327 Options Trading Statistics Every Trader Needs to Know (2024)

Table of Contents
Sections History HOW DID STOCK OPTIONS EVOLVE OVER TIME? What Were the First Listed Stock Options? Who Invented Stock Options? Market Size / Trading Volume Number of Contracts Traded Total options volume was 3.4 billion contracts in 2022 Average Daily Trading Volume Through the Years: The Growth of Options Trading U.S. Options Trading Over the Past Few Years What is the Most Actively Traded Option Contract? Most Active options Who is the Richest Option Trader in the World? Average daily turnover value of exchange traded options in the United States from January 2021 to January 2023, by exchange Daily Options Turnover Value of Exchange Traded Options in the US Regulation Who Regulates Options in America? Who Controls Options Trading? Are Options Regulated by the SEC? Do You Need a License to Trade Options? Who Regulates Options in Europe? Options Trader Success and Profitability How Much Do Options Traders Make a Year? What is the Success Ratio in Option Trading? What Percentage of Options Trades Are from Retail Traders? How Much do Traders Lose?​ What Percentage of Options Contracts Are Closed Out, Exercised, or Expire Worthless? Options Trader Demographics OPTIONS TRADERS BY GENDER Ratio: Men vs. Women Gender Pay Gap For Options TraderS Options Trader Gender By Year Options Traders Statistic by Race Options Traders Statistic by Race Options Traders By Race Options Traders by Age and Race Options Trader AGE How Many Options Traders have Degrees? Option Traders by education Options Trader Wage Gap By Education Options Trader Jobs By Employer Size Top Industries Hiring Options Traders Options Trader Unemployment Rate By Year Foreign Languages Spoken By Options Traders Further reading FAQs

327 Options Trading Statistics Every Trader Needs to Know (1)

Every Trader Needs to Know

Successful options trading is no simple feat. Options traders who thrive regardless of market conditions are those who get an edge everywhere, including staying on top of the latest trends.

Knowing what the options trading landscape looks like—and what you’re up against—is a must.

To give you an edge, we’ve compiled a thorough report of 327 options trading statistics detailing everything you need to stay on top of your game.

Let’s take a closer look.

Sections

1History2Market Size3Regulation4Trader Success5Demographics

History

HOW DID STOCK OPTIONS EVOLVE OVER TIME?

1791

327 Options Trading Statistics Every Trader Needs to Know (2)

In 1791, the New York Stock Exchange opened, sparking the emergence of a stock options market among smart investors.

1800

327 Options Trading Statistics Every Trader Needs to Know (3)

In the late 1800s, broker-dealers placed ads in financial journals to attract potential option buyers and sellers.

1929

327 Options Trading Statistics Every Trader Needs to Know (4)

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) was created in response to the 1929 stock market crash, becoming the regulating authority in 1934.

1968

327 Options Trading Statistics Every Trader Needs to Know (5)

In 1968, CBOT created an open- outcry exchange for stock options to expand its business beyond the commodity futures market.

1973

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The Options Clearing Corporation (OCC) was established in 1973 to ensure timely and reliable fulfillment of options contracts. The Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE) opened the same year.

1974

327 Options Trading Statistics Every Trader Needs to Know (7)

By June 1974, the CBOE reached an average daily volume of over 20,000 contracts.

1975

327 Options Trading Statistics Every Trader Needs to Know (8)

In 1975, the Philadelphia Stock Exchange and American Stock Exchange opened their own option trading floors, increasing competition and accessibility.

1977

327 Options Trading Statistics Every Trader Needs to Know (9)

Due to rapid market growth, the SEC conducted a comprehensive review in 1977, pausing options listings and exploring the possibility of a centralized options market.

1980

327 Options Trading Statistics Every Trader Needs to Know (10)

By 1980, the SEC implemented new regulations for market surveillance, consumer protection, and compliance systems.

2005

327 Options Trading Statistics Every Trader Needs to Know (11)

In December 2005, Ally Invest’s introduction to the public marked a significant milestone in options history.

2022

327 Options Trading Statistics Every Trader Needs to Know (12)

The Internet and online brokers have empowered individual investors with free trading tools that were once costly, leading to a record-breaking total options volume of 3.4 billion contracts in 2022.

