Quantitative Analyst.
Los Angeles.
$203,000
median salary, 18% above the national average
$151,000 to $274,000. Updated for 2026.
The numbers.
Everything you need to negotiate with confidence.
Los Angeles is 18% more expensive than the national average. For Quantitative Analysts, that shakes out to a median of $203,000, with the full range spanning $151,000 to $274,000. Firm type and strategy alpha generation are the primary pay determinants. Know the range before you walk in.
Salary range
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How Los Angeles compares
Los Angeles, CA
$203,000
Cost of living: 18% above average
National Average
$172,000
Los Angeles is $31,000 above
What you should know
Here is what the Quantitative Analyst market actually looks like in Los Angeles. Los Angeles blends a thriving entertainment industry with a growing tech and startup ecosystem, often called Silicon Beach. The city's diverse economy spans aerospace, healthcare, fashion, and gaming. LA offers strong salaries that, while below San Francisco levels, pair with a broader lifestyle appeal and lower housing costs relative to the Bay Area. Firm type and strategy alpha generation are the primary pay determinants. Quants at top hedge funds like Citadel, Two Sigma, or DE Shaw earn 50 to 100% more than those at banks or asset managers. PhD-level mathematics, physics, or computer science backgrounds from top research universities command the highest starting salaries.
Junior quants start at $120,000 to $160,000 base at top firms. Mid-level quantitative analysts earn $160,000 to $220,000 base. Senior quants and portfolio managers reach $220,000 to $350,000 base. Quant portfolio managers running profitable strategies can earn $500,000 to several million in total compensation. In Los Angeles, those numbers run higher. The cost of living here is 18% above average, and employers adjust to compete.
Base salary is not the full picture. Performance bonuses at quantitative hedge funds frequently equal or exceed base salary, with total compensation of $300,000 to $800,000 for mid-level quants. Top performers at elite firms can earn $1 million or more. Bank quants receive 20 to 50% bonuses with smaller variance. And on the tax side: california's 13.3% top state income tax rate applies to LA earners as well. There is no city income tax, but the high state rate makes take home pay lower than cities in no income tax states. When someone quotes you $203,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Highlight cross industry skills. LA employers value candidates who bridge entertainment and tech, so framing your experience across verticals can unlock higher offers. The range for Quantitative Analysts in Los Angeles runs from $151,000 to $274,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.
Top industries in Los Angeles
Negotiating in Los Angeles
Highlight cross industry skills. LA employers value candidates who bridge entertainment and tech, so framing your experience across verticals can unlock higher offers.