Quantitative Analyst.
Philadelphia.
$187,000
median salary, 9% above the national average
$140,000 to $253,000. Updated for 2026.
The numbers.
Everything you need to negotiate with confidence.
Here is what Quantitative Analysts actually make in Philadelphia: $140,000 at the 25th percentile, $187,000 at the median, and $253,000 at the 75th. That is 9% above the national average. Philadelphia combines a robust healthcare and life sciences sector with established finance and higher education institutions. The number on your offer letter will depend on what you bring and how you ask.
Salary range
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How Philadelphia compares
Philadelphia, PA
$187,000
Cost of living: 9% above average
National Average
$172,000
Philadelphia is $15,000 above
What you should know
If you are interviewing for Quantitative Analyst roles in Philadelphia, here is what you are walking into. Philadelphia combines a robust healthcare and life sciences sector with established finance and higher education institutions. The city's pharmaceutical corridor is among the strongest in the country. Tech growth has accelerated, particularly in health tech and enterprise software, offering salaries that stretch further than in nearby New York. 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 Philadelphia, 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 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: pennsylvania has a flat 3.07% state income tax, but Philadelphia adds a 3.75% city wage tax for residents. This combined local burden is worth factoring into salary negotiations. When someone quotes you $187,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Account for the Philadelphia wage tax in your ask. Request a 5 to 8% premium over suburban offers to offset the city's local tax on all earned income. The range for Quantitative Analysts in Philadelphia runs from $140,000 to $253,000. 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 Philadelphia
Negotiating in Philadelphia
Account for the Philadelphia wage tax in your ask. Request a 5 to 8% premium over suburban offers to offset the city's local tax on all earned income.