Occupation · SOC 13-2099.01
Financial Quantitative Analysts
Develop quantitative techniques to inform securities investing, equities investing, pricing, or valuation of financial instruments. Develop mathematical or statistical models for risk management, asset optimization, pricing, or relative value analysis.
Median wage
$80,190
$46,420–$151,780
Projected growth
+3.1%
Average growth
Annual openings
430
per year
Employed (US)
127,450
Job Zone 5
Typical preparation
Extensive preparation
Stackable credential programs
418 mapped
Core skills
MathematicsCritical ThinkingReading ComprehensionComplex Problem SolvingSpeakingActive LearningActive ListeningJudgment and Decision Making
Knowledge areas
MathematicsEconomics and AccountingComputers and ElectronicsEnglish Language
Technology & tools
Data base user interface and query softwareData base management system softwareFinancial analysis softwareObject or component oriented development softwareData mining software
Representative tasks
Apply mathematical or statistical techniques to address practical issues in finance, such as derivatResearch or develop analytical tools to address issues such as portfolio construction or optimizatioInterpret results of financial analysis procedures.
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Standard statistical techniques — apply under structured guidance to introductory finance problems such as return distribution analysis in a supervised research environment.Existing pricing model libraries — execute and test using analytical or scientific software under senior analyst direction on assigned asset classes.Financial data sets — query and extract using database user interface and query software to support team research workflows.Quantitative analysis results — interpret and summarize in written form under reviewer oversight for internal research reports.Mathematical reasoning and number facility — demonstrate by performing routine derivative valuation calculations within established model frameworks.Data collection methods — assist in defining under supervision by documenting data sources and flagging quality issues for senior review.Financial research literature — read and synthesize relevant peer-reviewed material to support team model development initiatives.Analytical support tasks — provide to researchers and traders by running pre-built valuation queries and returning structured outputs.Statistical software tools and development environments — operate at a proficient level to execute assigned quantitative scripts and pipelines.Financial analysis findings — present orally in team meetings under the guidance of a senior quantitative analyst in a structured review setting.
developing
Applied mathematical and econometric techniques — deploy with reduced oversight to address practical risk management and securities trading problems in live market environments.Portfolio optimization models — develop and calibrate using advanced quantitative methods to support portfolio construction decisions across assigned strategies.Analytical results from financial models — interpret and translate into actionable insights for trading desk stakeholders with minimal senior intervention.Model libraries — maintain and modify routinely by updating parameters, correcting errors, and validating outputs within an established model governance framework.Data mining and analytical software — leverage independently to explore large financial data sets and identify statistically significant patterns for team use.Written summary reports — produce that clearly communicate quantitative research findings, methodology, and limitations to both technical and non-technical audiences.Model specification recommendations — formulate and propose for peer review by evaluating alternative functional forms and data inputs for pricing or attribution models.Performance measurement and attribution frameworks — build and apply to evaluate portfolio returns against benchmarks in an asset management environment.Econometric and statistical model assumptions — critically evaluate using deductive and inductive reasoning to identify potential model risk before deployment.Analytical support — provide responsively to traders and researchers on valuation and data issues, applying sound judgment to resolve moderate-complexity queries independently.
proficient
Advanced mathematical and statistical methodologies — apply autonomously across the full scope of derivative valuation, risk management, and financial market regulation challenges in complex, fast-moving environments.Novel analytical tools for portfolio construction and optimization — research, design, and validate independently, incorporating cutting-edge quantitative and econometric techniques.Non-routine financial analysis results — interpret with high confidence, identifying model limitations and market anomalies, and communicating conclusions to senior leadership.Core quantitative model libraries — architect and maintain across multiple asset classes, ensuring robustness, version control, and compliance with regulatory standards.Data collection methodologies and model specifications — define authoritatively by assessing trade-offs among data quality, computational cost, and statistical validity.Comprehensive financial research reports — produce that integrate multi-factor quantitative findings into strategic recommendations for investment committees or regulators.Object-oriented and development environment software — utilize at an expert level to build scalable, production-grade analytical systems supporting trading and risk functions.Complex valuation and risk quantification problems — resolve for traders and researchers by synthesizing mathematical reasoning, market knowledge, and system-level thinking.Enterprise risk management and ERP systems — integrate quantitative model outputs into, ensuring accurate profit-and-loss measurement and regulatory capital reporting.Analytical judgment on ambiguous financial problems — exercise by applying systems analysis and evaluation skills to deliver sound decisions under data uncertainty.
advanced
Firmwide quantitative research strategy — set and drive by defining multi-year model development roadmaps aligned to business objectives across trading, risk, and compliance functions.Organizational model governance frameworks — establish and oversee, ensuring all financial analytic models meet rigorous validation, audit, and regulatory standards at an institutional scale.Senior quantitative talent — develop and mentor by designing learning pathways, providing technical sponsorship, and building a high-performance research culture.Cross-functional analytical capabilities — lead by directing collaborative initiatives between quantitative analysts, technologists, traders, and regulators to address systemic financial risk.Innovative pricing and risk model architectures — pioneer by championing adoption of frontier statistical, machine-learning, and econometric methodologies across the enterprise.Executive and board-level stakeholders — persuade and advise by translating complex quantitative insights into strategic financial decisions with clarity and authoritative judgment.Industry-wide standards for quantitative methods — influence by contributing to regulatory consultations, academic publications, and professional bodies shaping financial market practice.Enterprise data infrastructure strategy — define in partnership with technology leadership to ensure scalable, high-integrity data pipelines supporting all quantitative functions.Organizational risk appetite and model risk policy — shape by synthesizing systems-level evaluation of model performance, market conditions, and regulatory expectations.Firmwide analytical tool ecosystems — oversee continuous evolution of, coordinating procurement, build-versus-buy decisions, and integration of advanced financial analysis software platforms.
Also known as
33 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Quantitative Financial AnalystInvestment StrategistMathematicianQuantitative Equity AnalystFinance AnalystResearch AnalystStructurerInvestment Portfolio Control ConsultantQuantitative Model Validation AnalystAnalystFinancial AnalystQuantitative ModelerData AnalystInvestment AssociatePortfolio ManagerEquity AnalystPrivate Equity AnalystModel Risk ManagerQuantitative Validation Model AnalystQuantitative Model AnalystPrivate Equity AssociateQuantitative StrategistQuantitative Risk AnalystFinancial Quantitative AnalystRisk Model AuditorModel Validation AnalystQuantitative Strategy AnalystPredictive ModelerEquity StructurerQuantitative Research AnalystQuantitative AnalystFinancial EngineerQuantitative Researcher