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Options trader vs proprietary trader

The differences between options traders and proprietary traders can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an options trader has an average salary of $110,139, which is higher than the $100,019 average annual salary of a proprietary trader.

The top three skills for an options trader include FX, stock options and equities. The most important skills for a proprietary trader are technical analysis, equity markets, and equities.

Options trader vs proprietary trader overview

Options TraderProprietary Trader
Yearly salary$110,139$100,019
Hourly rate$52.95$48.09
Growth rate10%10%
Number of jobs1,433541
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 82%Bachelor's Degree, 81%
Average age4343
Years of experience--

Options trader vs proprietary trader salary

Options traders and proprietary traders have different pay scales, as shown below.

Options TraderProprietary Trader
Average salary$110,139$100,019
Salary rangeBetween $65,000 And $185,000Between $60,000 And $165,000
Highest paying CityNew York, NYNew York, NY
Highest paying stateNew YorkNew York
Best paying companyThe CitadelD. E. Shaw group
Best paying industryFinanceFinance

Differences between options trader and proprietary trader education

There are a few differences between an options trader and a proprietary trader in terms of educational background:

Options TraderProprietary Trader
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 82%Bachelor's Degree, 81%
Most common majorFinanceFinance
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Options trader vs proprietary trader demographics

Here are the differences between options traders' and proprietary traders' demographics:

Options TraderProprietary Trader
Average age4343
Gender ratioMale, 90.8% Female, 9.2%Male, 95.7% Female, 4.3%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 5.4% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 11.3% Asian, 12.2% White, 66.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%Black or African American, 5.5% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 11.6% Asian, 12.5% White, 66.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between options trader and proprietary trader duties and responsibilities

Options trader example 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.
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Proprietary trader example responsibilities.

  • Manage business, sales, marketing, international negotiation and communication for a commodities business.
  • Perform qualitative research on potential risk arbitrage positions and subjectively choose equities for inclusion in a risk arbitrage portfolio.
  • Research market strategies and trends using Bloomberg.
  • Develop quantitative driven proprietary models by Bloomberg BLP / API and VBA programming.
  • Research and develop convertible bond pricing application for convertible arbitrage trades.
  • Assess market conditions within the equities market in order to maximize profitability.
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Options trader vs proprietary trader skills

Common options trader skills
  • FX, 32%
  • Stock Options, 17%
  • Equities, 11%
  • Stock Market, 5%
  • Risk Management Strategies, 3%
  • Equity Options, 3%
Common proprietary trader skills
  • Technical Analysis, 12%
  • Equity Markets, 10%
  • Equities, 9%
  • Financial Markets, 8%
  • Portfolio, 8%
  • Fundamental Analysis, 4%