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Equity Options Trader Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Optiver

US Options Sales Trader

New York, NY · On-site

$200K/yr

Our Institutional Trading teams play a key role in this mission, partnering with over 600 ... Deep understanding of the equity options market and key participants across exchanges. * Leverage ...

PEAK6 Capital Management

High Touch Trader

New York, NY · On-site +1

$125K - $150K/yr

Manage the execution of trades across equity options, index/ETF products, and OTC instruments, ensuring optimal outcomes aligned with investment strategy. * Own the OTC desk: Manage the execution of ...

FalconX

Derivatives Trader

New York, NY · On-site

$145K - $175K/yr

Basic understanding of options theory and greek risks * Coding skills (Python, SQL) are desirable ... linked bonus, equity, and a competitive benefits package. Actual compensation for a successful ...

Northern Trust

Fixed Income Trader

Chicago, IL · On-site

The Fixed Income Trader is responsible for executing fixed income transactions in accordance with ... Northern Trust also provides a discretionary bonus program that may include an equity component.

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$50K

$105.8K

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How much do equity options trader jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 1, 2026, the average yearly pay for equity options trader in the United States is $105,750.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $90,000.00 and $120,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Equity Options Trader, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Equity Options Trader, you need a strong understanding of financial markets, derivatives pricing, and risk management, typically supported by a degree in finance, mathematics, or economics. Proficiency in trading platforms, data analysis tools like Bloomberg or Excel, and knowledge of regulatory requirements are essential. Strong analytical thinking, decisiveness under pressure, and effective communication set top performers apart in this role. These skills ensure accurate trade execution, risk mitigation, and the ability to capitalize on market opportunities in a dynamic environment.

What are some common challenges faced by Equity Options Traders in a fast-paced trading environment?

Equity Options Traders often face challenges such as managing risk in volatile markets, making quick decisions under pressure, and staying updated with rapidly changing market news and regulations. Balancing multiple positions and strategies simultaneously requires strong analytical skills and a high level of attention to detail. Additionally, effective communication with other team members, including risk managers and analysts, is crucial for coordinating strategies and ensuring compliance with trading limits.

What are Equity Options Traders?

Equity Options Traders are financial professionals who buy and sell options contracts on stocks (equities) in financial markets. They analyze market trends, assess risk, and develop trading strategies to profit from price movements in the underlying stocks. These traders may work independently or for financial institutions, and their work often involves quick decision-making, risk management, and staying updated on market news that can impact stock prices and volatility.

How much does an options trader make?

Options traders' earnings vary widely based on experience, skill, and trading success. Entry-level traders may earn around $50,000 to $100,000 annually, while experienced professionals or those working at hedge funds can make several hundred thousand dollars or more per year, often supplemented by bonuses and commissions. Success in this role requires strong analytical skills and knowledge of trading platforms and market strategies.

What is the difference between Equity Options Trader vs Equity Trader?

AspectEquity Options TraderEquity Trader
CredentialsFinance degree, options trading certifications (e.g., Series 7, 63)Finance degree, Series 7, 63
Work EnvironmentTrading desks, financial firms, hedge fundsTrading floors, investment banks, asset management firms
Primary FocusTrading equity options contracts, managing options strategiesTrading stocks and equity securities
Industry UsageInvestment banks, hedge funds, proprietary trading firmsBrokerages, asset managers, investment firms

While both roles involve trading equities, Equity Options Traders specialize in options contracts, requiring specific options trading certifications and strategies. Equity Traders focus on buying and selling stocks directly. The roles often overlap in work environment and credentials but differ in the financial instruments traded and strategic complexity.

More about Equity Options Trader jobs
What cities are hiring for Equity Options Trader jobs? Cities with the most Equity Options Trader job openings:
What states have the most Equity Options Trader jobs? States with the most job openings for Equity Options Trader jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Equity Options Trader jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Equity Options Trader jobs are:
Equity Options Trader jobs near you
Infographic showing various Equity Options Trader job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 65% Part Time, 1% Temporary, 32% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 84% Physical, and 16% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $105,750 per year, or $50.8 per hour.

Quantitative Trading Strategist - Equity Options

IMC

Chicago, IL • On-site, Remote

$250K/yr

Other

PTO

Posted 3 days ago

Job description

IMC is seeking experienced quantitative professionals to join our US Equity Options market-making business. We are a leading scaled liquidity provider in US equity options, operating a large-scale systematic trading platform spanning thousands of underlyings. Our platform integrates quantitative research, trading strategy development, and production engineering within a collaborative, non-siloed environment across trading, research, and development teams.

This role focuses on improving how automated trading decisions are designed, evaluated, and deployed in live markets. You will work at the intersection of quantitative research, execution, and risk management to enhance pricing quality, execution performance, and overall system robustness. Improvements influence the broader platform rather than a single seat, providing meaningful ownership and impact from day one. Compensation is competitive and aligned with individual contribution.

Your Core Responsibilities: 

  • Develop and refine quantitative models that improve pricing, execution, and risk management.
  • Analyze large-scale market and trading datasets to identify structural improvements.
  • Design, test, and deploy strategy enhancements into production systems.
  • Collaborate closely with traders, researchers, and engineers to iterate on live trading logic.
  • Contribute to scalable solutions that impact a broad universe of equity options products.
  • Drive research from idea generation through backtesting, implementation, and real-time monitoring.

Your Skills and Experience: 

  • 3+ years of experience in quantitative research, systematic trading, or market microstructure-focused roles.
  • Experience working with exchange-traded products, ideally equity options.
  • Strong understanding of market structure and trading system behavior.
  • Demonstrated ability to conduct rigorous analysis on large, real-world datasets.
  • Strong programming skills (Python required; C++ or similar preferred).
  • Experience integrating research into production trading systems.
  • Background in statistics, probability, time series analysis, or optimization is strongly preferred.

The Base Salary for the role is included below. Base salary is only one component of total compensation; all full-time, permanent positions are eligible for a discretionary bonus and benefits, including paid leave and insurance. Please visit Benefits - US | IMC Trading for more comprehensive information.

Salary

$250,000

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