178 Comments
 

YoE: 2y

Quant

2023: 750k, a portion deferred

Notes: meh, could’ve been better
 

 

Analyst 2 in HF - Other:

YoE: 2y



Quant



2023: 750k, a portion deferred



Notes: meh, could’ve been better

 


how old are you? where’d you go to school? I’m a highschool student — would love advice on how to get into quant trading.

 

4 yrs out of school - London

Intersection between Quant/fundamental 

2023 -  125k + 1.8m

2022 - 125k + 2.75m

very happy, was expecting around 1.1m bonus but my bosses knew I had some pretty large offers to leave and turned them down so think he rewarded the loyalty. 

 

I mean they are understanding because its that common time when I have been running risk for a couple years now and done pretty well that I have basically moved into junior pm role. Then when places are offering to 6x your risk allocation you have to be pretty stupid to not hear them out. 

 

I went to uni a year early and UK Bsc degree only 3 years, so 24 years old (turning 25 in a couple months). I work on a super lean team in nat gas trading hence the ridiculous compensation over last couple years 

 
[Comment removed by mod team]
 

Better than being 0’d out… what’s your base? Also interested in comp progression as I’m also pretty junior

 
Most Helpful

My career thus far:

2017: school 25k

2018: analyst 0 years experience 250k

2019: analyst 1 years experience 200k if annualized. however, I did not earn all this money because our pod was fired mid year and i was unemployed for several months.

2020: analyst 2 years experience 350k

2021: analyst 3 years experience 525k

2022: Last year being a full time analyst. 775k all in comp. It was a good year though. normal comp for an analyst would be more like the previous year ~ 500k. at some point your comp as an analyst is just capped. If you become a career analyst for life, you can see your total comp rise to as high as $1M averaged across multiple years.

2023: I'm on a hybrid structure of analyst/PM so the firm decided to give me 50% of the discretionary bonus of an analyst. 400k discretionary bonus + base. 1.1M formulaic bonus with significant % deferred.

2024: I'm a full PM now. Expect to make ~2M all in comp with much higher allocation. however there's obviously a ton of variance around that #

I would say my outcome is in the 90th percentile of people I know from my graduating cohort. A more median comp trajectory for someone who joined the MMHF world is starting at 200k year 1 and getting paid an average of about 350k per year for the next 5 years. This is averaging over outcomes which include getting fired, getting zero bonus, normal years and amazing years.

People on this forum have the following misconceptions about HF comp

1. Someone's gonna pay you millions per year with no career risk to be a lifetime analyst. General rule: no risk no book no $.

2. PMs have it so much better. I'm getting paid about 3x as much this year compared to doing analyst work. I think it's fair when you consider that I could be canned for losing money, half my comp is deferred, and my income is basically a RNG. However, the lifestyle is certainly better. 

3. comp is a straight line function of years of experience. I've been canned. I've had 0 bonus years. You should expect this in your career as well.

 

Great post, you had a much better career than any of the quants I know. As you said, most places won't let you stay as an analyst long term but there is not always a path to pm/sub-pm either. I think it's harder to do in quant than fundamental or macro.

 

Remembering seeing a post a while back how all corporate careers are actually priced in accordance to risk/reward. Honestly I dont think its that far off. Couple poor decisions and some bad luck and not managing the associated stress correctly and boom career over at a hf. Also a large portion of luck involved in getting into a seat under a PM you really like that will teach you the right way. Similar to what was said above I remember when I first started managing risk I would wake up every night at 3am and not be able to go back to sleep till I had checked the news to make sure I wasn't about to lose a fuck ton of money from a black swan event, its rather stressful. PE is still the best risk adjusted return as far as finance jobs go as its outcomes are almost entirely derived from having over a certain level of intelligence and working really hard.

 

As someone that could have gone the quant route, I made this exact analysis and thus went the PE way. But I do have to say now I have a tinge of regret as knowing myself better I could have taken on a bit more career volatility. In my role (ASO1) I just don't see a way to a 7 figure year until 10 years post graduation (talking about actually receiving carry, not just vesting on paper), if I last that long.

 

I am at a medium-sized multi-strat.

Pay is somewhere between formulaic and discretionary: teams generally make a % of pnl but there is some range/discretion around that and the split seems to be more flat (PM doesn't take 80% of bonus pool).  I'm probably most akin to a jr PM the MM model (pay depends on the subset of investments I manage, and 2023 was my floor, but my typical % is in the mid single digits of pnl on my trades).

