Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents earn a median of $78,660 per year ($37.82/hr) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to grow 1.4% through 2035, with about 35,100 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
- SOC 41-3031
- Sales and Related
- Last updated October 15, 2026
At a glance
Security, Commodity, and Financial Services Sales Agent in four numbers
- Median pay
- $78,660a year, or $37.82/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $48KTop 10% $213K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +1.4%Slower than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+1.4%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +1.4% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 35,100531,000 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 2025531K
- Projected 2035538.5K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 531K Projected 2035 538.5K - Typical education
- Bachelor'sneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- High school26.8%
- Certificate1.1%
- Some college5.8%
- Bachelor's55.3%
- Post-bacc certificate6%
- Master's3.8%
Highest education held by securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents Segment Value High school 26.8% Certificate 1.1% Some college 5.8% Bachelor's 55.3% Post-bacc certificate 6% Master's 3.8%
Also advertised as: Broker, Commodities Broker, Equity Trader, Financial Advisor, Financial Consultant, Investment Representative.
Pay
How much do securities make?
Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents earn a median of $78,660 a year ($37.82 an hour, or about $6,560 a month); the lowest-paid 10% earn less than $48,040 and the top 10% more than $212,880 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
The best-paying state is New York, with a median of $168,340. See Security, commodity, and financial services sales agent salary in New York and every other state. By city, pay is highest around New York ($182,580 average): salary in every city.
Every security, commodity, and financial services sales agent in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$78,660
Middle half earn $56,540 to $129,950
- 10th
- $48,040
- 25th
- $56,540
- 75th
- $129,950
- 90th
- $212,880
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $48,040 |
| 25th | $56,540 |
| Median | $78,660 |
| 75th | $129,950 |
| 90th | $212,880 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $78,660
- Median hourly wage
- $37.82/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $109,150
- People employed
- 489,570
Versus all US occupations
At $78,660, Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents earn 54% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $27,680 a year.
Versus sales and related occupations
Inside the Sales and Related group, where the middle occupation pays $73,220, this is 7% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $212,880 or more while the bottom 10% earn $48,040, a gap of 4.4×. That is an unusually wide spread, which usually tracks specialisation, employer type and years of experience.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 56% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
New York pays the most at $168,340, and still leads at $155,984 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay securities the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1New York | $168,340 | $155,984 | 55,630 |
| 2Massachusetts | $100,310 | $94,850 | 14,510 |
| 3Illinois | $99,840 | $99,882 | 27,920 |
| 4Connecticut | $98,560 | $95,126 | 5,730 |
| 5Vermont | $88,280 | $90,120 | 240 |
| 6South Dakota | $86,780 | $97,961 | 730 |
| 7Delaware | $83,750 | $83,911 | 2,300 |
| 8Minnesota | $83,350 | $84,515 | 8,820 |
| 9Nebraska | $82,560 | $91,628 | 2,150 |
| 10New Jersey | $82,420 | $75,750 | 15,230 |
Job outlook
Is security, commodity, and financial services sales agent a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Slower than average. +1.4% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents | +1.4% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Slower than average
BLS projects employment of Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents to change 1.4% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 7,500 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 35,100 openings are projected each year, 6.6% of the 531,000 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Despite limited employment growth, about 35,100 openings for securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
Most of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Services that investment bankers provide, such as helping with initial public offerings and mergers and acquisitions, will continue to be in demand as the economy grows. The United States remains an international financial center, meaning that the economic growth of countries around the world will contribute to employment growth in the U.S. financial industry. An aging population and the decline of traditional pensions may boost demand for these workers, as individuals approaching retirement seek brokers to facilitate securities purchases.
However, automated trading systems have reduced demand for securities traders. Because simpler stock purchases can be made online without a broker, financial firms will focus on hiring sales agents with specialized areas of expertise and strong customer-service skills.
AI exposure: very high
BLS places this occupation in its very high relative AI exposure category, among the occupations most exposed to current AI.
Getting in
How to become a security, commodity, and financial services sales agent
Securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents typically need a bachelor’s degree for entry-level jobs. A master’s degree in business administration (MBA) may be helpful for advancement.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Bachelor's degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Considerable preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents.
- Bachelor's Degree55.3%
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)26.8%
- Post-Baccalaureate Certificate6%
- Some College Courses5.8%
- Master's Degree3.8%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's Degree | 55.3% |
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 26.8% |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | 6% |
| Some College Courses | 5.8% |
| Master's Degree | 3.8% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a security, commodity, and financial services sales agent do?
Buy and sell securities or commodities in investment and trading firms, or provide financial services to businesses and individuals. May advise customers about stocks, bonds, mutual funds, commodities, and market conditions.
Securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents connect buyers and sellers in financial markets. They sell securities or commodities to clients, advise companies in search of investors, and conduct trades.
Day-to-day tasks
- Monitor markets or positions.
- Determine customers' financial services needs and prepare proposals to sell services that address these needs.
- Contact prospective customers to present information and explain available services.
- Discuss financial options with clients and keep them informed about transactions.
- Interview clients to determine clients' assets, liabilities, cash flow, insurance coverage, tax status, or financial objectives.
- Report all positions or trading results.
- Agree on buying or selling prices at optimal levels for clients.
- Develop financial plans, based on analysis of clients' financial status.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Most securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents work full time, and some work more than 40 hours per week. Work schedules may vary and can include evenings and weekends to accommodate clients or to meet deadlines.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayAlmost never works outdoors.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeSeated for more than half the working day.
Standing
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantConstant contact with other people.
Face-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely importantDealing with customers or the public is very important.
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Where securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents work
Share of jobs by employer type
- Credit intermediation and related activities54%
- Securities, commodity contracts, and other financial investments and related activities33%
- Self-employed workers6%
- Management of companies and enterprises2%
- Insurance carriers and related activities2%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Credit intermediation and related activities | 54% |
| Securities, commodity contracts, and other financial investments and related activities | 33% |
| Self-employed workers | 6% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 2% |
| Insurance carriers and related activities | 2% |
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Active Listening3.8
- Critical Thinking3.8
- Monitoring3.6
- Reading Comprehension3.5
- Speaking3.5
- Active Learning3.5
- Writing3.4
- Mathematics3.1
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Active Listening | 3.8 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.8 |
| Monitoring | 3.6 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.5 |
| Speaking | 3.5 |
| Active Learning | 3.5 |
| Writing | 3.4 |
| Mathematics | 3.1 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.6
- Persuasion3.5
- Social Perceptiveness3.4
- Complex Problem Solving3.4
- Service Orientation3.3
- Systems Analysis3.3
- Systems Evaluation3.1
- Time Management3.1
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.6 |
| Persuasion | 3.5 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.4 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.4 |
| Service Orientation | 3.3 |
| Systems Analysis | 3.3 |
| Systems Evaluation | 3.1 |
| Time Management | 3.1 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Analytical or scientific software · in demand
- Customer relationship management CRM software · in demand
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Development environment software · in demand
- Document management software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software · in demand
- Object or component oriented development software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Operating system software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
The workforce
Who works as a security, commodity, and financial services sales agent?
Women make up 21.8% of securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents, against 47.1% of all employed people: more men than in the workforce as a whole.
22.6% are 55 or older, close to the 23.2% across all jobs.
The median worker is 42.2 years old (all workers: 42.1).
- Women
- 21.8%All workers 47.1% · BLS CPS, 2025
- Median age
- 42.2All workers 42.1 · BLS CPS, 2025
- Aged 55+
- 22.6%All workers 23.2% · BLS CPS, 2025
- Employed (CPS)
- 199,000BLS CPS, 2025
| Group | Share of securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents | All employed people |
|---|---|---|
| Women | 21.8% | 47.1% |
| White | 77.5% | 75.7% |
| Black or African American | 7.6% | 12.7% |
| Asian | 14.0% | 7.5% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 6.8% | 20.0% |
| Aged 55 and over | 22.6% | 23.2% |
| Aged 16 to 24 | 11.1% | 12.2% |
Current Population Survey annual averages, 2025 (BLS tables 11 and 11b). Race groups can overlap with Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, so they do not sum to 100%.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a security, commodity, and financial services sales agent?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Security, Commodity, and Financial Services Sales Agent |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 1 |
| Investigative | 3 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 3 |
| Enterprising | 6 |
| Conventional | 5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around leading, persuading, selling and making decisions, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
- Enterprising6.1
- Conventional5.3
- Social3.1
- Investigative2.5
- Artistic1.3
- Realistic1.3
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Security, Commodity, and Financial Services Sales Agent
O*NET related occupations
- Business and Financial Operations
- Business and Financial Operations
- Management
- Office and Administrative Support
- Business and Financial Operations
- Business and Financial Operations
More sales and related careers
Median annual pay, with securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents highlighted
- Sales Engineer$124,900
- Sales Representative, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Product$104,920
- Security, Commodity, and Financial Services Sales Agent$78,660
- Real Estate Broker$73,220
- Sales Representative, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$72,080
- Insurance Sales Agent$62,280
- Real Estate Agent$52,830
- Travel Agent$50,160
- Cashier$32,880
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Sales Engineer | $124,900 |
| Sales Representative, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Product | $104,920 |
| Security, Commodity, and Financial Services Sales Agent | $78,660 |
| Real Estate Broker | $73,220 |
| Sales Representative, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products | $72,080 |
| Insurance Sales Agent | $62,280 |
| Real Estate Agent | $52,830 |
| Travel Agent | $50,160 |
| Cashier | $32,880 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Specialty careers within security, commodity, and financial services sales agent
Distinct careers BLS counts inside this occupation, each with its own profile.