The Options Playbook

Markets Media

What Were the First Listed Stock Options?

327 Options Trading Statistics Every Trader Needs to Know (14)

The first listed stock options were introduced by the Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE) on April 26, 1973. The CBOE listed call options on 16 underlying stocks, which included major companies like IBM, Xerox, and American Airlines.

Wikipedia

Option Strategist

Who Invented Stock Options?

Russell Sage, a well known American financier born in New York, was the first to create call and put options for trading in the US back in 1872.

327 Options Trading Statistics Every Trader Needs to Know (16)

Optiontradingpedia

Market Size / Trading Volume

Number of Contracts Traded

Matched VolumeMarket*Today (as of Q1 2023)5 Day
Cboe (C,W,E,Z)$11,933,601,18556.12%48.56%
NASDAQ (Q,T,X,H,I,J)$4,708,092,98822.14%25.96%
NYSE (A,N)$2,030,973,6619.55%10.95%
MIAX (M,P,D)$1,496,142,2027.04%7.54%
BOX Options$1,094,368,6665.15%6.98%
Total$21,263,178,702100.00%100.00%

*You can find updated statistics on a daily basis.

CBOE

327 Options Trading Statistics Every Trader Needs to Know (19)

Total options volume was

3.4 billion contracts in 2022

the third consecutive record-breaking year

CBOE

Average Daily Trading Volume

Average daily option volumeAnnual Volume
40,388,770202220212020
Options total contracts ADV (in millions)13.612.110.1
U.S. Equities total touched shares ADV (in billions)1.71.71.8
Canadian Equities total touched shares ADV (in millions) (1)91.849.443.1
Futures ADV (in thousands)218.2230.4200.6
European Equities matched and touched ADNV (€ in billions)10.87.76.9
European trades cleaned (in millions) (2)1,493.31,244.2545.5
Global FX ADNV ($ in billions)40.933.934.7

The following chart lists average daily transaction volume in number of shares/contracts, notional value transacted or trades cleared for Options (Cboe Options, C2 Options, BZX Options, and EDGX Options); Futures (CFE); U.S. Equities (BZX Equities, BYX Equities, EDGA Equities, and EDGX Equities); Canadian Equities (MATCHNow); European Equities (Cboe Europe Equities); European Clearing (EuroCCP); and Global FX (Cboe FX and Cboe SEF) for the periods indicated

Market Chameleon

CBOE

CBOE

CBOE

U.S. Options Trading Over the Past Few Years

Options trading volumes topped 10 billion in 2022, after soaring 32.2% to a record 9.87 billion contracts in 2021. That was double 2019’s total, which was also a record.

For the first quarter of 2023, 1.8 billion contracts have traded, putting options on course for another strong year.

Refinitiv

What is the Most Actively Traded Option Contract?

SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

is usually the most actively traded symbol in the entire market.

TradeStation

Most Active options

CompanyAvg Options VolumeBusiness
SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)9 millionTracks the S&P 500
Tesla (TSLA)3 millionElectric cars
Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ)3 millionTracks the Nasdaq-100
Apple (APPL)1.1 millioniPhones, computers
Amazon.com (AMZN)930,000E-commerce
iShares Russell 2000 (IWM)811,000Tracks the Russell 2000
AMC Entertainment (AMC)726,000Movie theaters
Alphabet (GOOGL)609,000Internet
Advanced Micro Devices (AMD)435,000Semiconductors
Bed Bath & Beyond (BBBY)407,000Retail

TradeStation

Who is the Richest Option Trader in the World?

327 Options Trading Statistics Every Trader Needs to Know (27)

The most famous billionaire traders are George Soros, Carl Icahn, Ray Dalio, David Tepper, and James Simons. The Richest and most famous active traders in the world in 2023 are: Carl Icahn (17.6 billion dollars) George Soros (6.7 billion dollars).

Forex

TradeStation

Average daily turnover value of exchange traded options in the United States from January 2021 to January 2023, by exchange

Between January 2021 and January 2023, CBOE held the largest market share at almost 40% of U.S. daily exchange-traded options, followed by Nasdaq at over 32%, BOX at around 15.5%, and NYSE at 7.93%, with a total average daily turnover of approximately 28.3B U.S. dollars in January 2023.

