The fast-moving world of buying and selling stocks, currencies, oil, grain and electricity, by people and by algorithms.
Top pay: highest pay, longest training
Equity Trader: Buys and sells stocks for a bank or fund, trying to get the best prices on huge orders. Typical pay $200k.
Quantitative Analyst (Quant): Uses advanced math and programming to build models that price investments and find trading opportunities. Typical pay $250k.
Quantitative Developer: Writes ultra-fast software that runs trading strategies, where microseconds matter. Typical pay $250k.
Options Market Maker: Constantly offers to both buy and sell options contracts, earning a small profit on each trade while managing risk. Typical pay $250k.
Commodities Trader: Buys and sells oil, natural gas, metals, grains or coffee, often for companies that produce or use them. Typical pay $200k.
Power & Energy Trader: Buys and sells electricity on the power grid, betting on heat waves, wind speeds and power plant outages. Typical pay $180k.
Foreign Exchange (FX) Trader: Trades currencies like the dollar, euro and yen, where trillions change hands every day. Typical pay $180k.
Sales Trader: Talks with big investment clients about the market and executes their trades. Typical pay $180k.
Proprietary Trader: Trades a firm's own money (not clients') and keeps a share of the profits. Typical pay $150k.
Fixed Income Trader: Buys and sells bonds and interest-rate products for a bank or investment firm. Typical pay $200k.
Crypto Market Maker: Trades cryptocurrencies around the clock, quoting buy and sell prices so markets run smoothly. Typical pay $180k.
Capital Introduction Associate: Works at a bank's prime brokerage introducing hedge funds to investors who might give them money. Typical pay $130k.
Inter-Dealer Broker: Matches big banks and trading firms that want to trade with each other anonymously, in bonds, swaps or energy, earning a fee on each trade. Typical pay $175k.
Freight Derivatives (FFA) Broker: Arranges bets on the future price of shipping cargo across oceans, so ship owners and grain or oil traders can protect themselves from swings. Typical pay $150k.
Weather Risk Trader: Trades contracts that pay out based on temperature, rain or snow, helping utilities, farms and ski resorts protect themselves from bad weather. Typical pay $160k.
Mid pay: solid pay, degree or apprenticeship
Grain Merchandiser: Buys grain from farmers and sells it to food makers, ethanol plants or export ships. Typical pay $80k.
Exchange Floor Broker: Works on the trading floor of the New York Stock Exchange or an options exchange, executing orders in person. Typical pay $100k.
Trading Assistant: Supports traders with trade entry, reports and fixing errors. Typical pay $70k.
Futures Broker: Helps farmers, companies and investors trade futures contracts to lock in prices or speculate. Typical pay $80k.
Brokerage Clerk: Handles paperwork and records for stock and bond trades. Typical pay $55k.
Trade Settlement Specialist: Makes sure securities and money actually change hands after trades. Typical pay $55k.
Margin & Collateral Analyst: Makes sure traders and clients have posted enough collateral to cover their bets. Typical pay $85k.
Clearing Operations Specialist: Makes sure every trade gets settled correctly, with money and securities ending up in the right place. Typical pay $60k.
Starter: fastest way in
Independent Day Trader: Trades stocks, options or futures with their own money, trying to profit from short-term price moves. Typical pay $20k.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.