City versus city
Compare quant markets
KnowQuant research deskUpdated 1 September 202617 hub markets benchmarkedMethod 2026.1
Which quant market should I target?
New York sets the reference for headline pay, London is the deepest market outside it, Chicago and Amsterdam concentrate market making, and Singapore and Hong Kong lead Asia. Each comparison below prices the same roles in both markets in local currency and in US dollar equivalent, then sets the hiring volume, strategy mix and right to work position beside it. Method 2026.1.
Head to head
London vs New York
On US dollar equivalent total compensation, New York pays about 13% more than London across the quant disciplines we benchmark. London ranks 2nd in our hiring index and New York 1st. Both markets hire heavily into systematic macro and statistical arbitrage. Headline pay is only part of the picture: tax, cost of living and visa access change the net outcome materially between these two.
See the full comparisonNew York vs Chicago
On US dollar equivalent total compensation, New York pays about 2% more than Chicago across the quant disciplines we benchmark. New York ranks 1st in our hiring index and Chicago 3rd. New York skews to statistical arbitrage, Chicago to high-frequency trading. Headline pay is only part of the picture: tax, cost of living and visa access change the net outcome materially between these two.
See the full comparisonLondon vs Amsterdam
On US dollar equivalent total compensation, London pays about 15% more than Amsterdam across the quant disciplines we benchmark. London ranks 2nd in our hiring index and Amsterdam 6th. Both markets hire heavily into market making. Headline pay is only part of the picture: tax, cost of living and visa access change the net outcome materially between these two.
See the full comparisonSingapore vs Hong Kong
On US dollar equivalent total compensation, Hong Kong pays about 4% more than Singapore across the quant disciplines we benchmark. Singapore ranks 4th in our hiring index and Hong Kong 5th. Both markets hire heavily into systematic trading. Headline pay is only part of the picture: tax, cost of living and visa access change the net outcome materially between these two.
See the full comparisonNew York vs San Francisco
On US dollar equivalent total compensation, New York pays about 5% more than San Francisco across the quant disciplines we benchmark. New York ranks 1st in our hiring index and San Francisco 7th. Both markets hire heavily into statistical arbitrage and ml-driven alpha. Headline pay is only part of the picture: tax, cost of living and visa access change the net outcome materially between these two.
See the full comparisonLondon vs Zurich / Geneva
On US dollar equivalent total compensation, Zurich / Geneva pays about 3% more than London across the quant disciplines we benchmark. London ranks 2nd in our hiring index and Zurich / Geneva 9th. London skews to systematic macro, Zurich / Geneva to systematic funds. Headline pay is only part of the picture: tax, cost of living and visa access change the net outcome materially between these two.
See the full comparisonLondon vs Singapore
On US dollar equivalent total compensation, London pays about 6% more than Singapore across the quant disciplines we benchmark. London ranks 2nd in our hiring index and Singapore 4th. Both markets hire heavily into market making. Headline pay is only part of the picture: tax, cost of living and visa access change the net outcome materially between these two.
See the full comparisonAmsterdam vs Zurich / Geneva
On US dollar equivalent total compensation, Zurich / Geneva pays about 16% more than Amsterdam across the quant disciplines we benchmark. Amsterdam ranks 6th in our hiring index and Zurich / Geneva 9th. Amsterdam skews to market making, Zurich / Geneva to systematic funds. Headline pay is only part of the picture: tax, cost of living and visa access change the net outcome materially between these two.
See the full comparisonNew York vs Singapore
On US dollar equivalent total compensation, New York pays about 22% more than Singapore across the quant disciplines we benchmark. New York ranks 1st in our hiring index and Singapore 4th. New York skews to statistical arbitrage, Singapore to systematic trading. Headline pay is only part of the picture: tax, cost of living and visa access change the net outcome materially between these two.
See the full comparisonLondon vs Paris
On US dollar equivalent total compensation, London pays about 26% more than Paris across the quant disciplines we benchmark. London ranks 2nd in our hiring index and Paris 8th. London skews to systematic macro, Paris to derivatives. Headline pay is only part of the picture: tax, cost of living and visa access change the net outcome materially between these two.
See the full comparisonLondon vs Dubai / Abu Dhabi
On US dollar equivalent total compensation, Dubai / Abu Dhabi pays about 2% more than London across the quant disciplines we benchmark. London ranks 2nd in our hiring index and Dubai / Abu Dhabi 10th. London skews to systematic macro, Dubai / Abu Dhabi to multi-strategy. Headline pay is only part of the picture: tax, cost of living and visa access change the net outcome materially between these two.
See the full comparisonChicago vs Amsterdam
On US dollar equivalent total compensation, Chicago pays about 30% more than Amsterdam across the quant disciplines we benchmark. Chicago ranks 3rd in our hiring index and Amsterdam 6th. Both markets hire heavily into high-frequency trading and market making. Headline pay is only part of the picture: tax, cost of living and visa access change the net outcome materially between these two.
See the full comparisonMethodology
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.