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Options trader salary
Average options trader salary
$110,139
Average Options Trader Salary
The role of an Options Trader is crucial in the financial markets, focusing on the trading of options contracts that give the buyer the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell an asset at a predetermined price. As of October 2025, the average salary for options traders stands at $110,139 per year. This figure varies significantly across different states and levels of experience.
How Much Does an Options Trader Make?
Salary can differ based on numerous factors, including geographical location, years of experience, and the specific financial institution. For instance, traders in states with a higher cost of living often report higher salaries. Additionally, seasoned traders with specialized skills tend to earn more, with some positions exceeding $150,000 annually.
Where Can an Options Trader Earn More?
To maximize earnings, options traders should consider states known for high compensation, such as New York and California. Moreover, opportunities in investment banks or hedge funds typically offer greater financial rewards compared to smaller firms or retail trading positions.
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Where can an Options Trader earn more?
Options trader salary estimates from across the web
Average options trader salary by state
The highest-paying states for options traders are New York, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire. The lowest average options trader salary states are Idaho, Nebraska, and Wisconsin.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for options traders
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $145,716 | $70.06 |
| 2 | Rhode Island | $131,014 | $62.99 |
| 3 | Nevada | $127,710 | $61.40 |
| 4 | New Hampshire | $130,995 | $62.98 |
| 5 | Connecticut | $124,312 | $59.77 |
| 6 | District of Columbia | $123,930 | $59.58 |
| 7 | Michigan | $110,495 | $53.12 |
| 8 | Ohio | $106,981 | $51.43 |
| 9 | Delaware | $126,904 | $61.01 |
| 10 | Texas | $107,458 | $51.66 |
| 11 | Georgia | $101,465 | $48.78 |
| 12 | West Virginia | $107,283 | $51.58 |
| 13 | New Mexico | $111,189 | $53.46 |
| 14 | Louisiana | $106,466 | $51.19 |
| 15 | Oklahoma | $104,931 | $50.45 |
| 16 | Utah | $97,274 | $46.77 |
| 17 | Illinois | $97,810 | $47.02 |
| 18 | Massachusetts | $98,728 | $47.47 |
| 19 | Vermont | $96,693 | $46.49 |
| 20 | Missouri | $98,175 | $47.20 |
| 21 | South Carolina | $95,750 | $46.03 |
| 22 | Kentucky | $96,237 | $46.27 |
| 23 | Maine | $96,974 | $46.62 |
| 24 | Minnesota | $97,564 | $46.91 |
| 25 | Pennsylvania | $91,724 | $44.10 |
| 26 | New Jersey | $99,312 | $47.75 |
| 27 | California | $94,560 | $45.46 |
| 28 | Maryland | $97,602 | $46.92 |
| 29 | Iowa | $88,145 | $42.38 |
| 30 | Wyoming | $94,758 | $45.56 |
| 31 | Montana | $96,197 | $46.25 |
| 32 | North Carolina | $91,901 | $44.18 |
| 33 | Arkansas | $92,343 | $44.40 |
| 34 | Florida | $88,288 | $42.45 |
| 35 | Tennessee | $83,874 | $40.32 |
| 36 | South Dakota | $89,284 | $42.92 |
| 37 | Hawaii | $98,372 | $47.29 |
| 38 | Mississippi | $89,587 | $43.07 |
| 39 | Oregon | $89,653 | $43.10 |
| 40 | Idaho | $82,845 | $39.83 |
| 41 | Nebraska | $79,814 | $38.37 |
| 42 | Arizona | $88,653 | $42.62 |
| 43 | Virginia | $89,420 | $42.99 |
| 44 | Alaska | $89,298 | $42.93 |
| 45 | Kansas | $86,399 | $41.54 |
| 46 | Indiana | $76,456 | $36.76 |
| 47 | North Dakota | $83,239 | $40.02 |
| 48 | Wisconsin | $78,510 | $37.75 |
| 49 | Washington | $85,823 | $41.26 |
| 50 | Colorado | $74,449 | $35.79 |
| 51 | Alabama | $71,791 | $34.51 |
Highest paying cities for options traders
The highest-paying cities for options traders are New York, NY, Stamford, CT, and Greenwich, CT.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $150,962 | $72.58 |
