Trading Desk Salary in the United States

How much does a Trading Desk make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Trading Desk in the United States is $92,479 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $44.

However, a Trading Desk's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $109,144
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $81,465 to $101,202
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $71,438

Key Factors That Influence Trading Desk Salaries

A Trading Desk's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Trading Desk Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Trading Desk's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $59,549
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $73,848
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $84,235
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $94,773
  • Expert (over 8 years): $135,707
Levels Salary
Microbiol... Level Trading Desk$59,549
Microbiol... Level Trading Desk$73,848
Microbiol... Level Trading Desk$84,235
Trading D... Level Trading Desk$94,773
Microbiol... Level Trading Desk$135,707

Top Paying Cities for Trading Desks

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $116,643
  • San Francisco: $115,366
  • Oakland: $112,935

What Skills Can Increase a Trading Desk's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 9.67% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Chemistry (Mentioned in 3.5% Job Postings): Chemistry is the branch of science that deals with the composition, structure, and properties of substances of which matter is composed.
  • Calibration (Mentioned in 1.58% Job Postings): In measurement technology and metrology, calibration is the comparison of measurement values delivered by a device under test with those of a calibration standard of known accuracy. Such a standard could be another measurement device of known accuracy, a device generating the quantity to be measured such as a voltage, a sound tone, or a physical artefact, such as a metre ruler. The outcome of the comparison can result in one of the following: no significant error being noted on the device under test a significant error being noted but no adjustment made an adjustment made to correct the error to an acceptable levelStrictly speaking, the term "calibration" means just the act of comparison, and does not include any subsequent adjustment. The calibration standard is normally traceable to a national standard held by a national metrological body.
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 9.67%
Chemistry 3.5%
Calibration 1.58%

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Trading Desk's salary.

  • Team Operations: Can increase your salary by up to 21%.
  • Commitment: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • Oral Communication: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Team Operations $111,899
21%
Commitment $98,952
7%
Oral Communication $98,952
7%

Trading Desk Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Trading Desk roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 55% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Energy & Utilities and Biotechnology sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average. In contrast, Trading Desk positions in Pharmaceuticals or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Trading Desk as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Trading Desk

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Energy & Utilities$120,222$58.030%
Biotechnology$110,974$53.020%
Chemicals$101,726$49.010%

How Education impacts a Trading Desk's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Trading Desks enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Trading Desk with a Bachelor's Degree is between $85,643 and $90,131).

Trading Desk Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Trading Desk
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 2.4%
High School 34.1%
Associates 29.3%
Bachelors 34.1%
Masters 29.3%
Doctorate 34.1%

Trading Desk Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Trading Desk's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$81,465
Average $92,479/year
$101,202
$6,789
Average $7,707/month
$8,434
$1,567
Average $1,778/week
$1,946
$39
Average $44/hour
$49
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $101,202 $8,434 $1,946 $49
Average $92,479 $7,707 $1,778 $44
25th Percentile $81,465 $6,789 $1,567 $39

Most common benefits for Trading Desk

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Trading Desk

Here are companies hiring for Trading Desk and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Trading Desk

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Trading Desk?

The Energy & Utilities industry offers the highest average compensation for Trading Desk roles, with salaries approximately 30% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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