How to Become a Prop Trader (2024)

If you trade on your own, your profits are limited by the amount of capital you have to invest. And if you trade for a traditional firm or hedge fund, profit-sharing with clients means that you only receive a small percentage of the returns you generate.

But what if you had the opportunity to make more money from the same successful trading decisions? If you pursue a career as a prop trader, you may find that better profits could be within reach. Here’s what you need to know about how to become a prop trader.

Table of Contents

Understanding What Prop Traders Do

What is a prop trader exactly? “Prop” is short for proprietary. Proprietary trading — also called day trading — is a type of trading where a financial institution uses its own money for trading. This is in contrast to more traditional trading firms that use client funds to generate profits.

Prop trading can be risky for the financial institutions involved; prop traders played a significant role in the 2008 financial crisis. However, it does mean that those institutions keep more of their profits.

To generate high profits, prop trading firms must be extremely selective when it comes to choosing the people making their trades. Prop traders execute trades for their respective firms and almost always earn a higher percentage of profits than traders for more traditional firms. This requires strong analytical skills, the ability to make decisions under pressure and keen financial knowledge.

Some prop trading firms offer their traders a base salary. Others pay in commissions only, which can make the job extremely stressful. However, if you’re a very skilled trader, even commission-only pay can end up being lucrative.

The working environment for a prop trader can vary significantly. Some firms have offices where traders work in-house. Other traders can work remotely with online firms, trading as much or as little as they wish.

Steps for Becoming a Prop Trader

You can take several key steps to become a prop trader.

Building a Solid Trading Foundation

If you’re just getting familiar with trading, a prop trading firm is generally not the place to start. Before you start trading with a firm’s money, you will need to have a solid background as a trader — both theoretically and in practice.

You’ll need to understand various trading strategies, how they work and when to use them. But you’ll also need to demonstrate that you’ve used these strategies successfully as a stock trader, whether through foreign exchange trading, stocks or options.

Mastering Relevant Skills

No matter what kind of trading you do, you need to cultivate relevant skills if you want to be successful. Here are some of the most important:

Developing a thorough understanding of the financial market and how it works
Sharpening analytical and quantitative skills
Having a logical, balanced risk management strategy
Developing the ability to make decisions under pressure

In many cases, prop trading firms want you to have a degree — or at least some educational background — in finance. Make sure you understand what a given firm is looking for before applying.

Gaining Experience

Before a prop firm trusts you to trade its funds, it may evaluate your abilities and background. If you want to pass the evaluation, you should take every opportunity to gain experience in trading. Networking to find mentors, participating in trading competitions and practicing with trading simulations can all be good strategies.

Choosing the Right Proprietary Trading Firm

Not all trading firms are the same. Some variables to consider when choosing a prop trading firm include:

The central goals of the firm
The trading strategy it tends to use
Any support or training it offers
How much you need to pay in fees
How much funding you may be allowed to trade
What the firm emphasizes in its evaluation

Make sure to take your time when choosing a firm. The right choice can earn you substantial profits, but the wrong choice can cost money.

Acing the Interview and Evaluation Process

Before you enter the interview and evaluation process, make sure you’re familiar with what firms are looking for. You may be asked technical questions about trading and questions to see whether you have the right behavioral traits to succeed.

Firms also look for people who have a genuine passion for trading. Make sure you emphasize both your background and your enthusiasm.

Embracing Continuous Learning and Improvement

A great trader never stops learning. To succeed as a prop trader, you’ll need to stay updated on market trends, trading strategies and algorithmic trading. Following podcasts featuring successful traders, reading books about trading and following industry-related news and communities could be great places to start.

Overcoming Challenges and Staying Resilient

Prop trading is an inherently risky industry. But the worst thing you can do when you hit a bump in the road is to give up. If you want to succeed, it’s important to persevere and work to learn from your mistakes. If you make a point of learning something each time you hit a loss, your trading skills can grow despite setbacks.

Understanding Costs and Fees

Before you start prop trading, keep in mind that there’s some level of financial investment for new traders, including:

Subscription fees: Fees for funded accounts vary widely, starting as low as $150 per month to as high as $25,000 and up.
Withdrawal fees: You may have to pay a small percentage of your earnings each time you make a withdrawal.
Evaluation fee: Many prop trading firms charge a one-time fee to evaluate your trading abilities.
Software fees: Some firms charge you a monthly fee to use their trading software.

If you’re a successful prop trader, you’ll probably find that the fees you pay are a small percentage of what you earn. However, if you’re unsuccessful, you may be out more money than you started with. Some firms may take more of your profits than others, and you will want to keep an eye out for hidden fees.

Before pursuing this career, it’s important to be honest with yourself about your skill level and experience as a trader.

Pros and Cons of Becoming a Prop Trader

Prop trading can be lucrative, but it isn’t for everyone. If you’re considering getting into the industry, consider these pros and cons.

Pros:

Doesn’t involve your own money when trading
Brings the advantage of a prop trading firm's built-in risk controls
Offers access to your share of the profits with weekly payouts
Provides the ability to trade in a wide variety of markets

Cons:

Is often extremely stressful
Is typically high-risk
Involves sharing profits with the firm you work for
Limits the trading strategies you can use

If you have the right personality and skill set for prop trading, the benefits can outweigh the risks.

Is Prop Trading for You?

If you find success as a prop trader, you can earn a great salary while sharpening your trading skills in a variety of markets. However, because of its challenges, prop trading is a career best saved for people who genuinely enjoy trading — not those who are just in it for the money.

If you’re an experienced trader with a track record of success, you might be able to take your career to the next level with a prop trading firm.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do prop traders make?

It depends on experience and success rates. New prop traders usually make about $135,000. Experts can make more than $200,000.

Do you need a license to be a prop trader?

Usually, no. However, certain firms may require traders they employ to have certain licenses or certifications.

Is it hard to get into prop trading?

Yes, it can be. Most prop trading firms want their traders to have a background in finance as well as a proven track record as a trader, so before you start, make sure you understand how to become a prop trader and what skills you’ll need to succeed.