The common path in my circle these days is to get a degree in computer science and maybe math. Then you apply to trading firms for internships/jobs. If you get them, great, make 500+ as a newgrad. If you dont, you can use FAANG or unicorns or even SWE roles at hedge funds as a backup and still make 200+.
The thing that makes trading a bit hard to enter is the interview process. A lot of firms test your mental math skills, so you really need to start in high school ideally and do UIL Number Sense (in Texas) or similar contests. Or spend some time freshman year practicing mental math and tricky probability questions. I didn't do this and fell behind and thus am not a trader but instead a SWE.
But a computer science degree is also an excellent backup in case you realize you don't want to do trading or aren't cut out for it.
The thing that makes trading a bit hard to enter is the interview process. A lot of firms test your mental math skills, so you really need to start in high school ideally and do UIL Number Sense (in Texas) or similar contests. Or spend some time freshman year practicing mental math and tricky probability questions. I didn't do this and fell behind and thus am not a trader but instead a SWE.
But a computer science degree is also an excellent backup in case you realize you don't want to do trading or aren't cut out for it.