Head to head
DRW vs Optiver
DRW or Optiver?
DRW is a proprietary trading headquartered in Chicago; Optiver is a market maker headquartered in Amsterdam. On indicative total compensation DRW sits roughly 2 percentage points higher against the market median. The larger difference for most candidates is the work itself: options and fixed income at DRW, versus options market making and volatility at Optiver.
| DRW | Optiver | |
|---|---|---|
| Business model | Proprietary trading | Market maker |
| Headquarters | Chicago | Amsterdam |
| Founded | 1992 | 1986 |
| Comp vs market median | +12% | +10% |
| Offices | Chicago, London, Amsterdam, Singapore, New York, Greenwich / Stamford, Toronto | Amsterdam, Chicago, London, Singapore, Hong Kong, Paris |
| Strategies | Options, Fixed income, Crypto, Real assets, Market making | Options market making, Volatility, Delta one |
| Hires for | Quant Trader, Quant Researcher, HFT / Low-Latency Engineer, Quant Developer | Quant Trader, Quant Developer, HFT / Low-Latency Engineer, Quant Researcher |
| Interview stages | 3 | 3 |
| Typical backgrounds | Mathematics and engineering, Trading backgrounds, Software engineering | Quantitative undergraduates, Econometrics, Engineering graduates |
Compensation by role
Indicative mid-level total compensation, US dollars, New York reference market.
| Role | DRW | Optiver |
|---|---|---|
| Quant Researcher | $470k | - |
| Quant Trader | $480k | $420k |
| Quant Developer | - | $320k |
| HFT / Low-Latency Engineer | $450k | $380k |
A dash means we hold no indicative figure for that role at that firm. It is recorded as unknown rather than estimated.
DRW
Diversified proprietary firm covering traditional derivatives alongside significant digital-asset and venture activity. Broader strategy mix than most Chicago peers.
Interview process
- 1. ScreenBackground and motivation.
- 2. TechnicalProbability and programming, weighted to the specific desk.
- 3. On-siteDesk interviews and scenario discussion.
Optiver
One of the largest options market makers globally, with a strong graduate programme and a trading culture built around speed of reasoning. Amsterdam base salaries look modest until the bonus multiple is accounted for.
Interview process
- 1. Numerical testTimed mental arithmetic and sequences - a genuine filter.
- 2. Technical / probabilityOptions intuition, expected value and market-making scenarios.
- 3. On-siteTrading games, case discussion and culture assessment.
Markets where both compete for talent
Other comparisons
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.
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