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Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents

Summary

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Video transcript available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtCKxDEvR4w.
Quick Facts: Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents
2025 Median Pay $78,660 per year
$37.82 per hour
Typical Entry-Level Education Bachelor's degree
Work Experience in a Related Occupation None
On-the-job Training Moderate-term on-the-job training
Number of Jobs, 2025 531,000
Job Outlook, 2025–35 1% (Slower than average)
Employment Change, 2025–35 7,500

What Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents Do

Securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents connect buyers and sellers in financial markets.

Work Environment

Most securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents work full time, and some work more than 40 hours per week. They typically work in an office setting.

How to Become a Securities, Commodities, or 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.

Pay

The median annual wage for securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents was $78,660 in May 2025.

Job Outlook

Employment of securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents is projected to grow 1 percent from 2025 to 2035, slower than the average for all occupations.

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.

State & Area Data

Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents.

Similar Occupations

Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents with similar occupations.

More Information, Including Links to O*NET

Learn more about securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.

What Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents Do About this section

Worker stands outside and talks on cell phone.
Securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents spend much of the day interacting with people, whether selling stock to an individual or discussing the status of a merger deal with a company executive.

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.

Duties

Securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents typically do the following:

  • Contact prospective clients to present information and explain available services
  • Advise clients about investments and market conditions
  • Buy and sell securities, such as stocks and bonds
  • Buy and sell commodities, such as corn, oil, and gold
  • Monitor financial markets and the performance of individual securities
  • Analyze company finances to provide recommendations for public offerings, mergers, and acquisitions
  • Evaluate cost and revenue of agreements

Securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents deal with a wide range of products and clients. Agents spend much of the day interacting with people, whether selling stock to an individual or discussing the status of a merger deal with a company executive.

The following are examples of types of securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents:

Brokers execute buy and sell orders for clients. They may advise customers about stocks, bonds, mutual funds, or commodities.

Finding clients is a large part of a broker’s job. They often must create their own client base by calling from a list of potential clients. Some agents network by joining social groups, and others may rely on referrals from satisfied clients.

Investment bankers connect businesses that need money to finance their operations or expansion plans with investors who are interested in providing that funding.

Some of the services that investment bankers provide are assistance with initial public offerings (IPOs) and mergers and acquisitions. For IPOs, investment bankers must estimate how much the company is worth and ensure that it meets the legal requirements to become publicly traded. For mergers and acquisitions, investment bankers provide advice throughout the process to ensure that the transaction goes smoothly.

Securities and commodities traders carry out buy and sell orders for stocks, bonds, and commodities from clients and make trades on behalf of the firm itself. Investment banks primarily employ these workers, although some work for commercial banks, hedge funds, and private equity groups.

Work Environment About this section

Female sales agent sitting at a desk typing on a computer keyboard.
Securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents typically work in an office setting.

Securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents held about 531,000 jobs in 2025. Some of the largest employers of securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents were as follows:

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

Securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents work many hours under stressful conditions. The pace of work is fast, and managers are usually demanding of their workers, because both commissions and advancements are tied to sales.

Securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents typically work in an office setting. Travel may be required for those who work with companies located in other parts of the United States or internationally.

Work Schedules

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.

How to Become a Securities, Commodities, or Financial Services Sales Agent About this section

Female stock broker analyzing financial data on multiple computer screens.
Securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents should have strong analytical skills.

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.

Education

Securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents typically need a bachelor’s degree to enter the occupation. A common field of degree is business, which usually includes coursework in topics such as finance, accounting, and economics. Internships often provide useful experience, and employers may prefer to hire candidates who have worked as interns.

Some employers require or prefer that candidates have an MBA.  

Training

Employers usually provide on-the-job training to workers after they are hired. For example, some workers may receive technical instruction in securities analysis and selling strategies. Firms may rotate their trainees among various departments to give them a broad understanding of the business.

Securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents also must keep up with new products and services and other developments.

Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) is the main licensing organization for the securities industry. A license is generally required to sell financial products or services, which may apply to some positions. Because most of the licenses require sponsorship by an employer, companies do not expect individuals to have these licenses before starting a job.

Employers often recommend certification, which may improve the chances for advancement. Information on certifications is available from CareerOneStop.

Important Qualities

The following are examples of qualities that are important for these workers to perform their duties. For more information, visit the Employment Projections (EP) skills data page.

Analytical skills. Securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents use statistical techniques and logical thinking to closely examine the profitability of potential deals or trades.

Customer-service skills. Securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents respond to client inquiries or concerns and make clients feel comfortable with the agent’s recommendations.

Decision-making skills. Securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents use their judgment to evaluate sales and investment options and advise clients on the best course of action.

Detail oriented. Securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents ensure complete accuracy in their financial and statistical models, research, and presentation materials for clients.

Initiative. Securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents actively seek out new clients to increase business.

Math skills. Securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents need to be familiar with investment formulas, valuation techniques, and forecasting models.

Pay About this section

Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents

Median annual wages, May 2025

Securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents

$78,660

Sales representatives, services

$68,190

Total, all occupations

$50,980

 

Note:
Data are from the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program.
All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The median annual wage for securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents was $78,660 in May 2025. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $48,040, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $212,880.

In May 2025, the median annual wages for securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents in some of the top industries in which they worked were as follows:

Securities, commodity contracts, and other financial investments and related activities $103,030
Management of companies and enterprises 98,660
Insurance carriers and related activities 80,820
Credit intermediation and related activities 61,720

Wages include sales commissions and bonuses for meeting production targets. Securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents may earn a base salary with the opportunity to earn commissions or bonuses based on their sales or performance.

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.

