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Foreign exchange trader salary
Average foreign exchange trader salary
$115,133
Understanding the Foreign Exchange Trader Salary
As of October 2025, the average salary for a foreign exchange trader is approximately $115,133 per year. This figure can vary significantly based on experience, location, and the specific employer. Entry-level positions typically start lower, but with experience, traders can significantly increase their earnings.
In terms of geographical variations, states like New York and California often offer higher salaries, reflecting the concentration of financial institutions and market activity. Furthermore, traders working for major banks or hedge funds may command salaries well above the average.
For those considering a career in foreign exchange trading, understanding these salary trends is critical. Additionally, factors such as certification and education can enhance job prospects and earning potential. Joining industry networks and pursuing continuous learning can also lead to lucrative opportunities in this dynamic field.
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Where can a Foreign Exchange Trader earn more?
Foreign exchange trader salary estimates from across the web
Average foreign exchange trader salary by state
The highest-paying states for foreign exchange traders are New York, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island. The lowest average foreign exchange trader salary states are Nebraska, Washington, and Indiana.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for foreign exchange traders
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Hampshire | $137,445 | $66.08 |
| 2 | New York | $139,846 | $67.23 |
| 3 | Delaware | $131,245 | $63.10 |
| 4 | Rhode Island | $136,754 | $65.75 |
| 5 | Nevada | $126,625 | $60.88 |
| 6 | Connecticut | $134,901 | $64.86 |
| 7 | District of Columbia | $129,279 | $62.15 |
| 8 | West Virginia | $115,048 | $55.31 |
| 9 | New Mexico | $111,419 | $53.57 |
| 10 | Michigan | $117,637 | $56.56 |
| 11 | Maine | $103,574 | $49.80 |
| 12 | Vermont | $102,826 | $49.44 |
| 13 | Tennessee | $105,558 | $50.75 |
| 14 | Oklahoma | $105,022 | $50.49 |
| 15 | Ohio | $114,760 | $55.17 |
| 16 | Louisiana | $108,259 | $52.05 |
| 17 | New Jersey | $121,308 | $58.32 |
| 18 | Texas | $109,203 | $52.50 |
| 19 | Georgia | $108,197 | $52.02 |
| 20 | Illinois | $102,157 | $49.11 |
| 21 | Kentucky | $102,580 | $49.32 |
| 22 | Wyoming | $93,713 | $45.05 |
| 23 | California | $110,564 | $53.16 |
| 24 | Minnesota | $104,992 | $50.48 |
| 25 | South Dakota | $91,914 | $44.19 |
| 26 | Montana | $93,656 | $45.03 |
| 27 | South Carolina | $102,890 | $49.47 |
| 28 | North Carolina | $99,400 | $47.79 |
| 29 | Missouri | $102,478 | $49.27 |
| 30 | Massachusetts | $103,250 | $49.64 |
| 31 | Utah | $94,563 | $45.46 |
| 32 | Hawaii | $92,352 | $44.40 |
| 33 | Iowa | $93,023 | $44.72 |
| 34 | Arkansas | $94,073 | $45.23 |
| 35 | Mississippi | $91,367 | $43.93 |
| 36 | North Dakota | $87,250 | $41.95 |
| 37 | Pennsylvania | $95,536 | $45.93 |
| 38 | Kansas | $88,326 | $42.46 |
| 39 | Maryland | $93,573 | $44.99 |
| 40 | Virginia | $94,448 | $45.41 |
| 41 | Colorado | $94,156 | $45.27 |
| 42 | Nebraska | $82,258 | $39.55 |
| 43 | Arizona | $88,734 | $42.66 |
| 44 | Idaho | $80,358 | $38.63 |
| 45 | Alaska | $80,323 | $38.62 |
| 46 | Wisconsin | $84,578 | $40.66 |
| 47 | Oregon | $86,704 | $41.68 |
| 48 | Florida | $83,135 | $39.97 |
| 49 | Indiana | $82,125 | $39.48 |
| 50 | Washington | $82,131 | $39.49 |
| 51 | Alabama | $74,875 | $36.00 |
Highest paying cities for foreign exchange traders
The highest-paying cities for foreign exchange traders are New York, NY, Stamford, CT, and Washington, DC.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $143,644 | $69.06 |
