Occupations · Sales
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.
O*NET 30.3 Database (USDOL/ETA) · occupation code 41-3031.00
What it pays
A single “average salary” hides the spread. This is the whole distribution — the gap between the bottom and top bar is usually the number that matters.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024 · national, cross-industry · annual wage
Pay over time
Median up 29% between 2003 and 2024, before inflation. The band shows the 10th to 90th percentile.
BLS OEWS, one release per year. Before May 2011 only national estimates were published, so geography detail starts there.
Where the jobs are
| Metro area | Median wage | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $166,170 | 65,000 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI | $95,910 | 21,880 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $77,780 | 21,050 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $62,110 | 15,130 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $83,020 | 13,760 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ | $61,600 | 11,650 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $84,270 | 10,870 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA | $101,720 | 10,310 |
| Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX | $60,360 | 10,140 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $78,010 | 9,890 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $66,840 | 9,650 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $84,130 | 8,970 |
BLS OEWS May 2024, metropolitan estimates · the 12 areas with the most people in this occupation
Typical education to enter: Bachelor's degree · BLS Employment Projections 2024–34
What people in this job actually do
Ordered by how important the work is rated.
- 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.
- Report all positions or trading results.
- Interview clients to determine clients' assets, liabilities, cash flow, insurance coverage, tax status, or financial objectives.
- Discuss financial options with clients and keep them informed about transactions.
- Identify opportunities or develop channels for purchase or sale of securities or commodities.
- Develop financial plans, based on analysis of clients' financial status.
- Review all securities transactions to ensure accuracy of information and conformance to governing agency regulations.
O*NET 30.3 task ratings, importance scale
Skills that matter most
Importance, rated 1 to 5.
O*NET 30.3 skills, importance scale
Software and tools
A dot marks what O*NET flags as in demand.
O*NET 30.3 software skills · hot-technology flag
What this work is actually like
Conditions rated against the average across all occupations — only what makes this job different is listed.
O*NET 30.3 Job Zones
Working conditions that stand out
O*NET 30.3 work context, frequency scale · observed 2022-08
How people actually get in
Share of workers by the education they hold.
O*NET 30.2 education, training and experience · observed 2022-08
What kind of person the work suits
Occupational interest profile, rated 1 to 7.
O*NET 30.2 occupational interests (RIASEC)
What you take with you
Skills rated for how well they transfer into other occupations.
O*NET 30.3 transferable skills, importance scale
Knowledge the work draws on
Abilities it leans on
O*NET 30.3 abilities and knowledge, importance scale
How this job is advertised
The same work is posted under many titles — this is what to search for.
O*NET 30.3 job titles reported for this occupation
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What changed since 2015
Comparing O*NET release 20.1 (2015-10-01) with 30.3 (2026-05-01). Signs, not colour alone, carry the meaning. 4 entries that were only relabelled between releases are left out.
Now listed 18
No longer listed 6
Diff across the O*NET releases held here in full since October 2015, following occupations through merges and retirements. O*NET re-surveys occupations on a rolling cycle, so “no change” can also mean “not re-surveyed”.
Related jobs
O*NET 30.3 related occupations
Also called
O*NET 30.3 alternative titles
The same work in Europe
| ESCO occupation | ISCO | Match |
|---|---|---|
| commodity broker | 3324.1 | close |
| securities broker | 3311.2.4 | close |
| foreign exchange broker | 3311.2.1 | close |
| financial trader | 3311.3 | close |
| mutual fund broker | 3311.2.3 | close |
| financial broker | 3311.2 | close |
| stock broker | 3311.2.5 | close |
| securities trader | 3311.3.4 | broader |
| commodity trader | 3324.2 | broader |
| energy trader | 3311.3.1 | broader |
| foreign exchange trader | 3311.3.2 | broader |
| futures trader | 3311.3.3 | broader |
| stock trader | 3311.3.5 | broader |
Official ESCO ↔ O*NET crosswalk (ESCO Secretariat with USDOL/ETA)
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