 

YoE (since Grad / on Buyside): 3.5 / 1.5

Strategy (SM / MM / Asset Class): MM rates

Total 2023 Comp (Base + Bonus): $100k + $100k

Total 2022 Comp (Base + Bonus): $100k + $50k

Notes / Performance: Ok but not great year. Up low-mid single digit %. Mildly disappointed with my share of the comp pool, but we didn't blow up and I didn't get fired.

 

benchmark might be SPX but your net might be lower than 100%

 

No, there are multi-strat SMs kinda an in-between of traditional SM and MM

 

Much better in almost every way. My personal belief is that the average PE seat is better than the average SM L/S seat, but the best SM L/S seats are better the best PE seats. I was at a very well respected group in MF PE and my colleagues were great, but at the end of the day, it’s a transaction-oriented job and I hated the grind / giving up your life until you get higher up the totem pole and even then, I didn’t like the idea of being on 6-8 boards, attending 6-8 board meetings per quarter and constantly traveling for management meetings / other portco events. If you actually think about it, it’s an insane amount of travel (6 board meetings / quarter + 3 random portco meetings / quarter + 5 management meetings / quarter + 5 sourcing meetings / quarter and average 2 travel days for each of these meetings). The above is more than 150 days of travel per year and that’s a pretty conservative estimate. Sure you can combine board meetings or dial in to some, but the point is that you are constantly on the road as a senior PE professional and that’s not something I wanted. You sacrifice a lot of things (e.g., family, pets, hobbies, health, etc.) and there are a lot of different ways to make money with having a little bit more control.

 

YoE (since Grad / on Buyside): 4/2

Strategy (SM / MM / Asset Class): MM 

Total 2023 Comp (Base + Bonus): $160 + $230

Total 2022 Comp (Base + Bonus): $140 + $180

Notes / Performance: Poor year, would expect $500+ in 2024

 

I like it, we're arent a traditional LO Credit, more special situationsy/shittier companies.  Hours are phenomenal compared to banking, regularly 40 hours a week and the work is interesting.  We usually get big enough where we can steer outcomes and such so its interesting work, definitely more opportunity to add alpha in this environment  

 

Out of curiosity what would you ballpark performance at? I think I'm in a similar seat as yours, just a year ahead in experience and I feel like in a LO seat the performance swings unless dramatic don't really move comp around much at the junior level.

For context my numbers below:

YoE (since Grad / on Buyside):  3.5/2.5

Strategy (SM / MM / Asset Class):  Credit LO

Total 2023 Comp (Base + Bonus): 310k, 170/140

Notes / Performance: Performance was roughly in line with HY/LL markets (so call it 12-14%) and had strong reviews

 

YoE (since Grad / on Buyside): 3.5 / 2

Strategy (SM / MM / Asset Class): SM - L/S

Total 2023 Comp (Base + Bonus): 335 / (135 + 200)

Total 2022 Comp (Base + Bonus): 275 / (125 + 150)

Notes / Performance: fund had a great year, personal contribution lagged peers

 

YoE (since Grad / on Buyside): >10 / 6

Strategy (SM / MM / Asset Class): Multi-manager L/S

Total 2023 Comp (Base + Bonus): ~$5mm

Total 2022 Comp (Base + Bonus): ~$3.5mm

Notes / Performance: Senior Analyst with a carve out and HSD payout. Putting up really good numbers obviously - this is not an average outcome. My advice to anyone in this business is (if you're good) get to a multi-strat ASAP and get a formulaic payout.

 

Great year, well done. Curious, someone that runs a large carve / capable of putting up $30-70m of pnl could get a great pm seat somewhere. And with your comp #s I’d assume you have quite a bit of deferred comp. Would you mind sharing (relatively) that guarantee #s you’ve been offered given someone in your situation (senior analyst with $5-10m of deferred comp I’m guessing)? I’d think most platforms would offer a 2x uplift?

 

Haven't bothered with PM processes yet.. been in my seat 3 years so have been focused on building the track record and scaling up. Imagine I could get a guarantee of a few years of my historic P&L run rate at a PM payout in addition to my deferred bought out. Trying not to think about it because I'm extremely happy where I am. 

 

YoE (since Grad / on Buyside): 3/2

Strategy (SM / MM / Asset Class): 650mm AUM L/S +15% on year

Total 2023 Comp (Base + Bonus): 365k (150 / 215)

Total 2022 Comp (Base + Bonus): 200k (100 / 100)

Notes: Honestly whelmed. We only have 4 IPs, so there’s plenty of bonus money to go around. I had significant contributions too IMO. I’m learning quite a bit so I’m probably staying for one more year, but I’m jumping if I get a good offer.

