Options trader vs stock trader

The differences between options traders and stock traders can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a stock trader has an average salary of $116,269, which is higher than the $110,139 average annual salary of an options trader.

The top three skills for an options trader include FX, stock options and equities. The most important skills for a stock trader are financial statements, stock market, and technical analysis.

Options trader vs stock trader overview

	Options Trader	Stock Trader
Yearly salary	$110,139	$116,269
Hourly rate	$52.95	$55.90
Growth rate	10%	10%
Number of jobs	1,433	20,878
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 82%	Bachelor's Degree, 74%
Average age	43	43
Years of experience	-	-

Options trader vs stock trader salary

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

	Options Trader	Stock Trader
Average salary	$110,139	$116,269
Salary range	Between $65,000 And $185,000	Between $68,000 And $198,000
Highest paying City	New York, NY	-
Highest paying state	New York	-
Best paying company	The Citadel	-
Best paying industry	Finance	-

Differences between options trader and stock trader education

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

	Options Trader	Stock Trader
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 82%	Bachelor's Degree, 74%
Most common major	Finance	Business
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	University of Pennsylvania

Options trader vs stock trader demographics

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

	Options Trader	Stock Trader
Average age	43	43
Gender ratio	Male, 90.8% Female, 9.2%	Male, 84.5% Female, 15.5%
Race ratio	Black 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, 11.3% Asian, 12.2% White, 66.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage	6%	6%

Differences between options trader and stock 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.

Stock trader example responsibilities.

Manage business, sales, marketing, international negotiation and communication for a commodities business.
Maintain complete knowledge of investment products including stocks, options, municipal bonds, treasuries, mutual funds and annuities.
Develop knowledge and actively trade equities, futures, options, and currencies.
Synchronize logistics of multiple cash and derivative trading desks.
Trade stocks daily during market hours on the NYSE and NASDAQ.
Work from home analyzing and trading stocks on the NYSE and NASDAX markets.

Options trader vs stock trader skills

Common options trader skills

FX, 32%
Stock Options, 17%
Equities, 11%
Stock Market, 5%
Risk Management Strategies, 3%
Equity Options, 3%

Common stock trader skills

Financial Statements, 16%
Stock Market, 10%
Technical Analysis, 10%
Market Trends, 9%
Fundamental Analysis, 9%
Equities, 7%

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Options Trader
Options Trader vs Stock Trader

Updated January 8, 2025

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