[eyx]

Because it's not only a matter of salary, you have to put "all in the balance" when considering a potential move. Personally, I was giving a lot of value to the mobility within the company.

I started as a computer scientist in a bank and became a trader a couple of years later.

Outside of my company, it would not have been possible because I didn't study finance.

[giantg2]

I was looking to do that a couple years ago, but decided to stay with tech. I would have been a trader analyst and then have the option to be a trader if a position opened. I'd love to be a day trader working for myself, but I don't have the capital and don't feel comfortable with margin.

[enchiridion]

Not trying to be snarky, but did the bank actually employ you as a computer scientist? It seems now likely that you were doing software development. If it was the former I'd be interested to hear what types of things they had you working on.

[cpach]

Was it hard to convince them to give you that chance?

Some companies seem to prefer to hire from the outside rather than to give the chance to someone internally.

[eyx]

I did not have to, I had the chance to be the "natural choice" when a trader left the desk.

I joined the desk as a computer scientist. They quickly gave me the opportunity to develop the strategies with them and thus to understand/know the business.

At the bank for which I was working, this kind of move is not uncommon.