Career profile · SOC 41-3031

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.

Median salary
$78,140
per year
Growth outlook
Average
BLS 10-yr
Education
Bachelor's degree
AI exposure
5.0/10
automation risk

Salary distribution (US)

Real salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The p10–p90 spread tells you more than the median alone.

Bottom 10%
$37,310
25th %ile
$49,150
Median
$78,140
75th %ile
$131,180
Top 10%
$205,210

Top skills

Active Listening Speaking Critical Thinking Persuasion Reading Comprehension Negotiation Social Perceptiveness Judgment and Decision Making Active Learning Complex Problem Solving

Knowledge you'll build

  • Customer and Personal Service
  • Economics and Accounting
  • English Language
  • Sales and Marketing
  • Mathematics
  • Law and Government
  • Administration and Management
  • Computers and Electronics

A day in the life

You arrive at your desk before the market opens, scanning overnight global market moves, reviewing your client portfolio positions, and preparing talking points for morning calls with high-net-worth clients or institutional investors. Your day is a constant stream of phone calls and video meetings where you pitch investment ideas, explain market conditions, process trades, and build relationships through a mix of market expertise and personal rapport. Between client interactions, you research new financial products, study compliance updates, attend team sales meetings, and prospect for new clients through networking events or cold outreach. The income potential when you close a large deal is thrilling, but the pressure of meeting sales quotas, navigating regulatory requirements, and managing client anxiety during market downturns makes for a high-adrenaline career.

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