jump Trading and Renaissance Technologies have the highest estimated graduate ranges in the index. High-frequency trading firms as a group have the highest median.

Do hedge funds or prop firms pay graduates more?

On median estimates, high-frequency trading firms pay the most, followed by systematic and multi-strategy hedge funds, then prop trading and market-making firms. The differences between individual firms are larger than the differences between types.

Why do investment banks pay quant graduates less?

Bank quant teams are larger, revenue is spread across many businesses, and pay follows structured bands. The median bank midpoint in the index is about $182K, versus $300K for high-frequency trading firms.

Where does this data come from?

Each range comes from the Quantt firm directory, compiled from Glassdoor, levels.fyi and Wall Street Oasis data. The methodology section explains how ranges are combined.