| 2 | Stamford, CT | $125,345 | $60.26 |
| 3 | Greenwich, CT | $125,289 | $60.24 |
| 4 | Detroit, MI | $111,949 | $53.82 |
| 5 | Houston, TX | $108,035 | $51.94 |
| 6 | Stone Mountain, GA | $101,308 | $48.71 |
| 7 | Chicago, IL | $98,847 | $47.52 |
| 8 | Philadelphia, PA | $92,650 | $44.54 |
| 9 | Newport Beach, CA | $92,451 | $44.45 |
| 10 | Montreal, WI | $82,880 | $39.85 |
Options trader salary details
An options trader's salary ranges from $65,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $185,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is an options trader's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $185,000 | $15,417 | $89 |
| 75th Percentile | $145,000 | $12,083 | $70 |
| Average | $110,139 | $9,178 | $53 |
| 25th Percentile | $83,000 | $6,917 | $40 |
| 10th Percentile | $65,000 | $5,417 | $31 |
Highest paying options trader jobs
The highest paying types of options traders are hedge fund trader, energy derivatives trader, and day trader.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Foreign Exchange Trader | $115,133 | $9,594 | $55.35 | 17,829 |
| Hedge Fund Trader | $117,549 | $9,796 | $56.51 | 12,689 |
| Commodity Trader | $93,220 | $7,768 | $44.82 | 10,906 |
| Equity Trader | $101,759 | $8,480 | $48.92 | 17,507 |
| Trader | $90,179 | $7,515 | $43.36 | 17,351 |
| Forex Trader | $115,092 | $9,591 | $55.33 | 17,582 |
Top companies hiring options traders now:
Which companies pay options traders the most?
Options trader salaries at The Citadel and Pacific Investment Management Company LLC are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average options trader salary at companies like Hess and Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 9 | Standard Chartered | $119,665 | $57.53 |
| 10 | DRW | $119,603 | $57.50 |
| 11 | Tower Research Capital | $118,733 | $57.08 |
| 12 | Belvedere Trading | $118,355 | $56.90 |
| 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 |
| 20 | Akuna Capital | $113,005 | $54.33 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Options trader salary trends
The average options trader salary has fallen by $-12,397 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average options trader earned $122,536 annually, but today, they earn $110,139 a year. That works out to a -4% change in pay for options traders over the last decade.
Compare options trader salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average options trader salary over time
Compare options trader salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Options trader salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $110,000 | $52.95 | +3.9% |
| 2024 | $106,000 | $50.91 | -3.0% |
| 2023 | $109,000 | $52.42 | +0.5% |
| 2022 | $108,000 | $52.14 | -5.5% |
| 2021 | $114,000 | $55.03 | -6.3% |
Recently added options trader salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Citigroup Inc. | G10 Trader (Avp/Vp), FX Options | New York, NY | 06/21/2025 | $175,000 |
| Galaxy Group | US Listed Equities & Options Trader | New York, NY | 06/21/2025 | $150,000 |
| Jpmorganchase | Index Flow Options Trader | Fine, NY | 06/11/2025 | $285,000 |
| Wolverine Trading | Systematic Options Trader | Chicago, IL | 06/09/2025 | $150,000 |
| Bank of America | Director, FX Options Trader | Fine, NY | 06/06/2025 | $300,000 |
| UBS | Director, Exotic Equity Options Trader | New York, NY | 05/27/2025 | $200,000 |
| Wolverine Asset Management, LLC | Electronic Options Trader | Chicago, IL | 05/25/2025 | $100,000 |
| Wolverine Trading | Electronic Options Trader | Chicago, IL | 05/24/2025 | $100,000 |
| Engie | Power Options Trader (Senior) (46192) | Houston, TX | 05/07/2025 | $131,000 |
| Tower Research Capital | Senior Index Options Trader | Chicago, IL | 04/28/2025 | $120,000 |
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