Quantitative AI Researcher.
St. Louis.
$175,000
median salary, 12% below the national average
$131,000 to $227,000. Last updated April 2026.
Get the job.
Data points to own the conversation.
Here is what Quantitative AI Researchers actually make in St. Louis: $131,000 at the 25th percentile, $175,000 at the median, and $227,000 at the 75th. That is 12% below the national average. St. The number on your offer letter will depend on what you bring and how you ask.
Salary range
Where do you fall?
Salary by experience
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $157,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$114,000
to $140,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$149,000
to $184,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$193,000
to $228,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$219,000
to $271,000
Salary trend
+6% YoYTotal compensation
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $45,000 to the total package.
Base
$175,000
Equity
$25,000
Bonus
$16,000
Signing
$4,000
Estimated total: $220,000
How St. Louis compares
St. Louis, MO
$175,000
Cost of living: 10% below average
National Average
$200,000
St. Louis is $25,000 below
Quantitative AI Researcher salary by city
Salary by role in St. Louis
What you should know
Before you negotiate a Quantitative AI Researcher offer in St. Louis, understand the terrain. St. Louis offers one of the most affordable major metro areas in the country, with a strong base in healthcare, financial services, and manufacturing. The region's anchor employers include Boeing, Centene, and Washington University's medical campus. A growing biotech and plant sciences corridor centered on the Cortex Innovation District is attracting new investment and talent. Compensation reflects the direct revenue impact of research. Researchers who develop novel AI signals with demonstrated predictive power earn the highest salaries. Publication record matters less than Sharpe ratios in the trading context. Expertise in time series modeling, reinforcement learning for portfolio optimization, and alternative data processing drives premiums.
Junior quant researchers start at $140,000 to $170,000 base with significant bonus potential. Mid-level researchers with deployed strategies reach $190,000 to $230,000 base. Senior researchers managing research teams earn $240,000 to $300,000+ base. Portfolio managers with AI expertise have uncapped earning potential. In St. Louis, cost of living sits near the national average, so the numbers you see are roughly what you keep.
Base salary is not the full picture. Performance bonuses at top quantitative firms regularly equal 100% to 300% of base salary. Total compensation of $400,000 to $1,000,000+ is achievable at firms like Two Sigma, DE Shaw, and Citadel. Deferred compensation and profit sharing structures are common. Signing bonuses of $50,000 to $150,000 attract top talent. And on the tax side: missouri's top income tax rate is about 4.8%, and St. Louis City adds a 1% earnings tax. The low base cost of living means your after tax salary still stretches further than in most metros. When someone quotes you $175,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Emphasize your willingness to work in person at Cortex or the BJC campus. St. Louis employers offer higher packages for candidates who commit to the local innovation hubs. The range for Quantitative AI Researchers in St. Louis runs from $131,000 to $227,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.
Sources: SEC filings, H-1B LCA (DOL), BLS OES, 50+ job posting platforms. COL: BEA Regional Price Parities (2025). Data verified by Justin Bartak, Founder & Chief AI Officer. Last verified April 8, 2026. Full methodology
Considering a related role?
- A AI Safety Researcher in St. Louis earns $176,000 (1% more)
- The highest-paying role in St. Louis is Distinguished Engineer at $297,000
Common questions.
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