- Commodities Trader
- Credit Trader
- Debt Capital Markets Banker
- Energy Trader
- Equity Capital Markets Banker
- Equity Derivatives Trader
- Global Macro Trader
- Hedge Fund Capital Raising Director
- Institutional Sales Director
- Investment Banker
- Investment Banking Managing Director
- Investment Banking Vice President
- Leveraged Finance Banker
- Private Capital Markets Banker
- Private Equity Fundraising Director
- Public Finance Banker
- Restructuring Banker
- Structured Finance Banker
- Syndicate Banker
- Trading Desk Head
Lists Security, Commodity, and Financial Services Sales Agent appears on
Questions
Security, Commodity, and Financial Services Sales Agent: frequently asked questions
How much do securities make?
Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents earn a median of $78,660 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). That is 54% above the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $37.82/hr. The middle half earn between $56,540 and $129,950. The top 10% earn $212,880 or more.
How much do securities make an hour?
The median hourly wage for securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents is $37.82 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). On a full-year basis the $78,660 annual median works out to about $6,560 a month before tax.
What is the starting salary for a security, commodity, and financial services sales agent?
BLS does not publish a starting salary. The nearest measure is the low end of the pay range: the lowest-paid 10% of securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents earn less than $48,040 a year and the bottom quarter less than $56,540 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). New workers often start near that end, but where a particular job starts depends on the employer, the state and the credentials you bring, so read these as the bottom of the range rather than a guaranteed entry wage.
Do securities make $100k?
Some do. $100,000 sits between the median ($78,660) and the 75th percentile ($129,950), so roughly a quarter to a half of securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents earn more than that (BLS OEWS, May 2025). In 2 states the median itself is above $100,000: New York ($168,340), Massachusetts ($100,310).
Which states pay securities the most?
The highest state medians for Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents are New York ($168,340), Massachusetts ($100,310), Illinois ($99,840) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What kind of security, commodity, and financial services sales agent earns the most?
BLS does not split securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents' pay by specialty or employer, but its range shows how far the top end runs: the highest-paid 10% earn more than $212,880, against a median of $78,660 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Location moves pay the most in the published data: the best-paying states are New York ($168,340), Massachusetts ($100,310), Illinois ($99,840). Among the specialty careers inside this occupation, industry sources put typical pay at $1,100,000 for global macro traders (Heidrick & Struggles 2025 US Global Markets Compensation Survey, 2024); $1,100,000 for structured finance bankers (Heidrick & Struggles 2025 US Global Markets Compensation Survey, 2024); $1,100,000 for trading desk heads (Heidrick & Struggles 2025 US Global Markets Compensation Survey, 2024). Those are not BLS figures.
Do you need a degree to become a security, commodity, and financial services sales agent?
Yes. BLS reports a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education for Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as considerable preparation. BLS also lists moderate-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 55.3% hold bachelor's degree.
How long does it take to become a security, commodity, and financial services sales agent?
BLS does not publish a fixed length; it depends on the route. What it does publish: the typical way in for securities is a bachelor's degree. Once hired, BLS lists moderate-term on-the-job training as typical. O*NET classes the work as needing considerable preparation.
Is security, commodity, and financial services sales agent a growing career?
It is growing, but slowly: 1.4% over 2025–2035 against 3.5% for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 35,100 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a security, commodity, and financial services sales agent do?
Securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents connect buyers and sellers in financial markets. A core O*NET task: monitor markets or positions. Employers most often ask for Analytical or scientific software, Customer relationship management CRM software, Data base user interface and query software.
Do securities work 40 hours a week?
More work over 40 hours than at exactly 40. In O*NET's survey of people in the job, 44% of securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents usually work more than 40 hours a week, 42% work exactly 40 and 14% work fewer. 87% say their schedule is regular and 13% irregular. Source: O*NET 31.0 Database, Work Context.
What personality type suits a security, commodity, and financial services sales agent?
O*NET scores Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents highest on the Enterprising, Conventional and Social interest areas, so the work mixes leading, persuading, selling and making decisions with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are ESTJ, ESFJ. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.
What percentage of securities are women?
Women make up 21.8% of securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents, against 47.1% of all employed people: more men than in the workforce as a whole. 22.6% are 55 or older, close to the 23.2% across all jobs. The median worker is 42.2 years old (all workers: 42.1). Source: BLS Current Population Survey, 2025 annual averages.