Quant Finance Salaries and Compensation in Asia in 2024

As the quantitative finance industry continues to evolve, the demand for skilled professionals remains robust globally, and Asia is no exception. As an emerging market for quantitative finance, Asia offers a unique landscape filled with growth opportunities and promising career prospects.

The 2024 CQF Careers Guide to Quantitative Finance provides an in-depth look at salaries and compensation across six career paths: risk management, portfolio management, technology, quant trading, quant strategies and research, and data science and machine learning. These insights underscore the diverse opportunities available within the field, particularly in Asia's rapidly evolving market.

In today's competitive job market, having a clear understanding of compensation expectations can help you make informed decisions. This article shares the typical skills needed and latest quant finance salary and compensation data in Asia from the Guide, offering you a comprehensive overview of what you can expect across six career paths.

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Quant Finance Salaries and Compensation in Asia

Portfolio Management

Professionals working in Portfolio Management are responsible for asset allocation and portfolio construction. They initiate trades and monitor portfolios and their exposures carefully. Quants working in portfolio management need strong quantitative and mathematical modeling, coding, analytical thinking, and communication skills. They must possess an extensive knowledge of the various asset classes, the firm’s investment products, and products that are available in the broader financial market.

  Base (USD) Total Comp (USD)
Portfolio Analyst
Associate
$85,000 - $125,000 $90,000 - $150,000
Portfolio Manager
VP
$125,000 - $175,000 $150,000 - $200,000
Portfolio Manager
Senior VP / Director
$175,000 - $250,000 $325,000 - $375,000


Risk Management

Quants working in risk management need strong quantitative and financial modeling skills, proficiency with programming, knowledge of various methods including “Value-at-Risk” (VaR and its variants), as well as statistical models and simulations to evaluate the risk exposure for an asset or across an entire portfolio of assets. They must have knowledge of stochastic calculus, Monte Carlo, PDEs, and other numerical techniques. They also need familiarity with financial markets, including the most recent regulatory developments. 

  Base (USD) Total Comp (USD)
Risk Analyst
Associate
$80,000 - $100,000 $90,000 - $110,000
Risk Manager
VP
$125,000 - $175,000 $140,000 - $190,000
Risk Manager
Senior VP / Director
$175,000 - $250,000 $190,000 - $275,000


Quant Strategies and Research

Professionals working in quant strategies and research have a detailed knowledge of mathematical and statistical models. They also require knowledge of financial mathematics and stochastic calculus. They have good programming skills in Python or C++, and may have skills in R, MATLAB, or SAS as well. Knowledge of machine learning and natural language processing techniques is increasingly in demand.

  Base (USD) Total Comp (USD)
Quant Researcher
Associate
$95,000 - $125,000 $165,000 - $185,000
Quant Researcher
VP
$125,000 - $180,000 $225,000 - $300,000
Quant Researcher
Senior VP / Director
$180,000 - $250,000 $300,000 - $500,000


Data Science and Machine Learning

Professionals working in data science and machine learning need to have a deep understanding of algorithms, as well as specific domains such as natural language processing or signal processing, to help identify and assess patterns in the data. They must possess strong quantitative analysis skills, a solid grasp of AI and machine learning techniques, and familiarity with programming languages commonly used in the field, with Python being particularly important.

Roles in this career path require significant knowledge of models and programming. These jobs tend to sit within the research area of an organization. Firms that are active in data science and machine learning include investment banks, asset managers, hedge funds, and technology companies that offer consulting services to the financial industry. There are also opportunities for quants in tech organizations that develop software products for the financial industry.

  Base (USD) Total Comp (USD)
Data Scientist
Associate
$80,000 - $110,000 $90,000 - $120,000
Data Scientist
VP
$110,000 - $130,000 $125,000 - $140,000
Data Scientist
Senior VP / Director
$130,000 - $200,000 $140,000 - $220,000


Technology

Quants in technology will have excellent coding skills in Python, C, C++, or C#, for example. They should also have a good understanding of computational mathematics, software engineering, and financial products. They tend to work on projects with several teams if they are in a large organization, so having domain expertise combined with good skills in collaboration and communication will be helpful.

  Base (USD) Total Comp (USD)
Quant Developer
Associate
$70,000 - $100,000 $80,000 - $120,000
Quant Developer
VP
$100,000 - $150,000 $120,000 - $170,000
Quant Developer
Senior VP / Director
$150,000 - $180,000 $170,000 - $200,000


Quant Trading

Quant traders must have deep knowledge of quantitative and statistical analysis, and strong programming skills in Python or C++, for example. They may have experience with machine learning techniques as well. Psychology is very important for quant traders and trading job candidates must demonstrate that they thrive in extremely competitive environments and can handle pressure well.

  Base (USD) Total Comp (USD)
Quant Trader
Associate
$70,000 - $120,000 $85,000 - $140,000
Quant Trader
VP
$150,000 - $170,000 10 - 40% of PnL
Quant Trader
Senior VP / Director
$215,000 - $250,000 $325,000 - $375,000

Master the quant skills you need to earn the top salary

The Certificate in Quantitative Finance (CQF) is the world's leading master's-level professional qualification in quantitative finance and machine learning. For over 21 years, it has been the trusted choice for professionals worldwide seeking practical skills to advance their careers and earn a competitive salary.

To learn more about how the CQF can transform your career, join us for an exclusive live information session with the CQF Managing Director at the Conrad Centennial Singapore on 2nd October 2024. Register now to discover how the CQF can equip you with essential skills in quant finance and machine learning, setting you on the path to success.