Markets
Is Toronto a good place to work as a quant?
KnowQuant research deskUpdated 1 September 2026Method 2026.1
Short answer
Toronto ranks #15 of 17 in our quant hiring index, rated fast-growing for opportunity, with a quant researcher median of C$456k.
Toronto combines a deep pension and asset-management base with a newer layer of proprietary trading and engineering offices established by US firms. Demand skews to quant development and electronic trading rather than pure research, and the local machine-learning talent pool competes with the same technology employers that recruit in the Bay Area. Pay trails Chicago at equivalent seniority, and immigration routes make it a practical alternative for candidates who cannot secure a US visa.
Demand concentrates in electronic trading, quant development, systematic research. The employers our desk tracks in the market are drw, running electronic trading, quant development, systematic research.
Right to work: The Global Talent Stream is the route usually discussed for these roles, and some candidates look at Canada when a US route is unavailable. Check the current official Canadian guidance and confirm with the employer.
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Cite these figures
KnowQuant Quant Compensation Benchmark, Q3 2026 edition, method 2026.1. https://www.know-quant.com/answers/is-toronto-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.
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Is Hong Kong a good place to work as a quant?
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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.