Swing trading profits depend on four main factors:
- Your account size
- Your average return per trade
- Number of trades you take per month
- Your risk management
Let’s break it down with realistic examples.
1️⃣ Beginners (First 6–12 months)
Most new traders make:
- 0% to 10% per month (if they’re disciplined)
But many beginners lose money early on due to mistakes.
2️⃣ Intermediate Traders (1–3 years)
Profit often ranges:
- 5% to 20% per month
At this stage, traders:
- Follow a trading plan
- Have proper risk management
- Stick to a few setups
3️⃣ Professional Swing Traders
Experienced, disciplined traders may average:
- 15% to 40% per month, consistently
These are traders who:
- Trade high-probability setups
- Control losses tightly
- Avoid emotional trades
Example A — Small Account ($1,000)
Average monthly return: 10%
You may earn: $100 per month
Not life-changing, but great for learning.
Example B — Medium Account ($10,000)
At 10% monthly, you earn:
- $1,000 per month
At 20% monthly:
- $2,000 per month
Example C — Large Account ($50,000)
At 10% monthly:
- $5,000 per month
At 20% monthly:
- $10,000 per month
Good traders win 50%–65% of trades
- They aim for 2:1 or 3:1 reward-to-risk ratio
- Losses are smaller than wins
- Consistency matters more than big wins
A consistent 10% monthly return is excellent.
With compounding, it becomes huge over time.
Swing trading is not guaranteed income.
You will:
- Have losing months
- Face drawdowns
- Need emotional discipline
But with skill and risk control, swing trading can become a solid income stream.