[jstx1]

Above average in which group though? If it's a competitive field where only the people with relevant PhDs get called back in for an interview, then you need to be at the top end of that group to get a job. Being above average in some broader population doesn't really mean much.

(I don't know OP personally and I'm not commenting on them specifically, they could be amazing)

[Bootvis]

In my (limited) experience there is definitely a bonus for being the very best but I also believe the London Quant job market is big enough to get a decent quant job without being IMO material.

[thebrowncat]

You have summed it up exactly. The salary and talent pool have bi-modal distributions.