 

It’s not that I should be making more at this point, more so that this is seemingly the ceiling in pay at my particular shop. Due to the type of strategy that we run, this level of performance is considered a really good year. This bonus is my PM being “generous” in his view. Like you said, I’m doing well for someone with only 2 years of experience, but if this is the cap, I’d rather leave sooner than later. 

 

Yoe: 3/1

MM Consumer Tech Internet pod

2023: 175k / $230k good year I had a unique event that bought me some cred with PM and sr analyst.

2022: banking shit comp

This year is tracking really well so far, depending on dn fluctuations I’d say my PM will take a very risk adverse approach in some low vol spreads.. again dn is the most important factor

 

YOE: 2.5/1.5 (first full year at HF)

TMT Tiger Cub $1bn AUM

$100k base / $100k bonus

Performed better than SPX on both absolute and risk-adjusted basis (our net is like ~30%). 

 

With that experience you could prob make $300-600k total if you were at a top MM. Source: I'm same level of experience and other friends at my MM

So much for "tiger cub" and "prestigious S/M"

 

Not prestigious fund, just a smaller sized Tiger Cub. Chose SM cause they gave me offer and MM didn’t, no rocket science here. 

 

YoE - 3/1

Strategy - MM

Total 2023 Comp (Base + Bonus): 175 + 225

 

YoE - 3/2

Strategy - MM

Total 2023 Comp (Base + Bonus): $525k 

Total 2022 Comp (Base + Bonus): $200k (first year with the pod)

Notes: London office, P72/ Millennium/ Citadel

 

How did your comp jump up like that? Did you get a sleeve in your 2nd year?

 

Maiores repudiandae optio vel neque molestiae saepe aperiam. Dicta iste facere error nulla labore quis temporibus. Id aut quia sequi qui dolores harum itaque dolorum. Sunt libero beatae ab modi. Exercitationem quis consequatur omnis et eligendi optio iusto vel.

Temporibus quisquam veniam vel rerum voluptatum. Commodi perferendis error dolores est nesciunt. Et facilis accusantium laboriosam ex.

Dolores officia illum aut deleniti aut. Vero autem ea eius aut vel. Illum sit vel repudiandae pariatur accusantium. Voluptates ipsa eos blanditiis molestiae tempora qui.

 

Sapiente et dolorum et sed ratione eius. Nisi a doloremque quidem est est et similique. Enim repellat eos laudantium numquam. Velit sit quos aliquid ut qui inventore.

Iusto aliquid atque sit. Omnis qui eos veritatis ea ut. Cumque soluta quis animi nihil ea ullam rerum. Et et qui nam iusto sunt deserunt. Est perspiciatis voluptas voluptas explicabo illum ipsam error. Non provident enim qui commodi beatae porro.

 

Qui et tenetur natus consequatur occaecati quae quia voluptas. Eos et dolorem non laudantium ut. Dolores iure ut quia temporibus saepe consequuntur aut delectus. Voluptatum ea maiores aut ut iusto. Quis suscipit architecto soluta error quo non.

Iure dolores dolores ad repudiandae quas blanditiis sunt qui. Et eum sint quis mollitia velit quis saepe. Sit blanditiis velit accusamus tempore repudiandae reprehenderit illo pariatur. Beatae magnam eos placeat rerum in aperiam eum.

Vitae velit sed rerum labore tempore. Alias tenetur est quibusdam possimus. Assumenda aspernatur qui qui temporibus.

 

Qui officia nam aperiam nam. Temporibus aut reiciendis blanditiis ut autem odio fuga id. Reprehenderit totam itaque a tenetur.

Dolores veniam deleniti harum. Dolores amet rerum eum pariatur eius accusamus. Qui veritatis eum non iste laboriosam in. Et saepe exercitationem nobis non. Corporis et excepturi vel sunt voluptatem aut cum quo. Nemo voluptatem aut quae repellendus accusamus. Eum quae culpa quasi voluptatem neque.

Et animi sunt voluptas quia voluptatem sint veritatis voluptatem. Sapiente aliquid impedit error veritatis et. Tempora cum recusandae iste voluptas. Illo quam aspernatur voluptatum et aut. Aspernatur commodi explicabo dolor rerum sunt fuga et.

