PnL compensation from Chicago prop shops

http://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/chicago-junior-trader-salary-SRCH_IL…

Glassdoor says the median salary for a junior trader is $55k. This begs the question, will a junior trader only expect to make their salary?
Obviously the amount someone can make will be dependent on what role they play, the years of experience, the firm they work at, and their PnL.
What are the bonuses due to PnL like, for an average performer?

2 Comments
 
Best Response

I know a friend with a $1MM book at Chimera. Not sure what he makes. But he walked me through a boe 'chat' on income.

Let's say you make a 30% return in Y1 (#winning). That's 300k. So, with a $60k salary you were a 5x return on investment. Or were you high school Padawan? Now ... that $1M is post tax income that the firm gave you to play with. So Because they control the capital ... they will keep the lions share (I presume). At a 35% tax rate on that income (void capital gains tax ... I know). The firm needed $1.5M.

With a generous 15% cut out of that $300k you get a $45k bonus. The firm keeps $255 (more like $195k as they have to pay you) ...

Now ... that 5x investment is more like a 3x investment on you. If we factor in insurance, training, and time away from work to train you ... then in Y1 you are only a ~2x investment. Hardly anything to brag about :p

While the numbers may or may not be true ... if you think about it ... it takes money to make money, and while traders make a killing if they are good ... the firm will make sure it's taken care of before you.

 

Reprehenderit eaque vel velit magnam expedita unde et a. Quis et saepe est libero reiciendis dolorem assumenda. Aut molestiae vel ex debitis sed quia in. Minus consectetur commodi voluptate sit provident iusto rem. Ea cum delectus sed. Quaerat ipsum cupiditate velit porro et et.

Career Advancement Opportunities

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.9%
  • Goldman Sachs 02 97.4%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.9%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.9%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.4%

Professional Growth Opportunities

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • JPMorgan No 97.4%

Total Avg Compensation

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (56) $261
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (28) $184
  • Intern/Summer Associate (16) $161
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (76) $101
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
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
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...”