Markets
Is Sydney a good place to work as a quant?
KnowQuant research deskUpdated 1 September 2026Method 2026.1
Short answer
Sydney ranks #14 of 17 in our quant hiring index, rated strong / niche for opportunity, with a quant researcher median of A$520k.
Sydney's quant market is small in absolute terms but unusually concentrated: a handful of options market makers run full trading, research and engineering functions locally, and they recruit heavily from Australian university cohorts rather than importing senior hires. Because the same firms operate in Amsterdam and Chicago, graduate training and internal mobility are genuine features of the market rather than perks. Headline pay sits below the northern hemisphere hubs, though the gap narrows on a cost-of-living basis.
Demand concentrates in market making, options trading, quant development. The employers our desk tracks in the market are imc, jump, running market making, options, quant development, asia-pacific derivatives.
Right to work: Skilled sponsorship is used for quantitative roles, though many seats are filled from the local graduate pipeline. Confirm sponsorship per role rather than assuming it.
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Cite these figures
KnowQuant Quant Compensation Benchmark, Q3 2026 edition, method 2026.1. https://www.know-quant.com/answers/is-sydney-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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New York pays more in gross terms, with a quant researcher median of $475k against £319k in London, but London gives broader access to European markets and easier visa routes for many candidates.
Is New York a good place to work as a quant?
New York ranks #1 of 17 in our quant hiring index, rated exceptional for opportunity, with a quant researcher median of $475k.
Is London a good place to work as a quant?
London ranks #2 of 17 in our quant hiring index, rated exceptional for opportunity, with a quant researcher median of £319k.
Is Chicago a good place to work as a quant?
Chicago ranks #3 of 17 in our quant hiring index, rated exceptional for opportunity, with a quant researcher median of $461k.
Is Singapore a good place to work as a quant?
Singapore ranks #4 of 17 in our quant hiring index, rated very strong for opportunity, with a quant researcher median of S$522k.
Is Hong Kong a good place to work as a quant?
Hong Kong ranks #5 of 17 in our quant hiring index, rated very strong for opportunity, with a quant researcher median of HK$3.1m.
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.