Objective Paradigm Recruiting Manager Anthony Dostellio was quoted in the Wall Street Journal article “Battle for Tech Geeks: Street vs. Silicon Valley.”

Key to trading firms’ appeal is their pay. A new high-frequency trading programmer with no advanced degree can expect to make between $75,000 to $95,000 in the first year, plus a bonus, which can add an additional 10% to 50%, according to Objective Paradigm, a recruiting company that works with proprietary-trading firms.

Tech firms generally pay about 10% less, Objective Paradigm said, but deferred compensation and options are incentives that could be worth more down the road.

…

Being able “to go tell mom and dad you’re going to work at a name-brand organization is powerful,” said Anthony Dostellio, managing director at Objective Paradigm.

Still, while trading firms don’t always have the same buzz as a tech titan or start-up, the catered meals, plasma TVs and regular massages at some trading firms are helping lure more of the top talent, Mr. Dostellio said. After visiting trading firms, candidates “would come out of those environments and they would just be floored,” he said.