How to hire a trading assistant

How to hire a trading assistant, step by step

Here's a step-by-step trading assistant hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a trading assistant job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new trading assistant
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a trading assistant do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The trading assistant hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a trading assistant to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a trading assistant that fits the bill.

   This list shows salaries for various types of trading assistants.

   Type of Trading Assistant	Description	Hourly rate
   Trading Assistant	Secretaries and administrative assistants perform clerical and administrative duties. They organize files, prepare documents, schedule appointments, and support other staff.	$27-84

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Trade Shows
   • P/L
   • Securities
   • Portfolio
   • Bloomberg
   • Fixed Income
   • VBA
   • Risk Management
   • Income Products
   • Equities
   • Foreign Exchange
   • Market Research
   • Derivative
   • MBS

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage the cross-book with various brokers, trying to get the best rates for ADR trades.
   • Ensure accurate communication between traders and stock markets and manage all derivative portfolios for internationally known trading corporation.
   • Maintain the day-to-day operations of multiple internal trade capture applications, including creating new securities and managing the various classifications.
   • Ensure reporting accuracy by preparing daily profit/loss spreadsheet for entire manage portfolio, including accrual of market positions initiate and liquidate.
   • Cash management and various reconciliations of the hedge fund's feeder and master funds.
   • Calculate daily P/L for hedge fund consisting of futures, equities, and foreign currencies.

   More trading assistant duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the trading assistant job description is a good way to get more applicants. A trading assistant salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for a trading assistant in Indiana may be lower than in Connecticut, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level trading assistant. Additionally, a trading assistant with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average trading assistant salary

   $101,645yearly

   $48.87 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level trading assistant salary

   $58,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 20, 2025

   Average trading assistant salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Connecticut	$125,533	$60
   2	Massachusetts	$123,394	$59
   3	New York	$117,955	$57
   4	New Jersey	$113,169	$54
   5	California	$102,878	$49
   6	Maryland	$97,036	$47
   7	Virginia	$84,781	$41
   8	Oregon	$80,299	$39
   9	Nevada	$80,133	$39
   10	Texas	$79,439	$38
   11	Illinois	$79,229	$38
   12	Alabama	$78,782	$38
   13	North Carolina	$76,119	$37
   14	Minnesota	$75,258	$36
   15	Utah	$73,578	$35
   16	Kansas	$70,928	$34
   17	Missouri	$67,781	$33
   18	Nebraska	$67,273	$32
   19	Colorado	$65,943	$32

   Average trading assistant salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Oak Hill Advisors	$150,544	$72.38
   2	Artisan Partners	$120,772	$58.06
   3	Marathon Asset Management	$120,390	$57.88	1
   4	The Carlyle Group	$116,251	$55.89
   5	Credit Suisse	$114,246	$54.93
   6	Deutsche Bank	$114,245	$54.93	3
   7	CTC	$113,305	$54.47
   8	Nomura Securities	$112,354	$54.02	4
   9	BNP Paribas	$111,611	$53.66
   10	PEAK6	$109,580	$52.68
   11	UBS	$108,343	$52.09	3
   12	SG Americas Securities Holdings, LLC	$108,246	$52.04
   13	Rbc Holding Co Ltd	$108,098	$51.97	1
   14	Arena Investors	$107,296	$51.58
   15	Huntington Ingalls Industries	$107,296	$51.58	1
   16	Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City	$107,296	$51.58
   17	Nippon Steel Corp.	$107,296	$51.58	1
   18	Morgan Stanley	$107,134	$51.51	2
   19	Austal	$106,731	$51.31	1
   20	HSBC Bank	$104,708	$50.34

4. Writing a trading assistant job description

   A trading assistant job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a trading assistant job description:

   Trading assistant job description example

   This application form will be considered current for one year only. At the end of this period, if you are still interested in employment, it will be necessary for you to reapply by completing a new application form. All statements and questions are to be completed; the answers will be confidential.
   
   Seaport Global Holdings LLC seeks a full-time Sales & Trading Assistant to join our Fixed Income Sales & Trading team.
   This individual will work in our New York City headquarters five days a week.
   
   This is an opportunity to gain direct experience working with the industry's top producers at a firm that provides clients with comprehensive market knowledge and real-time execution. The ideal candidate has excellent communication skills, impeccable attention to detail and strong analytical, quantitative, and technical abilities.
   
