Lead Quantitative Analyst Salary.
Across 81 U.S. cities.
$144,000
national median salary
$122,000 to $178,000. Last updated August 2026.
Government benchmark for this occupation
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $81,100 for Financial Specialists, All Other (SOC 13-2099) across the United States, based on 132,130 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$48,460
25th percentile
$61,290
Median
$81,100
75th percentile
$110,410
90th percentile
$151,490
Workers surveyed
132,130
What BLS published in each release
May 2024 release
$80,190
May 2025 release
$81,100
These are two separate published estimates, not a time series. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not encourage the use of OEWS data for time-series analysis. Differences between releases reflect changes in occupational classification, survey methodology, and the three-year pooled sample as well as any change in pay, so the two figures should not be read as a rate of wage growth.
Why this differs from the estimate above. The Orbyt estimate of $144,000 is 78% higher than this published figure. That is usually not an error in either number: BLS reports by occupation code, and Financial Specialists, All Other covers a different population than the Lead Quantitative Analyst title as it is typically advertised. Both are shown, unreconciled, so you can judge which one describes the job you mean.
BLS publishes wages by occupation code, not by job title, so this figure covers every role mapped to Financial Specialists, All Other (SOC 13-2099) rather than Lead Quantitative Analystspecifically. The national range at the top of this page is Orbyt’s role-level estimate, which is a different thing and is labelled as such.
View the BLS source for SOC 13-2099Highest Paying
$201,000
San Jose, CA
Best Purchasing Power
$150,000
Portland, OR
Lowest Paying
$115,000
Little Rock, AR
The salary figures on this page are computed estimates, not observed wages. Each one is a national role baseline scaled by a Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parity cost-of-living multiplier (2025 index) and rounded to the nearest $1,000. No published wage percentile is consulted and no wage survey response enters the calculation, so an Orbyt estimate must not be cited as a Bureau of Labor Statistics figure or as measured pay. The published wage data Orbyt holds is Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, and Department of Labor H-1B Labor Condition Application filings, which record a filed minimum visa base wage rather than market pay. Where BLS publishes a wage for the occupation a role maps to, it is shown on that role's page as a separate benchmark, labelled with its occupation code, metro area and the number of employed workers it covers. Last updated August 2026. This role maps to BLS occupation code 13-2099. Full methodology.
Orbyt estimates the average Lead Quantitative Analyst salary in the United States at $144,000 in 2026, within a range of $122,000 to $178,000. These figures are Orbyt estimates, computed rather than measured, and must not be cited as Bureau of Labor Statistics figures; the published BLS wage for the occupation this role maps to is shown separately on this page. San Jose is the highest of the 81 cities at $201,000, while Portland offers the best purchasing power after cost-of-living adjustments. Lead Quantitative Analyst compensation is driven by domain specialization, SQL and statistical depth, and the financial or operational impact of insights delivered.
Lead Quantitative Analyst salary by city.
Skills that increase Lead Quantitative Analyst pay.
The skills below command measurable salary premiums for Lead Quantitative Analysts based on job posting data. Learning the top skill here could add $20,160 to your annual compensation.
≈ +$20,160 per year
≈ +$18,720 per year
≈ +$17,280 per year
≈ +$15,840 per year
≈ +$15,840 per year
≈ +$14,400 per year
≈ +$14,400 per year
≈ +$12,960 per year
What you should know.
Lead Quantitative Analyst compensation is driven by domain specialization, SQL and statistical depth, and the financial or operational impact of insights delivered. Signing bonuses near $11K are standard for lateral hires and reset every 2 to 4 years. Within finance and business operations, licensure (CFA, CPA, FP&A) and industry (tech, banking, consulting) shift the compensation band by 20–40%.
Lead Quantitative Analysts progress Analyst → Senior Analyst → Manager → Senior Manager → Director over 10 to 12 years, with many transitioning into strategy, product, or operations leadership. MBA is a common accelerator around year 4 to 6. For Lead Quantitative Analysts specifically, the seniority anchor typically means 7 to 12 years of experience with demonstrated independent scope.
Total compensation for Lead Quantitative Analysts includes a meaningful signing bonus near $11K, which resets every 2 to 4 years for lateral hires. Base plus bonus (8% of base at target) forms the bulk of ongoing annual comp; signing bonuses are best thought of as a 4-year amortized component. In corporate finance and banking, bonus is a major component and can double the base in top-performing years (investment banking) or add 20–40% (corporate finance).
Total compensation breakdown.
Salary by company size
Remote salary adjustment
Remote Lead Quantitative Analysts typically earn $130,000 (10% less than on-site). This reflects location-adjusted pay policies at companies using geographic salary bands. Some companies pay flat national rates regardless of location.
Are you a Lead Quantitative Analyst?
Share your real compensation anonymously. Help build the most accurate salary dataset for this role. Your data is never individually exposed.
Common questions about Lead Quantitative Analyst pay.
Related tools