| 2 | Stamford, CT | $136,985 | $65.86 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | $131,717 | $63.33 |
| 4 | Cleveland, OH | $121,276 | $58.31 |
| 5 | Palo Alto, CA | $114,973 | $55.28 |
| 6 | Boston, MA | $103,679 | $49.85 |
| 7 | Chicago, IL | $103,381 | $49.70 |
Foreign exchange trader salary details
A foreign exchange trader's salary ranges from $66,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $199,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a foreign exchange trader's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $199,000 | $16,583 | $96 |
| 75th Percentile | $153,000 | $12,750 | $74 |
| Average | $115,133 | $9,594 | $55 |
| 25th Percentile | $86,000 | $7,167 | $41 |
| 10th Percentile | $66,000 | $5,500 | $32 |
Highest paying foreign exchange trader jobs
The highest paying types of foreign exchange traders are hedge fund trader, energy derivatives trader, and day trader.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trader | $90,179 | $7,515 | $43.36 | 17,351 |
| Equity Trader | $101,759 | $8,480 | $48.92 | 17,507 |
| Commodity Trader | $93,220 | $7,768 | $44.82 | 10,906 |
| Options Trader | $110,139 | $9,178 | $52.95 | 1,433 |
| Hedge Fund Trader | $117,549 | $9,796 | $56.51 | 12,689 |
| Forex Trader | $115,092 | $9,591 | $55.33 | 17,582 |
Top companies hiring foreign exchange traders now:
Which companies pay foreign exchange traders the most?
Foreign exchange trader salaries at Paul Hastings and Citi are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average foreign exchange trader salary at companies like State Street and Credit Agricole CIB are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Paul Hastings | $180,852 | $86.95 |
| 2 | Citi | $145,965 | $70.18 |
| 3 | State Street | $131,018 | $62.99 |
| 4 | Credit Agricole CIB | $126,487 | $60.81 |
| 5 | DRW | $122,002 | $58.65 |
| 6 | HSBC Bank | $120,444 | $57.91 |
| 7 | Forex | $118,332 | $56.89 |
| 8 | Barclays | $118,230 | $56.84 |
| 9 | Standard Chartered | $115,019 | $55.30 |
| 10 | KeyBank | $98,389 | $47.30 |
| 11 | University of Rochester | $70,127 | $33.71 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Foreign exchange trader salary trends
The average foreign exchange trader salary has fallen by $-12,959 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average foreign exchange trader earned $128,092 annually, but today, they earn $115,133 a year. That works out to a -4% change in pay for foreign exchange traders over the last decade.
Compare foreign exchange trader salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average foreign exchange trader salary over time
Compare foreign exchange trader salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Foreign exchange trader salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $115,000 | $55.35 | +3.9% |
| 2024 | $111,000 | $53.22 | -3.0% |
| 2023 | $114,000 | $54.80 | +0.5% |
| 2022 | $113,000 | $54.51 | -5.5% |
| 2021 | $120,000 | $57.52 | -6.3% |
Recently added foreign exchange trader salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wintrust Financial Corp | Foreign Exchange Trader I | Chicago, IL | 05/16/2025 | $59,000 |
| Barclays Capital | Electronic Foreign Exchange Trader | Fine, NY | 02/04/2025 | $160,000 |
| State Street Bank and Trust Company | Foreign Exchange [00073793] | Boston, MA | 11/13/2024 | $157,394 |
| Keybank | Foreign Exchange Trader | Cleveland, OH | 05/29/2024 | $110,000 |
| Keybank | Foreign Exchange Trader | Chicago, IL | 05/29/2024 | $110,000 |
| Keybank | Foreign Exchange Trader | New York, NY | 05/29/2024 | $110,000 |
| Us Bank | Corporate Foreign Exchange (FX) Marketer | New York, NY | 05/25/2024 | $165,325 |
| Keybank National Association | Foreign Exchange Trader | Albany, NY | 05/18/2024 | $110,000 |
| State Street Bank and Trust Company | Foreign Exchange [00059747] | Boston, MA | 11/07/2023 | $175,000 |
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