Recent reports suggest that quantitative researchers at a large Middle Eastern sovereign wealth fund can earn extremely high fixed salaries, even without traditional bonuses. Alleged pay levels became known after a senior employee reportedly left a payslip unattended, offering rare insight into compensation at the fund’s quantitative research group.

According to industry sources, the quant team operates on a structured pay scale with five seniority levels. Entry-level roles reportedly earn solid six-figure salaries, while more senior positions rise quickly into seven figures. At the highest level, annual pay is believed to exceed several million dollars, all delivered as base salary rather than performance bonuses. The fund has not confirmed these figures, and insiders declined to formally validate them.

In exchange for this compensation, the team focuses on research-driven portfolio allocation rather than hedge fund-style trading. Their work includes advanced quantitative research, artificial intelligence applications, and risk-based asset allocation across global portfolios. The role is described as highly centralized and strategic, influencing how assets are deployed rather than making short-term trades.

Overall, the structure appears designed to attract top quantitative talent by offering stability, high guaranteed pay, and intellectually demanding work, without the volatility of bonus-driven compensation.