   Responsibilities
   Relay client orders to the trading desk in real-time Manage multiple order books Disseminate information to the trading desk and sales force in a clear and concise way Add clients to and manage client database and order system Monitor credit trading levels and news Assist with operational and administrative requests and miscellaneous research/data projects Develop credit analytical skills
   
   Qualifications
   College degree in related area of study preferred 2-5 Years' fixed income experience preferred; sales & trading assistant or operations/support Series 7 and 63 licenses preferred Expertise using Microsoft Office/Excel, Bloomberg knowledge preferred Ability to communicate clearly via email and over the phone required Strong communication and organizational skills required Positive and resourceful; ability to thrive under pressure required
   
   Seaport Global Securities LLC is a full-service, mid-sized independent investment bank that offers capital markets advisory, sales, trading and research services. Headquartered in New York with offices across the US and in Europe, we pair extensive knowledge and relationships with fixed income sales, trading and research. For more information, visit www.seaportglobal.com.
   
   Seaport Global Holdings LLC is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, sexual orientation, disability (physical or mental), medical condition, marital status, ancestry, protected veteran status, genetics and any other protected group status or non-job related characteristics as directed by law.
   
   PLEASE READ VERY CAREFULLY:
   
   Equal Opportunity Employer: Seaport Global Holdings LLC is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will be considered without regard to the applicant's race, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, gender, age, disability or handicap, or veteran status, marital status, sexual preference or orientation, appearance, use of tobacco products, use of genetic information or any other classification protected by federal, state or local laws.
   
   Authorization to Check References. By signing this job application, I certify that the information contained in this application form is true and correct to the best of my knowledge and I agree to have any of the statements checked by the Company, unless I have indicated to the contrary. I authorize the schools, companies, and organizations' supervisors and references listed to provide the Company with any and all relevant information or knowledge that they may have and may be permitted by law to give the
   
   Company. Further, I hereby release the Company, my former employers and all other persons from any and all claims, demands, or liabilities that may result from such inquiry or disclosure o information to the Company, as well as from the use or disclosure of such information on this application, which may result in my failure to receive an offer, the Company's revocation of an offer, or, if I am hired, in my termination of employment.
   
   Background Checks. I understand that I will be asked to complete a notification and authorization to complete a background/credit check and understand that if I am denied employment based upon the information contained in the background/credit check report, I will be provided with the name, address, and telephone number of the consumer reporting agency, a copy of the report, and an explanation of my rights concerning it.
   
   At Will Employment. I acknowledge and understand that if I am hired, my employment will be on an "at will" basis and can be terminated, with or without cause, and with or without notice, at any time, by either myself or the Company. I understand that no employee or representative of the Company other than Senior Management has any authority to enter into any agreement for employment for any specified period of time, or to make any agreement contrary to the foregoing. Further, only Senior Management may alter the at-will nature of the employment relationship if a clear intent to do so is expressed in a specific written agreement signed by Senior Management and myself. I also understand that all offers of employment are conditioned on, among other things, the provision of satisfactory proof of my identity and legal authority to work in the U.S. As a condition of employment, you may need to prove your work authorization for the United States by the completion of the I-9 form. In addition, Seaport Global Holdings LLC participates in the EVerify program which provides both the Social Security Administration (SSA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) with information from the I-9 to confirm identity and work authorization.
   
   Validity of Information. I understand that any false or misleading information that I provide and/or any material information that I fail to provide in my application or interview or otherwise in connection with the application process may constitute grounds for revocation of an offer, refusal to hire or, if hired, termination of my employment at any time.
   
   If employed, I agree to hold in the strictest of confidences, any information concerning the Company its insured, and its agents, which may come to my knowledge.
   
   In consideration of my employment, if I am employed. I agree to conform to the employment policies of the Company.
   
   I understand that completion of this Application For Employment does not guarantee that I have been employed by this Company.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find trading assistants for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any trading assistants they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level trading assistants with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your trading assistant job on Zippia to find and recruit trading assistant candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with trading assistant candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new trading assistant

   Once you've found the trading assistant candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   To prepare for the new trading assistant first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire a trading assistant?