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What is a finance quantitative analyst and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
Quoted expert
Nate Peach Ph.D.

A finance quantitative analyst is an individual who uses quantitative methods such as statistics and other mathematical skills to help companies make informed financial decisions. These individuals can work for private equity firms, investment banks, stockbrokers, asset managers, and insurance companies.

A finance quantitative analyst works to identify profitable investment opportunities and manage any potential risks. These analysts generate reports on profits and losses, risk assessments as well as the profitability of new and emerging markets.

Most finance quantitative analysts have an advanced degree in finance, statistics, accounting, or a related field, and should possess strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills. Many of these individuals work closely with marketing and sales teams to promote company efficiency and increase market share. A finance quantitative analyst should also be comfortable working in a team environment and in giving presentations to upper management and clients. A finance quantitative analyst can work in a variety of industries and can make up to $100,000 annually in the US. The job market for this profession is expected to increase 5% by 2028.

What general advice would you give to a finance quantitative analyst?

Nate Peach Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Economics, George Fox University

Try to stay optimistic. You've invested your time, energy, and money on a precious degree. The pandemic has not changed the value of the skills you've acquired. What it has done is to make it challenging to find a job for the moment. Things are weird right now. Many companies are redesigning their hiring practices, which is bound to cause challenges for job seekers. The skills that you developed as an economist are precious to employers, be diligent in your job search, and you will be rewarded with a great career.
ScoreFinance Quantitative AnalystUS Average
Salary
6.3

Avg. Salary $80,288

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
5.8

Growth rate 9%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
5.5
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.10%

Asian 14.09%

Black or African American 5.64%

Hispanic or Latino 7.67%

Unknown 4.50%

White 68.00%

Gender

female 47.30%

male 52.70%

Age - 38
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 38
Stress level
5.8

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level
8.4

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance
4.3

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Finance quantitative analyst career paths

Key steps to become a finance quantitative analyst

  1. Explore finance quantitative analyst education requirements

    Most common finance quantitative analyst degrees

    Bachelor's

    49.3 %

    Master's

    42.0 %

    Doctorate

    7.2 %
  2. Start to develop specific finance quantitative analyst skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Python22.40%
    Risk Management12.54%
    SQL10.57%
    SAS6.75%
    Governance4.06%
  3. Complete relevant finance quantitative analyst training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New finance quantitative analysts learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a finance quantitative analyst based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real finance quantitative analyst resumes.
  4. Research finance quantitative analyst duties and responsibilities

    • Manage treasury workstation steering team for automation of core treasury operations for increase reliability of financial reporting and decision making.
    • Develop automated reports using VBA and SAS
    • Implement time series models, including ARMA, ARIMA and GARCH, in Matlab.
    • Research about the effect of media stock owners on other organizations' performance using SAS.
  5. Prepare your finance quantitative analyst resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your finance quantitative analyst resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a finance quantitative analyst resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable finance quantitative analyst resume templates

    Build a professional finance quantitative analyst resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your finance quantitative analyst resume.
    Finance Quantitative Analyst Resume
    Finance Quantitative Analyst Resume
    Finance Quantitative Analyst Resume
    Finance Quantitative Analyst Resume
    Finance Quantitative Analyst Resume
    Finance Quantitative Analyst Resume
    Finance Quantitative Analyst Resume
    Finance Quantitative Analyst Resume
    Finance Quantitative Analyst Resume
  6. Apply for finance quantitative analyst jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a finance quantitative analyst job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first finance quantitative analyst job

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Average finance quantitative analyst salary

The average finance quantitative analyst salary in the United States is $80,288 per year or $39 per hour. Finance quantitative analyst salaries range between $51,000 and $125,000 per year.

Average finance quantitative analyst salary
$80,288 Yearly
$38.60 hourly

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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