Careers · Explore one path
Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents
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.
Other titles employers use
Broker · Commodities Broker · Equity Trader · Financial Advisor · Financial Consultant · Investment Representative · Investments Advisor · Investments Specialist
Inside the work
What you would actually do.
6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.
- Make bids or offers to buy or sell securities.
- Monitor markets or positions.
- Agree on buying or selling prices at optimal levels for clients.
- Keep accurate records of transactions.
- Buy or sell stocks, bonds, commodity futures, foreign currencies, or other securities on behalf of investment dealers.
- Complete sales order tickets and submit for processing of client-requested transactions.
Who it suits
Would this work hold your attention?
This career often appeals to people drawn to persuading, organizing and helping work.
- Persuading
- Leading, selling, starting projects, or making a case
- Organizing
- Creating order, checking details, and keeping work accurate
Skills and strengths
What you would get good at.
Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.
Core skills
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
Subjects to know
- Customer and Personal Service
- Economics and Accounting
- English Language
- Mathematics
- Sales and Marketing
Useful strengths
- Oral Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Deductive Reasoning
- Written Comprehension
- Speech Clarity
Working day
Picture yourself doing it.
These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.
| Measure | Out of 5 | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Close to other people | 3.0 | Largely your own space |
| On your feet | 1.9 | Mostly seated |
| Talking face to face | 4.7 | Continuous — the job is conversations |
| Working with your hands | 2.3 | Little of the day |
Preparation
How people prepare for this work.
Employers usually ask for a bachelor's degree. Other routes may also lead into the field.
- A four-year degree 55%
- High school or less 27%
- A master's degree 10%
- A certificate or some college 7%
Tools of the work
Technology you may use.
- Object or component oriented development software
- Operating system software
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software
- Data base user interface and query software
- Customer relationship management CRM software
- Electronic mail software
- Spreadsheet software
- Office suite software
Opportunity near you
See where this work is growing.
Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.
- People doing this work
- 71,280
- Job openings each year
- 190
- Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
- 2.8%
Compare every available state
| State | People doing it | Job openings each year | Expected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | 71,280 | 190 | 2.8% |
| California | 68,500 | 5,280 | 6.7% |
| Florida | 46,130 | 3,700 | 12.8% |
| Texas | 45,160 | 3,840 | 23.4% |
| Illinois | 27,710 | 2,120 | 5.5% |
| North Carolina | 20,800 | 1,680 | 13.8% |
| Georgia | 16,860 | 1,390 | 17.7% |
| New Jersey | 16,380 | 1,240 | 4.1% |
| Ohio | 14,670 | 1,170 | 12.2% |
| Pennsylvania | 14,180 | 1,090 | 6.7% |
| Arizona | 12,690 | 1,060 | 19.8% |
| Virginia | 11,460 | 870 | 4.8% |
| Maryland | 10,550 | 820 | 8.4% |
| Colorado | 10,420 | 830 | 11.1% |
| Minnesota | 9,410 | 720 | 6.2% |
| Washington | 9,360 | 800 | 8.6% |
| Michigan | 8,630 | 670 | 8.1% |
| Tennessee | 8,630 | 640 | 2.1% |
| Connecticut | 8,090 | 610 | 4.5% |
| Missouri | 8,060 | 650 | 13.5% |
| Wisconsin | 6,660 | 530 | 11.0% |
| South Carolina | 5,810 | 490 | 22.6% |
| Massachusetts | 5,780 | 440 | 5.5% |
| Indiana | 5,650 | 440 | 7.0% |
| Kentucky | 5,030 | 390 | 8.6% |
| Utah | 4,370 | 370 | 23.8% |
| Alabama | 4,050 | 320 | 10.4% |
| Nebraska | 3,710 | 280 | 6.0% |
| Oregon | 3,390 | 250 | 2.1% |
| Nevada | 3,330 | 260 | 9.9% |
| Louisiana | 3,040 | 230 | 1.3% |
| Delaware | 2,770 | 210 | 4.1% |
| Iowa | 2,520 | 200 | 11.5% |
| Oklahoma | 2,430 | 190 | 10.0% |
| Kansas | 2,360 | 190 | 10.8% |
| Rhode Island | 2,130 | 160 | — |
| District of Columbia | 2,060 | 160 | 4.0% |
| Arkansas | 1,700 | 130 | 9.7% |
| New Mexico | 1,460 | 120 | 13.2% |
| New Hampshire | 1,250 | 100 | 13.6% |
| Mississippi | 1,220 | 100 | 11.9% |
| Maine | 1,090 | 80 | 6.9% |
| West Virginia | 940 | 70 | 9.3% |
| Puerto Rico | 820 | 70 | 17.1% |
| Idaho | 760 | 60 | 13.4% |
| North Dakota | 650 | 50 | 16.1% |
| Montana | 630 | 50 | 14.5% |
| Vermont | 440 | 40 | 15.8% |
| Alaska | 130 | 10 | — |
| Virgin Islands | 120 | 10 | 20.0% |
Career to college
Build a path toward this work.
Start with a related major, then compare colleges where students complete that field.
Where to study
Colleges with strong activity in these fields.
Start with program size, admission, and likely cost. Open a college for the full picture.
CUNY Bernard M Baruch College
- Degrees each year
- 891
- Admit rate
- 50%
- Annual cost after aid
- $6,000
Program entryApply after enrollment
Open college OHOhio State University-Main Campus
- Degrees each year
- 817
- Admit rate
- 51%
- Annual cost after aid
- $10,000
Program entryOpen major
Open college FLFlorida State University
- Degrees each year
- 703
- Admit rate
- 25%
- Annual cost after aid
- $10,000
Program entryApply after enrollment
Open college SCUniversity of South Carolina-Columbia
- Degrees each year
- 597
- Admit rate
- 61%
- Annual cost after aid
- $20,000
Program entryOpen major
Open college GAUniversity of Georgia
- Degrees each year
- 627
- Admit rate
- 37%
- Annual cost after aid
- $13,000
Program entryApply after enrollment
Open college PAPennsylvania State University-Main Campus
- Degrees each year
- 577
- Admit rate
- 54%
- Annual cost after aid
- $26,000
Program entryDirect to major
Open college FLFlorida International University
- Degrees each year
- 573
- Admit rate
- 59%
- Annual cost after aid
- $11,000
Program entryOpen major
Open college ALThe University of Alabama
- Degrees each year
- 572
- Admit rate
- 76%
- Annual cost after aid
- $22,000
Program entryOpen major
Open collegeCompare every college offering finance and financial management services