How to hire an options trader

How to hire an options trader, step by step

Here's a step-by-step options trader hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write an options trader job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new options trader
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does an options trader do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the options trader you need to hire. Certain options trader roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   An options trader's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, options traders from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   Here's a comparison of options trader salaries for various roles:

   Type of Options Trader	Description	Hourly rate
   Options Trader	Securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents connect buyers and sellers in financial markets. They sell securities to individuals, advise companies in search of investors, and conduct trades.	$31-88
   Foreign Exchange Trader	The foreign exchange market is volatile and influenced by numerous factors. A foreign exchange trader considers these factors and utilizes them in their favor... Show more	$31-95
   Hedge Fund Trader	A Hedge Fund Trader specializes in developing investment strategies through market research and analysis. Although the extent of their duties depends on their company of employment, it typically includes managing and monitoring market portfolios, trading according to policies and regulations, reaching out to potential business partners through calls and correspondence, discussing terms, and keeping an eye on stock prices... Show more	$32-96

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • FX
   • Stock Options
   • Equities
   • Stock Market
   • Risk Management Strategies
   • Equity Options
   • Derivative
   • Order Flow
   • Financial Markets
   • Python
   • P/L
   • Technical Analysis
   • PnL
   • Market Making

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Enact, and manage equity block desk operation and set up floor broker network on NYSE.
   • Create VBA applications to automate basic trading functions and administration functions such as reorganization tenders and trade pricing issues.
   • Manage business, sales, marketing, international negotiation and communication for a commodities business.
   • Trade options profitably on screen markets and trade complex option spreads via telephone brokers at the CBOE and CME.
   • Experience in communicating and executing derivative arbitrage opportunities, as well as communicating and executing trades fitting against an option position.
   • Research the SPX, DOW, and NASDAQ.

   More options trader duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your options trader job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. An options trader can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, options traders' average salary in alabama is 51% less than in new york.
   • Seniority. Entry-level options traders 65% less than senior-level options traders.
   • Certifications. An options trader with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in an options trader's salary.

   Average options trader salary

   $110,139yearly

   $52.95 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level options trader salary

   $65,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 15, 2025

   Average options trader salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	New York	$150,962	$73
   2	Connecticut	$125,345	$60
   3	Connecticut	$125,289	$60
   4	Michigan	$111,949	$54
   5	Texas	$108,035	$52
   6	Georgia	$101,308	$49
   7	Illinois	$98,847	$48
   8	Pennsylvania	$92,650	$45
   9	California	$92,451	$44
   10	Wisconsin	$82,880	$40

   Average options trader salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	The Citadel	$166,452	$80.03
   2	Pacific Investment Management Company LLC	$149,227	$71.74
   3	Hess	$141,065	$67.82
   4	Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group	$126,030	$60.59
   5	MUFG EMEA	$125,295	$60.24
   6	HSBC Bank	$124,129	$59.68
   7	DTE Energy	$120,731	$58.04
   8	Barclays	$119,808	$57.60	2
   9	Standard Chartered	$119,665	$57.53	1
   10	DRW	$119,603	$57.50
   11	Tower Research Capital	$118,733	$57.08	4
   12	Belvedere Trading	$118,355	$56.90	4
   13	RBS Securities	$118,275	$56.86
   14	PEAK6	$117,085	$56.29
   15	Virtu Financial	$117,025	$56.26
   16	Ronin	$115,527	$55.54
   17	SG Americas Securities Holdings, LLC	$114,462	$55.03
   18	Bluefin Trading LLC	$114,453	$55.03
   19	XR Trading	$113,540	$54.59	2
   20	Akuna Capital	$113,005	$54.33	4

4. Writing an options trader job description

   An options trader job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of an options trader job description:

   Options trader job description example

   First Eagle is an independent, privately owned investment management firm headquartered in New York with approximately $121 billion in assets under management (as of June 30, 2022). Throughout a heritage that dates to 1864, the firm has sought to generate attractive real returns for our clients over the long term. This tradition remains central to our mission today, guided by a set of core investment tenets that sustains our culture while also allowing philosophical autonomy among our talented portfolio management teams. First Eagle's range of actively managed equity and equity-oriented, public, and private credit, multi-asset and alternative strategies reflect our dedication to disciplined and unconventional thinking, a global perspective, and the long-term alignment of interests.

   What drives us:

   At First Eagle, clients come first, always. To deliver on this commitment, we nurture an environment that attracts, develops, and retains a talented, inclusive workforce. We also aim to inspire each of our employees to do their life's best work with us and for our clients. We have built a culture that promotes equity, diversity, and respect, and holds every member of the organization to the highest standards of integrity and accountability.

   
   Who we are looking for:

   First Eagle is seeking a New York-based Volatility Options Trader to manage and develop trading strategies for our Global Value and Income Builder strategies. They will partner closely with Portfolio Managers and Head of Trading to handle order flow across all regions for the derivatives asset class.

   
   What you will do:

   • Be the primary trader for options trading across the various strategies
   • Responsible for order generation, execution, and stock settlement for this asset class
   • Source and compile all research and earnings news for portfolio management team daily

   
   The qualities you should have:

   • Undergraduate degree required with a concentration in Finance, Economics, or related field; MBA or CFA is a plus
   • Series 7 and 63 required
   • 8+ years of buy-side trading experience
   • Experience trading equity options and implementation of options strategies on a portfolio to generate income
   • Experience trading spot and forward currencies
   • Experience trading short-term/commercial paper instruments for cash management
   • Working knowledge of Charles River and other order management systems
   • Working knowledge of ECN networks and other liquidity tools
   • Excellent interpersonal skills and capable of working in a team environment while handling multiple tasks efficiently and responsibly

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right options trader for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your options trader job on Zippia to find and recruit options trader candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit options traders, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new options trader

   Once you have selected a candidate for the options trader position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new options trader first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire an options trader?