Investment Banking Is Hiring 91% More Developers: What Is Behind This Trend
Hello HaWkers, a surprising trend is emerging in the job market for developers. The investment banking sector recorded a 91% growth in software engineer hiring in 2025, surpassing even traditionally tech sectors like e-commerce and AI startups.
Have you ever considered working for an investment bank? If the answer is "never thought about it," maybe it's time to reconsider. The opportunities are real and the salaries are competitive.
The Impressive Numbers
Let's start with the data that reveals this trend:
Hiring Growth By Sector
Sectors hiring most devs (2024-2025):
- Investment Banking: +91%
- Industrial Automation: +73%
- Healthtech: +45%
- Fintech: +38%
- E-commerce: +32%
- AI Startups: +28%
Investment banking leads by far, and there are solid reasons for this.
Why Banks Are Hiring So Much
The financial sector is undergoing a deep technological transformation:
Main factors:
- Increasingly sophisticated algorithmic trading
- AI transforming risk analysis
- Competition with fintechs requires innovation
- Regulations demand robust systems
- Legacy systems need modernization
Types of Available Positions
Investment banks hire developers for various roles:
1. Quant Developers
Quantitative developers create algorithmic trading systems:
Responsibilities:
- Implement trading strategies in code
- Optimize performance for ultra-low latency
- Work with large volumes of market data
- Backtesting of strategies
Required skills:
- Python, C++, Java
- Statistics and financial mathematics
- Low latency systems
- Machine Learning
Salary range: $180,000 - $400,000/year
2. Platform Engineers
Platform engineers build the infrastructure:
Responsibilities:
- Maintain trading systems in production
- Ensure uptime and availability
- Scalability and performance
- Security and compliance
Required skills:
- Kubernetes, Docker, Cloud
- Linux and distributed systems
- Observability and monitoring
- Automation and IaC
Salary range: $150,000 - $300,000/year
3. Risk Technology
Risk technology developers:
Responsibilities:
- Real-time risk calculation systems
- Stress testing models
- Compliance and regulation
- Automated reporting
Required skills:
- Python, R, SQL
- Big Data (Spark, Hadoop)
- Statistical models
- Knowledge of regulations
Salary range: $140,000 - $280,000/year
4. Front Office Development
Front office systems developers:
Responsibilities:
- Trading interfaces
- Analysis dashboards
- Market feed integration
- Tools for traders
Required skills:
- React, TypeScript
- Websockets and real-time
- Financial charts (D3.js)
- Performance optimization
Salary range: $130,000 - $250,000/year
Top Employers
These are the banks that hire the most developers:
Wall Street Giants
Goldman Sachs:
- 10,000+ engineers globally
- Strong focus on engineering culture
- Marcus platform (fintech)
JP Morgan:
- Largest technology budget ($15B+/year)
- Blockchain and AI leading investments
- Strong global presence
Morgan Stanley:
- Investing heavily in wealth tech
- Sophisticated trading systems
- Tech-forward culture
Other Major Players
Citadel/Citadel Securities:
- Hedge fund + market maker
- Among the highest salaries
- Extreme competition for talent
Two Sigma:
- Focus on data science
- Academic culture
- Quantitative research
Jane Street:
- Elite trading firm
- OCaml as main language
- Complex technical problems
Work Culture
Working in investment banking has distinct characteristics:
Positive Points
Advantages:
- Salaries significantly above market
- Generous annual bonuses (50-100% of salary)
- Challenging technical problems
- Networking with elite professionals
- Premium benefits (health, food)
Points of Attention
Challenges:
- Hours can be extended during peak periods
- Pressure for results is very high
- Bureaucracy in large companies
- Less flexibility than startups
- Corporate politics
Skills That Differentiate Candidates
To stand out in banking hiring processes:
Essential Technical Skills
Programming:
- Fluent Python (pandas, numpy, scipy)
- C++ for low latency systems
- Advanced SQL
- Big data experience
Systems:
- Linux proficiency
- Networking and protocols
- Distributed systems
- Performance tuning
Domain:
- Basic financial markets
- Financial instruments (stocks, derivatives)
- Regulations (MiFID, Dodd-Frank)
The Selection Process
Banking interviews are rigorous:
Typical stages:
- Initial technical screening
- Coding assessment (HackerRank/similar)
- Deep technical interview
- System design (for seniors)
- Behavioral interview
- Final round with managers
Preparation tips:
- Practice algorithm problems
- Study financial market concepts
- Prepare examples of complex projects
- Demonstrate genuine interest in the sector
Career Transition to Banking
If you come from traditional tech, the transition is possible:
Common Paths
From startup to banking:
- Leverage experience with scale
- Highlight problem-solving ability
- Show adaptability
From big tech to banking:
- Experience with complex systems
- Knowledge of best practices
- Network and references
Necessary Knowledge
To accelerate the transition:
- Take basic finance courses (Coursera, edX)
- Read about markets (Bloomberg, Reuters)
- Understand main financial products
- Follow sector news
The Future of the Sector
Trends that will shape banking tech:
2026-2027
Hot technologies:
- Generative AI for analysis
- Blockchain for settlements
- Quantum computing for optimization
- Continued cloud migration
New opportunities:
- AI/ML Engineers specialized in finance
- Crypto/DeFi developers
- Climate tech quantitative analysts
- RegTech specialists
Salary Comparison
How banking compares with other sectors:
Mid-Level Developers (3-5 years)
| Sector | Base Salary | Total Comp |
|---|---|---|
| Investment Banking | $180k | $250k+ |
| Big Tech (FAANG) | $170k | $220k |
| Fintech | $150k | $180k |
| Startups | $140k | $160k |
| Corporate | $120k | $130k |
Senior Developers (7+ years)
| Sector | Base Salary | Total Comp |
|---|---|---|
| Investment Banking | $250k | $400k+ |
| Big Tech (FAANG) | $220k | $350k |
| Fintech | $200k | $280k |
| Startups (equity) | $180k | Variable |
| Corporate | $160k | $180k |
Banking generally offers superior total compensation due to bonuses.
Conclusion
The 91% growth in developer hiring by investment banks is not accidental. The financial sector is undergoing a massive digital transformation and needs technical talent to compete with fintechs, meet regulations, and innovate in products.
For developers, this represents a significant opportunity: above-market salaries, challenging technical problems, and stability of established companies. The trade-off is a more traditional culture and potentially less flexibility.
If you're looking for complex technical challenges and competitive compensation, it's worth exploring opportunities in this sector. Demand is high and the trend is continuous growth.
If you want to prepare for these opportunities, I recommend checking out another article: Companies Now Prioritize Skills Over Degrees where you'll discover what really matters in current hiring processes.