Daily Options Turnover Value of Exchange Traded Options in the US

327 Options Trading Statistics Every Trader Needs to Know (29)

Statista

Regulation

Who Regulates Options in America?

327 Options Trading Statistics Every Trader Needs to Know (31)

In the U.S., options trading is regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), where the SEC oversees the securities industry with the primary aim of protecting investors, while FINRA regulates brokerage firms and brokers.

Statista

Who Controls Options Trading?

The issuer has the corresponding obligation to fulfill the transaction (to sell or buy) if the holder “exercises” the option. An option that conveys to the holder the right to buy at a specified price is referred to as a call, while one that conveys the right to sell at a specified price is known as a put.

327 Options Trading Statistics Every Trader Needs to Know (33)

The Trading Analyst

Are Options Regulated by the SEC?

327 Options Trading Statistics Every Trader Needs to Know (35)

All option contracts involving stocks or indexes are overseen by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA); while option contracts involving forex, commodities, or futures are regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and the National Futures Association (NFA).

Investopedia

Do You Need a License to Trade Options?

You don’t need a license to be an options trader. The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) offers the Registered Options Principal Exam. Passing this test can give you more credibility as an options trader, but it’s not a requirement.

327 Options Trading Statistics Every Trader Needs to Know (37)

Indeed

Who Regulates Options in Europe?

327 Options Trading Statistics Every Trader Needs to Know (39)

Cboe Europe operates two regulated venues – Cboe UK (Cboe Europe Limited) and Cboe NL (Cboe Europe B.V.). Cboe Europe oversees and regulates all trading conducted on its markets and takes its responsibilities in this — and every other regard — very seriously.

Options Trader Success and Profitability

How Much Do Options Traders Make a Year?

Options traders in America make an average salary of $110,139 per year or $53 per hour. The top 10% makes over $185,000 per year, while the bottom 10% earns under $65,000 per year.

Average optionS trader salary

$110,139 yearly

$52.95 hourly

327 Options Trading Statistics Every Trader Needs to Know (41)

Zippia

What is the Success Ratio in Option Trading?

Options trading, despite its advantages, involves significant risk and speculation. Success in this field is not attainable for everyone. Similar to other businesses, it demands specific skills, personality traits, and a determined attitude.

Only 10% of traders make money, and the remaining 90% end up in a loss.

CBOE

There is a 25% chance of losing your investment and a 75% chance of profit.

Investopedia

What Percentage of Options Trades Are from Retail Traders?

The percentage of total trading volume coming from retail investors was about 23% from January 25 to February 1 in 2023.

327 Options Trading Statistics Every Trader Needs to Know (47)

Forbes

How Much do Traders Lose?​

327 Options Trading Statistics Every Trader Needs to Know (49)

90% of traders fail to make money when trading the stock market. This statistic deems that over time 80% lose, 10% break even and just10% make money consistently.

Wealth Within

What Percentage of Options Contracts Are Closed Out, Exercised, or Expire Worthless?

327 Options Trading Statistics Every Trader Needs to Know (51)

According to the Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE) here are the statistics:

55% – 60% of option contracts are closed out prior to expiration
10% of option contracts are exercised
30% – 35% of option contracts expire worthless

The Blue Collar Investor

Investopedia

Options Trader Demographics

OPTIONS TRADERS BY GENDER

327 Options Trading Statistics Every Trader Needs to Know (53)

Ratio: Men vs. Women

9.2% of options traders are women and 90.8% of options traders are men.

Zippia

Gender Pay Gap For Options TraderS

Women earn 90¢ for every $1 earned by men.

327 Options Trading Statistics Every Trader Needs to Know (55)

Male income $109,139

327 Options Trading Statistics Every Trader Needs to Know (56)

Male income $109,139

Zippia

Options Trader Gender By Year

YearMaleFemale
201088.51%11.49%
201187.64%12.36%
201288.43%11.57%
201388.30%11.70%
201487.99%12.01%
201588.62%11.38%
201688.98%11.02%
201787.72%11.28%
201889.26%10.74%
201990.56%9.44%
202090.47%9.53%
202190.80%9.20%

Zippia

Options Traders Statistic by Race

The most common ethnicity among options traders is White, which makes up 66.7% of all options traders. Comparatively, there are 12.2% of the Asian ethnicity and 11.3% of the Hispanic or Latino ethnicity.

