Financial Quantitative Analysts
Develop quantitative techniques to inform securities investing, equities investing, pricing, or valuation of financial instruments. Develop mathematical or statistical models for risk management, asset optimization, pricing, or relative value analysis.
Also called: Investment Portfolio Control Consultant · Investment Strategist · Portfolio Manager · Quantitative Analyst · Quantitative Equity Analyst · Quantitative Research Analyst
Median pay (national)
$80,190
$46,420–$151,780 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
127,450
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
+3.1%
~10,300 openings/yr
Typical entry
Bachelor's degree
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for financial quantitative analysts shows an unusually wide range: the top 10% earn $151,780 versus $46,420 at the bottom 10% — 3.3x. The median of $80,190 leaves roughly 89% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change +3.1% from 2024 to 2034 — about as fast as the 3% all-occupation average. Even so, BLS projects about 10,300 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 51 states with released data, District of Columbia pays the most for this role (median $123,450, +54% vs the national median), while Puerto Rico sits lowest at $38,480 — a 221% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Mathematics, Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list. On the tools side, O*NET flags C++, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft PowerPoint as in-demand technologies for this role.
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Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Mathematics
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Active Learning
- Writing
- Learning Strategies
- Monitoring
- Science
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- Apply mathematical or statistical techniques to address practical issues in finance, such as derivative valuation, securities trading, risk management, or financial market regulation.
- Research or develop analytical tools to address issues such as portfolio construction or optimization, performance measurement, attribution, profit and loss measurement, or pricing models.
- Interpret results of financial analysis procedures.
- Develop core analytical capabilities or model libraries, using advanced statistical, quantitative, or econometric techniques.
- Define or recommend model specifications or data collection methods.
- Produce written summary reports of financial research results.
- Maintain or modify all financial analytic models in use.
- Provide application or analytical support to researchers or traders on issues such as valuations or data.
- Devise or apply independent models or tools to help verify results of analytical systems.
- Collaborate in the development or testing of new analytical software to ensure compliance with user requirements, specifications, or scope.
Tools & technology
- C++
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications VBA
- Python
- R
- SAS
- Structured query language SQL
- Tableau
- The MathWorks MATLAB
- Amazon Web Services AWS software
- Apache Hive
- C#
- IBM SPSS Statistics
- JavaScript
Knowledge areas
- Mathematics
- Economics and Accounting
- Computers and Electronics
- English Language
- Engineering and Technology
- Administration and Management
- Design
- Customer and Personal Service