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The average salary for a Real Time Trader in the United States currently stands at $104,519 annually. This figure can vary significantly depending on factors such as location and experience level. For instance, traders in high-demand financial markets often earn substantially more.
In states like New York and California, the potential earnings can reach upwards of $120,000, reflecting the competitive nature of these markets.
The demand for skilled Real Time Traders continues to grow, particularly in sectors like hedge funds and investment banks, where quick decision-making and analysis are essential. As firms increasingly rely on data-driven strategies, experienced traders can expect not only competitive salaries but also opportunities for bonuses based on performance.
To maximize your earning potential, consider gaining experience in specialized trading platforms or obtaining relevant certifications. This proactive approach can enhance your marketability and open doors to leadership roles within trading firms.
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The highest-paying states for real time traders are Maine, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. The lowest average real time trader salary states are Iowa, Kansas, and Alaska.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pennsylvania | $120,971 | $58.16 |
| 2 | New Hampshire | $101,207 | $48.66 |
| 3 | Rhode Island | $101,285 | $48.69 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $107,822 | $51.84 |
| 5 | Virginia | $115,261 | $55.41 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $101,463 | $48.78 |
| 7 | New York | $107,938 | $51.89 |
| 8 | Arizona | $100,654 | $48.39 |
| 9 | Maine | $127,097 | $61.10 |
| 10 | Connecticut | $99,982 | $48.07 |
| 11 | Alabama | $89,466 | $43.01 |
| 12 | North Carolina | $101,509 | $48.80 |
| 13 | Vermont | $98,349 | $47.28 |
| 14 | Tennessee | $89,139 | $42.86 |
| 15 | Indiana | $93,528 | $44.97 |
| 16 | Michigan | $94,689 | $45.52 |
| 17 | California | $105,606 | $50.77 |
| 18 | Delaware | $96,278 | $46.29 |
| 19 | Oregon | $90,837 | $43.67 |
| 20 | Florida | $91,546 | $44.01 |
| 21 | Mississippi | $89,414 | $42.99 |
| 22 | Wisconsin | $90,717 | $43.61 |
| 23 | Georgia | $91,087 | $43.79 |
| 24 | Ohio | $83,899 | $40.34 |
| 25 | Maryland | $93,950 | $45.17 |
| 26 | New Mexico | $87,842 | $42.23 |
| 27 | West Virginia | $85,974 | $41.33 |
| 28 | District of Columbia | $93,234 | $44.82 |
| 29 | Oklahoma | $85,039 | $40.88 |
| 30 | Nebraska | $78,782 | $37.88 |
| 31 | Missouri | $83,522 | $40.15 |
| 32 | Utah | $83,577 | $40.18 |
| 33 | Kentucky | $75,911 | $36.50 |
| 34 | South Carolina | $77,686 | $37.35 |
| 35 | Arkansas | $78,574 | $37.78 |
| 36 | Nevada | $79,818 | $38.37 |
| 37 | Iowa | $70,987 | $34.13 |
| 38 | Idaho | $81,885 | $39.37 |
| 39 | Washington | $83,459 | $40.12 |
| 40 | Illinois | $78,797 | $37.88 |
| 41 | Colorado | $79,920 | $38.42 |
| 42 | Minnesota | $81,477 | $39.17 |
| 43 | Texas | $77,521 | $37.27 |
| 44 | Wyoming | $76,991 | $37.01 |
| 45 | Alaska | $70,050 | $33.68 |
| 46 | North Dakota | $74,536 | $35.83 |
| 47 | Kansas | $70,197 | $33.75 |
| 48 | Louisiana | $73,085 | $35.14 |
| 49 | Hawaii | $65,879 | $31.67 |
| 50 | Montana | $60,775 | $29.22 |
| 51 | South Dakota | $59,955 | $28.82 |
The highest-paying cities for real time traders are McLean, VA, White Plains, NY, and Sunnyvale, CA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | McLean, VA | $118,658 | $57.05 |
| 2 | White Plains, NY | $109,037 | $52.42 |
| 3 | Sunnyvale, CA | $107,964 | $51.91 |
| 4 | Phoenix, AZ | $100,916 | $48.52 |