Zippia

Options Traders Statistic by Race

“Unknown” options traders have the highest average salary compared to other ethni- cities. Black or African American options traders have the lowest average salary at $93,952.

Zippia

Options Traders By Race

YearWhiteBlack or African
American
AsianHispanic or Latino
201074.21%6.09%8.15%10.03%
201174.32%5.72%8.99%9.53%
201272.69%5.77%9.02%11.12%
201373.15%5.04%9.64%10.10%
201473.60%5.49%9.34%10.06%
201573.23%5.62%9.62%9.68%
201671.71%5.30%9.94%11.25%
201772.00%5.17%9.72%11.02%
201870.16%5.18%11.17%11.16%
201972.04%5.53%10.50%10.06%
202069.05%5.49%10.33%11.60%
202166.73%5.44%12.21%11.28%

Zippia

Options Traders by Age and Race

RaceMale AgeFemale Age
Unknown4048.5
White4347
Black or African American40.547
Asian4237.5
Hispanic or Latino3742

Zippia

This chart breaks down the ages of options trader employees. Interestingly enough, the average age of options traders is 40+ years old, which represents 58% of the population.

Options Trader AGE

Option Traders YearsPercentages
40+ years58%
30 – 40 years28%
20 – 30 years14%

Zippia

How Many Options Traders have Degrees?

The most common degree for options traders is a bachelor’s degree, with 82% of options traders holding a bachelor’s degree. A close second is a master’s degree with 12%, and rounding it off is an associate’s degree with 3%.

Option Traders by education

Option Trader DegreePercentages
Bachelors82%
Masters12%
Associate3%
Doctorate1%
Other Degrees2%

Zippia

Options Trader Wage Gap By Education

Options traders with a Masters degree earn more than those without, at $141,254 annually. With a Doctorate degree, options traders earn a median annual income of $130,472 compared to $109,139 for options traders with a Bachelor’s degree.

Zippia

Options Trader Jobs By Employer Size

Company Size Percentages
< 50 employees 11%
50 – 100 employees 16%
100 – 500 employees 23%
500 – 1,000 employees 11%
1,000 – 10,000 employees 23%
> 10,000 employees 16%

Zippia

Employees with the options trader job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most options traders prefer to work at private companies over public companies.

Zippia

Top Industries Hiring Options Traders

Just based on the number of employees within each industry, we were able to determine the most common industries that employ options traders. Those industries include finance, professional and technology.

IndustryPercentages
Finance40%
Professional9%
Fortune 5008%
Technology7%
Manufacturing6%
Transportation4%
Hospitality4%
Media3%
Internet2%
Government2%
Utilities2%
Real Estate2%
Pharmaceutical1%
Automotive1%
Construction1%
Health Care1%
Retail1%
Telecommunication1%
Energy1%
Non Profits1%
Insurance1%
Education1%
Agriculture1%
Start-up1%

Zippia

Options Trader Unemployment Rate By Year

YearPercentages
20107.5%
20116.42%
20126.14%
20134.28%
20144.90%
20153.10%
20164.15%
20173.43%
20182.39%
20193.02%
20204.76%
20213.65%

Zippia

Foreign Languages Spoken By Options Traders

Foreign Language Percentages
Spanish 24.5%
Chinese 15.1%
French 9.4%
German 7.5%
Japanese 7.5%
Other 36.0%

Zippia

327 Options Trading Statistics Every Trader Needs to Know (75)

Further reading

See our unique insight in the following guides:

  • Options Trading Alerts
  • Chart Patterns Cheat Sheet
  • Beginner Trading Strategies
  • Advanced Options Strategies
  • How to Trade Options
  • Types of Options Orders
  • Spinning Top Candle
  • Straddle Option
  • Triple Top Pattern
327 Options Trading Statistics Every Trader Needs to Know (2024)

FAQs

What percentage of options traders are successful? ›

Only 10% of traders make money, and the remaining 90% end up in a loss. There is a 25% chance of losing your investment and a 75% chance of profit.

