Holding period · Intraday to weeks
Statistical arbitrage
What is statistical arbitrage?
Statistical arbitrage trades large baskets of related instruments on mean-reversion and relative-value relationships identified statistically. It is the classic quant research discipline and the deepest employer of doctoral researchers.
Who it hires, and what it pays
Mid-level total compensation, New York reference market.
| Role | What they do here | Mid-level total comp |
|---|---|---|
| Quant Researcher | Signal discovery and alpha research | $550k – $1.1m |
| Quant Developer | The engineering layer beneath the strategy | $380k – $700k |
| Systematic Portfolio Manager | Owning a book and a payout formula | $1.0m – $5.0m |
Where it concentrates
Skills it rewards
Firms running it
Derived from published positioning and office footprint - an indication of where this strategy is practised, not a claim about current vacancies.
Other strategies
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.
Live opportunities
Roles behind Statistical arbitrage
Open vacancies we track at quant firms, grouped by role and city. Adverts are anonymised.
Hiring for these roles? Brief the desk on a hire or check your fit for a role.
Research desk
Speak to a quant market specialist
Ask what a firm really pays, how a desk hires, or where your profile sits. One reply from the research desk, in confidence, no obligation.