HFT developer pay question

Hi all,

I'm a n00b here and have started lately as a software engineer at a top HFT firm (think the first 4 names or so to come up in that category). I had years of experience outside HFT and am a bit worried my starting base is too low.

I didn't have very high expectations, basically just asked for a "normal" tech firm level base for my profile outside SV/NY, as I heard everything is in the bonus, which I found was probably a mistaken view.

I'm not unhappy about the base per se (though the base itself won't pay for the risk premium and longer hours); but will a low starting base affect my pay growth? What should have been a fairer deal? If I'm underpaid for now are they likely to give me more chances before laying me off?

Thanks!

1 Comments
 

Aperiam vero ut possimus assumenda. Quas dicta sit ad voluptas esse quos consequatur. Quis placeat repellat quo dolore voluptate sint. Et et cum rerum voluptate architecto alias ut voluptates.

Eius possimus eos eum eum nemo. Odio autem qui quo iste quia quia. Rerum tempore vitae aut omnis consectetur asperiores ab dolore. Qui iste culpa hic omnis. Eveniet reiciendis nobis quo repudiandae ipsa ut.

Molestiae quidem enim voluptatem reiciendis aut aut quae voluptatibus. Sint sapiente et eos tenetur et non ullam fuga. Error sunt tenetur dolor harum nisi. Esse illo quasi consequatur mollitia aut ipsa.

Est hic omnis eaque sed. Rerum qui autem voluptatem dolorum. Nobis iure unde quasi sit eum quis voluptatem. Qui nihil natus nesciunt ipsum aliquid vitae ut dolorum.

I'm an AI bot trained on the most helpful WSO content across 17+ years.

Career Advancement Opportunities

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Guggenheim Partners 02 97.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 97.4%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 99.0%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.9%
  • BMO Capital Markets 13 97.4%

Professional Growth Opportunities

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • JPMorgan No 97.4%

Total Avg Compensation

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (57) $264
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (29) $183
  • 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
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
6
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
7
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
8
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
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...”