What is the trick for option trading? ›

Avoid options with low liquidity; verify volume at specific strike prices. calls grant the right to buy, while puts grant the right to sell an asset before expiration. Utilise different strategies based on market conditions; explore various options trading approaches.

What is the probability of success in options trading? ›

Options spread probabilities

So, using the deltas as probabilities, there's about a 78% chance to keep the entire credit, minus transaction costs, and about an 11% chance the loss will be the maximum amount.

Which option strategy has the highest success rate? ›

A Bull Call Spread is made by purchasing one call option and concurrently selling another call option with a lower cost and a higher strike price, both of which have the same expiration date. Furthermore, this is considered the best option selling strategy.

How much does the average person make trading options? ›

As of Sep 3, 2024, the average annual pay for an Options Trader in the United States is $112,369 a year.

What is the failure rate of options trading? ›

The statistic that 90% of option traders lose money is often cited, but it's essential to understand the factors that contribute to this high failure rate: 1. Lack of Education and Experience: Many individuals dive into options trading without a solid understanding of how options work and the complexities involved.

What is the most consistently profitable option strategy? ›

1. Selling Covered Calls – The Best Options Trading Strategy Overall. The What: Selling a covered call obligates you to sell 100 shares of the stock at the designated strike price on or before the expiration date. For taking on this obligation, you will be paid a premium.

How do you never lose in option trading? ›

The option sellers stand a greater risk of losses when there is heavy movement in the market. So, if you have sold options, then always try to hedge your position to avoid such losses. For example, if you have sold at the money calls/puts, then try to buy far out of the money calls/puts to hedge your position.

Why do most options traders fail? ›

Many Options or entirely stocks do not have liquidity. This not only makes the entry difficult due to the difficulty of getting a good bargain but also makes an exit difficult. At times in many stock options, there are no quotes after a big move. This makes it impossible to book profits.

How long does it take to get good at option trading? ›

Well, it really depends on how much time and effort you're willing to put in. Some people might be able to pick it up in a few weeks, while others might take months or even years to fully grasp the concepts. But, one thing that can definitely speed up the learning process is by learning from the right sources.

How many options trades per day? ›

Similar to trading equities, you must maintain a balance of $25k in your brokerage account in order to play more than three options day trades in a five-day period. Otherwise, you will be flagged as though you were buying or selling the same day with simple equities purchases.

What is the butterfly strategy? ›

This strategy consists of buying one put or call option at a middle strike price, simultaneously selling two options with a lower and higher strike price, and finally buying one more call or put option at an even higher or lower strike price than the initial three options.

Who is the most successful options trader? ›

The Most Successful Options Traders in the World
  • Edward Thorp. While it's hard to make a ranking, it is possible that our top choice for the most successful options traders would be Edward Thorp. ...
  • Warren Buffett. ...
  • Tom Sosnoff. ...
  • John Arnold. ...
  • Guy Saidenberg.
May 27, 2024

What is the safest option trading strategy? ›

Some low risk options strategies that we could recommend are selling a put spread, selling a call spread, and relying on a collar strategy. Compared to mere options selling, the collar strategy can further protect against downside risk.

What option makes the most money? ›

Deciding what career to pursue can be a tricky decision when you're first starting out.
  • General internal medicine physician.
  • Family medicine physician.
  • Orthodontist.
  • Nurse anesthetist.
  • Pediatrician (general)
  • Dentist.
  • Computer and information systems manager.
  • Architectural and engineering manager.
Mar 1, 2024

What is the success ratio in option trading? ›

If you were to write 10 call option contracts, your maximum profit would be the amount of the premium income, or $500, while your loss is theoretically unlimited. However, the odds of the options trade being profitable are very much in your favor, at 75%.

Is it possible to be a successful options trader? ›

To become successful, options traders must practice discipline. Doing extensive research, identifying opportunities, setting up the right trade, forming and sticking to a strategy, setting up goals, and forming an exit strategy are all part of the discipline.

How many people trade options for a living? ›

there are only 5% people are in market who are good money from options trading by doing an option buying strategies and 95% of the people in options trading are options seller who earns good money.

Do most option traders lose money? ›

Options trading has always been an attractive investment opportunity due to its potential for big profits with limited losses for option buyers, as well as the consistency and success rate of option sellers. However, it has been recently discovered that the majority of option traders lose money in the market.

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