Markets
Is Amsterdam a good place to work as a quant?
KnowQuant research deskUpdated 1 September 2026Method 2026.1
Short answer
Amsterdam ranks #6 of 17 in our quant hiring index, rated very strong for opportunity, with a quant researcher median of €323k.
Amsterdam is home to several of the largest options market makers in the world, and the hiring profile reflects that: trading technology, low-latency engineering and options theory dominate. Base salaries look modest against New York, but bonus outcomes at the successful firms have historically been a large multiple of base. The 30% ruling has been narrowed over time, so check its current terms before assuming it applies to you.
Demand concentrates in hft, market making, trading technology. The employers our desk tracks in the market are optiver, imc, drw, jump, running market making, high-frequency trading, options.
Right to work: The Highly Skilled Migrant route is the one usually used for these roles. Check the current official Netherlands guidance, the current terms of the 30% ruling and what the employer will actually sponsor before comparing offers.
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Cite these figures
KnowQuant Quant Compensation Benchmark, Q3 2026 edition, method 2026.1. https://www.know-quant.com/answers/is-amsterdam-a-good-place-to-work-as-a-quant
Free to quote and republish with attribution and a link to the source page, under our terms. Method 2026.1, last reviewed 1 September 2026. The methodology sets out how each band is built and what it excludes.
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Methodology
Figures are expressed as annual total compensation (base salary plus expected performance bonus) in the reference market's local currency, converted from a US dollar base. They describe typical market ranges rather than any individual offer, and exclude sign-on payments, deferred equity and carried interest. Portfolio-manager figures reflect formulaic profit-share arrangements and are therefore far more dispersed than any other role.
KnowQuantIndex 2026.1 · Updated September 2026
Modelled bands describe the market, not an individual offer. Where an employer states pay, the stated figure is used and labelled as such.