| 5 | Portland, OR | $89,589 | $43.07 |
| 6 | Albuquerque, NM | $87,921 | $42.27 |
| 7 | Seattle, WA | $84,098 | $40.43 |
| 8 | El Paso, TX | $80,393 | $38.65 |
| 9 | Omaha, NE | $79,176 | $38.07 |
| 10 | Rapid City, SD | $58,841 | $28.29 |
A real time trader's salary ranges from $60,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $180,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $180,000 | $15,000 | $87 |
| 75th Percentile | $139,000 | $11,583 | $67 |
| Average | $104,519 | $8,710 | $50 |
| 25th Percentile | $78,000 | $6,500 | $38 |
| 10th Percentile | $60,000 | $5,000 | $29 |
The highest paying types of real time traders are energy trader, natural gas trader, and power marketer.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Finance Representative | $41,765 | $3,480 | $20.08 | 124,645 |
| Trader | $90,179 | $7,515 | $43.36 | 17,351 |
| Natural Gas Trader | $108,588 | $9,049 | $52.21 | 2,180 |
Top companies hiring real time traders now:
Real time trader salaries at The Energy Authority and New York Power Authority are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average real time trader salary at companies like NRG Energy and Tenaska are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Energy Authority | $102,786 | $49.42 |
| 2 | New York Power Authority | $101,217 | $48.66 |
| 3 | NRG Energy | $100,207 | $48.18 |
| 4 | Tenaska | $99,841 | $48.00 |
| 5 | Arizona Public Service | $99,299 | $47.74 |
| 6 | Leprino Foods | $98,904 | $47.55 |
| 7 | Sempra Energy | $96,368 | $46.33 |
| 8 | EDF | $95,855 | $46.08 |
| 9 | Pinnacle West Capital | $94,696 | $45.53 |
| 10 | Florida Power and Light | $94,602 | $45.48 |
| 11 | Portland General Electric | $89,508 | $43.03 |
| 12 | Capital One | $89,499 | $43.03 |
| 13 | Amazon | $85,955 | $41.32 |
| 14 | Omaha Public Power District | $72,509 | $34.86 |
| 15 | PNM Resources | $70,015 | $33.66 |
| 16 | El Paso Electric | $68,059 | $32.72 |
| 17 | Black Hills | $65,813 | $31.64 |
| 18 | San Diego College of Continuing Education | $57,091 | $27.45 |
The average real time trader salary has risen by $13,238 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average real time trader earned $91,281 annually, but today, they earn $104,519 a year. That works out to a 10% change in pay for real time traders over the last decade.
Compare real time trader salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare real time trader salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $105,000 | $50.25 | +4.1% |
| 2024 | $100,000 | $48.17 | +1.8% |
| 2023 | $98,300 | $47.28 | +3.7% |
| 2022 | $94,700 | $45.51 | +0.0% |
| 2021 | $94,600 | $45.50 | +1.5% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cobb-Vantress | Cobb-Three Springs Real Time Feed Conversion | Rose, OK | 06/28/2025 | $36,523 |
| Tyson Foods | Cobb-Three Springs Real Time Feed Conversion | Rose, OK | 06/26/2025 | $36,523 |
| Figure | Workforce Management, Real-Time Adherence | Reno, NV | 05/29/2025 | $51,900 |
| Engie | Real Time Optimization II_Trrt1H | Houston, TX | 05/28/2025 | $86,100 |
| TXNM Energy | Real Time Trader I-SR. | Albuquerque, NM | 05/13/2025 | $90,316 |
| Figure | Workforce Management, Real-Time Adherence | Charlotte, NC | 05/09/2025 | $51,900 |
| Cobb-Vantress | Cobb-Three Springs Real Time Feed Conversion | Rose, OK | 04/14/2025 | $36,523 |
| New York Power Authority | Real Time Energy Market Trader I | White Plains, NY | 04/02/2025 | $97,000 |
| Cobb-Vantress | Cobb-Real Time Feed Conversion | Spavinaw, OK | 03/30/2025 | $36,523 |
| Pristine Quality Healthcare Services Corp | RPN Part Time) | Ontario, CA | 03/04/2025 | $93,915 |
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