What’s Influencing Quant Talent in 2025?

A resurgence in hiring defined 2024 across the quantitative analytics, research & trading sector, but 2025 is raising new questions about how to meet evolving quant career expectations and prevent turnover. 

Backed by exclusive data from our survey of quantitative finance professionals across the USA, plus insights from our talent experts, this article explores what’s driving quant career decisions in 2025 and how employers can adapt to secure leading talent. 

Movement, motivation, and mismatch in the quant talent market 

“2024 was a very good year for the quants market where we saw a resurgence of hiring in investment banks vs prior years, and strong performance in the equities markets and across major multi-strategy funds,” confirms Chris Schwuchow, Head of Quant Recruitment at Selby Jennings USA. “But 2025 is already looking different – Q1 alone has seen considerable volatility and shakeups, partly due to global tariffs and political uncertainty.” 

Even through the current volatility, quants remain in high demand and frequently have multiple job offers on the table simultaneously, making hiring highly competitive. Firms that succeed in securing top talent are moving fast and decisively – candidates are often receiving and accepting offers in under a week, and companies that hesitate are missing out. 

This urgency is heightened by a notable trend: the continued migration of talent from the sell side to the buy side. Hedge funds and proprietary trading firms remain attractive to candidates due to shorter development cycles, more direct impact, and often a more agile culture. 

Quant salary and bonus trends in 2025 

Despite high competition for talent, compensation data paints a complex picture. According to our survey results, quants were some of the least likely to receive a pay rise in the past year across the US financial sciences & services industry, where only 49% reported an increase. They also trailed in bonus recognition, with just 65% saying they received a bonus in the last 12 months. Even among those who did, nearly half (46%) reported their bonus was worth only 0–10% of their base salary. 

Yet perception isn’t all negative. Over two-thirds (67%) of quant professionals said their bonus met expectations, an 11% year-on-year improvement, suggesting firms are setting clearer benchmarks and communicating reward structures more effectively. 

Benefits and work flexibility for quant talent 

In terms of benefits, the picture is mixed. Quants reported receiving among the fewest days of paid time off on average, compared to surveyed professionals working in other finance sectors. However, they also enjoy above-average flexibility, with 63% working from home at least three days per week. This balance of autonomy and performance expectations reflects a shift toward results-based accountability over rigid office mandates. 

Why learning and development is a priority for quant professionals 

The single most common reason quants said they would consider a job change wasn’t compensation, but lack of learning and development (L&D) opportunities. Nearly half (47%) of those surveyed said insufficient L&D would drive them to explore new roles. 

This is particularly important as firms continue to diversify their strategies and deploy capital into systematic offerings. Hiring managers are prioritising candidates with strong technical fundamentals who can work across quant research, trading, and development. Meanwhile, top professionals are seeking employers who offer clear opportunities to grow and expand their skill sets. 

To retain top talent, employers must invest in professional development – whether that’s through mentorship, training budgets, or exposure to new asset classes and tools. 

How companies can win quant talent in 2025 

As volatility continues in 2025, firms will need to sharpen their hiring strategies. Chris emphasises that "firms who are proactive – offering competitive packages, clear career progression, and fast processes – will come out ahead this year." 

For candidates, the key drivers of change will be more than just pay. Flexibility, skill development, and impact remain top priorities, and companies that can deliver across all three will stand the best chance of winning the race for quant talent. 

To find out how the quantitative analytics, research & trading experts at Selby Jennings can support your hiring needs or career goals, learn more about our quant talent solutions, explore the latest quantitative job vacancies, or request a call back today. 

More quant talent insights from Searching Smarter 

Learn more about current hiring trends across quantitative analytics, research & trading in the Searching Smarter podcast – watch the full episode here. You can also listen on Spotify, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.​