Job Outlook About this section

Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents

Percent change in employment, projected 2025–35

Total, all occupations

3%

Sales representatives, services

2%

Securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents

1%

 

Note:
Percent change in employment is rounded to the nearest whole number.
All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Employment of securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents is projected to grow 1 percent from 2025 to 2035, slower than the average for all occupations.

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.

Employment

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.

Employment projections data for securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents, 2025–35
Occupational Title SOC Code Employment, 2025 Projected Employment, 2035 Change, 2025–35 Employment by Industry
Percent Numeric

Note:
Employment subcategories do not necessarily add to higher categories due to rounding.
Employment and projected employment change values are rounded to the nearest 100 or percent.
Data is unavailable for values denoted with a "—".
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents

 41-3031 531,000 538,500 1 7,500 Get data

State & Area Data About this section

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)

The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The link below goes to OEWS data maps for employment and wages by state and area. Use the dropdown boxes to select an occupation.

Projections Central

Occupational employment projections are developed for all states by Labor Market Information (LMI) or individual state Employment Projections offices. All state projections data are available at https://projectionscentral.org. Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state. In addition, states may produce projections for areas; there are links to each state’s websites where these data may be retrieved.

CareerOneStop

CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area. There are links in the left-hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area. There is also a salary info tool to search for wages by zip code.

Similar Occupations About this section

This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents.

Occupation Job Duties ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION Help on Entry-Level Education 2025 MEDIAN PAY Help on Median Pay
Financial analysts Financial Analysts

Financial analysts research and evaluate financial data, forecast future trends, and prepare reports containing recommendations for businesses and investors.

 Bachelor's degree $103,570
Financial managers Financial Managers

Financial managers create financial reports, direct investment activities, and develop plans for the long-term financial goals of their organization.

 Bachelor's degree $166,570
Insurance sales agents Insurance Sales Agents

Insurance sales agents contact potential customers and sell one or more types of insurance.

 High school diploma or equivalent $62,280
Personal financial advisors Personal Financial Advisors

Personal financial advisors provide advice to help individuals manage their money and plan for their financial future.

 Bachelor's degree $105,070
Real estate brokers and sales agents Real Estate Brokers and Sales Agents

Real estate brokers and sales agents help clients buy, sell, and rent properties.

 High school diploma or equivalent $57,400

Contacts for More Information About this section

For more information about licensing of securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents, visit

Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA)

For additional information about licenses and certifications, visit CareerOneStop.

CareerOneStop

For a career video on securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents, visit

Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents

O*NET

Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents

Suggested citation:

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents,
at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/sales/securities-commodities-and-financial-services-sales-agents.htm (visited August 27, 2026).

Last modified date: August 27, 2026

What They Do

The What They Do tab describes the typical duties and responsibilities of workers in the occupation, including what tools and equipment they use and how closely they are supervised. This tab also covers different types of occupational specialties.

Work Environment

The Work Environment tab includes the number of jobs held in the occupation and describes the workplace, the level of physical activity expected, and typical hours worked. It may also discuss the major industries that employed the occupation. This tab may also describe opportunities for part-time work, the amount and type of travel required, any safety equipment that is used, and the risk of injury that workers may face.

How to Become One

The How to Become One tab describes how to prepare for a job in the occupation. This tab can include information on education, training, work experience, licensing and certification, and important qualities that are required or helpful for entering or working in the occupation.

Pay

The Pay tab describes typical earnings and how workers in the occupation are compensated—annual salaries, hourly wages, commissions, tips, or bonuses. Within every occupation, earnings vary by experience, responsibility, performance, tenure, and geographic area. For most profiles, this tab has a table with wages in the major industries employing the occupation. It does not include pay for self-employed workers, agriculture workers, or workers in private households because these data are not collected by the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, the source of BLS wage data in the OOH.

State & Area Data

The State and Area Data tab provides links to state and area occupational data from the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, state projections data from Projections Central, and occupational information from the Department of Labor's CareerOneStop.

Job Outlook

The Job Outlook tab describes the factors that affect employment growth or decline in the occupation, and in some instances, describes the relationship between the number of job seekers and the number of job openings.

Similar Occupations

The Similar Occupations tab describes occupations that share similar duties, skills, interests, education, or training with the occupation covered in the profile.

Contacts for More Information

The More Information tab provides the Internet addresses of associations, government agencies, unions, and other organizations that can provide additional information on the occupation. This tab also includes links to relevant occupational information from the Occupational Information Network (O*NET).

2025 Median Pay

The wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. Median wage data are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey. In May 2025, the median annual wage for all workers was $50,980.

On-the-job Training

Additional training needed (postemployment) to attain competency in the skills needed in this occupation.

Entry-level Education

Typical level of education that most workers need to enter this occupation.

Work experience in a related occupation

Work experience that is commonly considered necessary by employers, or is a commonly accepted substitute for more formal types of training or education.

Number of Jobs, 2025

The employment, or size, of this occupation in 2025, which is the base year of the 2025–35 employment projections.

Job Outlook, 2025-35

The projected percent change in employment from 2025 to 2035. The average growth rate for all occupations is 3 percent.

Employment Change, 2025-35

The projected numeric change in employment from 2025 to 2035.

Entry-level Education

Typical level of education that most workers need to enter this occupation.

On-the-job Training

Additional training needed (postemployment) to attain competency in the skills needed in this occupation.

Employment Change, projected 2025-35

The projected numeric change in employment from 2025 to 2035.

Growth Rate (Projected)

The percent change of employment for each occupation from 2025 to 2035.

Projected Number of New Jobs

The projected numeric change in employment from 2025 to 2035.

Projected Growth Rate

The projected percent change in employment from 2025 to 2035.

2025 Median Pay

The wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. Median wage data are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey. In May 2025, the median annual wage for all workers was $50,980.