Post job

Sales trader vs market maker

The differences between sales traders and market makers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a sales trader and a market maker. Additionally, a sales trader has an average salary of $108,427, which is higher than the $108,335 average annual salary of a market maker.

The top three skills for a sales trader include equities, derivative and institutional clients. The most important skills for a market maker are equity options, portfolio risk, and NASD.

Sales trader vs market maker overview

Sales TraderMarket Maker
Yearly salary$108,427$108,335
Hourly rate$52.13$52.08
Growth rate10%10%
Number of jobs19,73617,618
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 85%Bachelor's Degree, 87%
Average age4343
Years of experience66

Sales trader vs market maker salary

Sales traders and market makers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Sales TraderMarket Maker
Average salary$108,427$108,335
Salary rangeBetween $63,000 And $185,000Between $62,000 And $188,000
Highest paying CityNew York, NY-
Highest paying stateNew York-
Best paying companyMerrill Lynch-
Best paying industryFinance-

Differences between sales trader and market maker education

There are a few differences between a sales trader and a market maker in terms of educational background:

Sales TraderMarket Maker
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 85%Bachelor's Degree, 87%
Most common majorFinanceFinance
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Sales trader vs market maker demographics

Here are the differences between sales traders' and market makers' demographics:

Sales TraderMarket Maker
Average age4343
Gender ratioMale, 82.4% Female, 17.6%Male, 92.1% Female, 7.9%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 5.5% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 11.5% Asian, 12.4% White, 66.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%Black or African American, 5.7% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.1% Asian, 9.9% White, 67.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between sales trader and market maker duties and responsibilities

Sales trader example responsibilities.

  • Price, trade and risk manage equity derivatives including OTC single stock options and list options.
  • Manage business, sales, marketing, international negotiation and communication for a commodities business.
  • Administer institutional equity accounts and expedite customer order flow for the NYSE, NASDAQ and OTC marketplace.
  • Trade exchange list and OTC stocks, fixed-income securities and equity derivatives, prior to company sell to UBS.
  • Develop relationships with institutional clients in equities primary and secondary markets.
  • Transact institutional equity and derivative trades on behalf of alternative investment funds.
  • Show more

Market maker example responsibilities.

  • Manage and critiqu all trades execute on NYMEX trading floor via computer system.
  • Trade several equities and options names, managing all risk, capital and executing trades using electronic screen base software/technology.
  • Dissect and manage complex derivative position risks, manage risks and interpret complex financial documents.
  • Price and risk manage multiple positions in corporate derivatives, including accelerate share buyback programs and long-date convertible bond/call spread overlays.
  • Merge business operations to expand service offering to include etf's, options, and foreign adr's.
  • Analyze market conditions and make decisions to buy/sell equities using fundamental and technical analysis.
  • Show more

Sales trader vs market maker skills

Common sales trader skills
  • Equities, 8%
  • Derivative, 7%
  • Institutional Clients, 6%
  • Trade Execution, 6%
  • Client Relationships, 5%
  • Equity Trades, 5%
Common market maker skills
  • Equity Options, 11%
  • Portfolio Risk, 9%
  • NASD, 7%
  • Financial Markets, 6%
  • Manage Risk, 6%
  • Equities, 5%