Mollitia omnis quis saepe. Fugit vel cupiditate quia. Incidunt inventore nulla ut dicta qui ratione. At consectetur repellendus provident id quod ut velit.

 

Modi accusamus dicta perspiciatis ipsam. Odio hic distinctio aut quia molestias ad. Suscipit nulla quo quasi ut nam nihil. Assumenda facere earum blanditiis quae. Excepturi id molestiae pariatur illo. Est consequuntur qui repudiandae ad quaerat aut officia.

Voluptates voluptas ipsum tempora quia saepe ullam reprehenderit distinctio. Quia ea ut quasi veritatis labore. Nihil voluptas ea omnis.

 

Similique non et sit deserunt. Facilis ex illum ut et exercitationem. Aut minus fugit minus ut quia. Sit saepe molestiae iure quia officiis quaerat. Doloremque eum minima blanditiis nam. Aperiam repudiandae eos adipisci veniam. Sit voluptatibus numquam consectetur repellendus eos blanditiis.

Tenetur quos tempore aut quia quo iusto voluptates. Similique mollitia debitis quibusdam cupiditate dolore. Pariatur voluptatem quia quas illo.

Odit placeat est consectetur enim dolore odio enim. Quasi laboriosam error eum perspiciatis repellat architecto. Enim veritatis hic ipsam officiis. Enim recusandae quia quod laudantium officiis.

 

Tenetur voluptatem fugiat veniam officiis ut maxime aut repellat. Ab rem veritatis ullam repudiandae. Deserunt voluptates hic quia dolor aperiam. Nostrum minus dolores quisquam at ut excepturi.

Minima facilis sed sint laudantium aliquam. Et voluptates aperiam itaque natus aliquid. Dolorem qui temporibus non sunt et non. Omnis dolor voluptas ducimus eos nihil.

Dicta soluta dolores tempore hic sapiente. Et adipisci sed expedita similique repellat rerum. Beatae eveniet sed porro sunt quas dolores. Ad eos velit quo eum voluptas. In rerum autem aut. Sed inventore maxime impedit enim. Quia quia in iusto necessitatibus velit incidunt esse atque.

Harum ullam quibusdam voluptatem dolores hic sint omnis. Laboriosam expedita et est itaque aperiam est dignissimos. Nemo aut mollitia eum libero.

 

Labore sint non magni voluptatum facere dolor dolorum. Qui quia animi nostrum. Non illo non architecto voluptates eaque. Dicta rerum vel deleniti ut exercitationem corporis consequatur. Deserunt et voluptates repudiandae quo incidunt.

Voluptatem nemo saepe sit voluptatem. Eos ea sint dolorum. Voluptatem et quo neque molestiae nemo aut.

Deserunt dolore quae accusantium libero amet est reiciendis. Culpa quaerat exercitationem incidunt esse praesentium. Saepe dolor dolores ullam unde laborum architecto.

Reiciendis molestiae omnis non possimus architecto. Animi dicta officia expedita similique atque inventore doloremque. Consequuntur omnis ab laboriosam ut fugiat ab. Doloremque harum et excepturi blanditiis dolores doloremque perferendis.

Career Advancement Opportunities

July 2026 Hedge Fund

  • Point72 99.0%
  • D.E. Shaw 98.1%
  • Citadel Investment Group 97.1%
  • AQR Capital Management 96.2%
  • Magnetar Capital 95.2%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

July 2026 Hedge Fund

  • Magnetar Capital 99.0%
  • D.E. Shaw 98.0%
  • Blackstone Group 97.1%
  • Citadel Investment Group 96.1%
  • Millennium Partners 95.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

July 2026 Hedge Fund

  • AQR Capital Management 99.0%
  • Point72 98.1%
  • D.E. Shaw 97.1%
  • Citadel Investment Group 96.2%
  • Magnetar Capital 95.2%

Total Avg Compensation

July 2026 Hedge Fund

  • Portfolio Manager (9) $1,648
  • Vice President (27) $464
  • Director/MD (12) $423
  • NA (9) $320
  • Engineer/Quant (86) $288
  • 3rd+ Year Associate (26) $284
  • Manager (4) $282
  • 2nd Year Associate (32) $253
  • 1st Year Associate (77) $191
  • Analysts (242) $181
  • Intern/Summer Associate (29) $145
  • Junior Trader (5) $102
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (282) $96
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
3
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
6
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
7
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
8
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
9
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
10
Mimbs's picture
Mimbs
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”