Understanding Quant Trader Salary in the UK

When researching a quant trader salary in the UK, the first place to look is official government data. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) publishes the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), which provides median weekly, hourly, and annual earnings for a wide range of occupations. However, ASHE does not include a specific category for 'quant trader'. This means that any precise figure for a quant trader salary must be treated as an estimate, not an official benchmark.

What the Official Data Tells Us

ONS ASHE 2025 shows that median gross weekly earnings for full-time employees were £766.60, and median hourly earnings (excluding overtime) were £19.67. The median full-time annual salary for employees who had been in their job for at least a year was £39,039. These figures are useful as a baseline, but quant traders typically earn far more.

ASHE also defines 'high-paid' jobs as those earning more than 1.5 times the median hourly pay. In April 2025, that threshold was £26.94 per hour. Around 23.2% of all employee jobs fell into this high-paid category. It is reasonable to assume that most quant traders are in this group, given the specialised skills and the financial sector context.

The National Living Wage (NLW) for workers aged 21 and over was £12.21 per hour in April 2025. For 2026/27, the NLW is expected to rise to £12.71 per hour, according to GOV.UK rates. Quant traders earn well above these minimums.

Converting Hourly Rates to Annual Salary

To convert an hourly rate to an annual salary, the standard formula is:

Annual salary ≈ hourly rate × hours per week × 52 weeks

For a typical full-time contract of 37.5 hours per week, the multiplier is 1,950 (37.5 × 52). So if a quant trader earns £50 per hour, the annual equivalent would be around £97,500. At £75 per hour, it would be approximately £146,250. At £100 per hour, it would be £195,000.

However, these are rough conversions. Actual quant trader salary packages often include a significant bonus, which may be paid annually and is not captured in an hourly rate. Many quant traders also work in London, where employers may add a London weighting or cost-of-living allowance. ONS data shows that London has higher median earnings than other regions, so a London-based quant trader salary is likely to be higher than the national average.

Part-Time vs Full-Time Considerations

Quant trader roles are almost always full-time, but the conversion rule still applies if you are considering a part-time arrangement. For example, if a quant trader works 30 hours per week instead of 37.5, the annual salary would be proportionally lower. Always check your contract for the exact weekly hours.

Using Our Tools

You can use our Hourly to Salary calculator to convert any hourly rate into annual and monthly figures. For a deeper look at UK pay benchmarks, visit our salary data page, which includes median earnings by occupation and region.

Caveats and Limitations

It is important to note that the ONS ASHE data does not capture bonuses, commission, or other variable pay. For many quant traders, the bonus can be a substantial part of total compensation, sometimes exceeding the base salary. The ASHE figures are based on basic pay only, so they may understate the true quant trader salary.

Additionally, the hours assumption matters. If a quant trader regularly works more than 37.5 hours per week (e.g., 50 hours), the effective hourly rate may be lower than the base rate suggests. Conversely, if overtime is paid at a premium, the annual earnings could be higher.

Summary

While a precise quant trader salary is not available from official UK statistics, we can place it in the context of high-paid roles. Using the high-pay threshold of £26.94 per hour as a lower bound, and applying the standard conversion, a quant trader earning that rate would have an annual salary of around £52,533 (at 37.5 hours). In reality, quant traders often earn significantly more, with base hourly rates that can exceed £50 or even £100. Bonuses and London weighting further increase total compensation.

For the most accurate picture, consult industry-specific surveys or recruitment data, but always cross-reference with official ONS benchmarks. Our Hourly to Salary calculator and salary data pages can help you make sense of the numbers.