Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
Bachelor's degree
None
Moderate-term on-the-job training
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
Discover metro markets where compensation, hiring demand, and long-term momentum align.
Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents work in a field that combines finance, communication, and relationship-building. Nationally, about 514,000 people are employed in this occupation, indicating a sizable professional community and a wide range of potential employers and work settings. A national median annual salary of $78,140 reflects strong earning potential, with some locations offering significantly higher pay. Projected employment growth of 3.3% and about 38,000 annual openings suggest a steady flow of opportunities for both new entrants and experienced professionals. The role benefits from strengths in mathematics, problem solving and decision making, customer service, and computers and information technology. Strong speaking, listening, writing, and reading skills also support success in this career. For students, career changers, and experienced workers considering this path, the combination of established employment, consistent openings, and solid compensation makes this a viable option to explore, especially for those comfortable working with financial information and clients.
The national median annual salary for securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents is $78,140, but actual earnings vary considerably by location. Among the top states, New York stands out with a median salary of $168,340, more than double the national median. Massachusetts ($100,310) and California ($79,730) also offer median salaries above or close to the national figure, while Washington ($75,510) and Colorado ($67,010) are somewhat lower within this top group. At the metro level, New York-Newark-Jersey City offers a median salary of $167,890, closely mirroring the statewide figure, while San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara ($100,030), San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont ($102,290), and Boston-Cambridge-Newton ($101,200) all cluster around the $100,000 mark. These differences show that salary prospects can change significantly by region, making location a key factor in long-term earning potential within this occupation.
Securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents have a national employment level of 514,000, indicating a large existing workforce. Projected employment growth of 3.3% points to a gradually expanding field rather than a shrinking one. In addition, there are about 38,000 annual openings, which reflects ongoing hiring needs that can come from growth, turnover, and other factors. The 3.3% projected growth rate appears consistently across the top states and metro areas listed, suggesting similar expectations for change in those markets. For job seekers, this combination of a sizable current workforce, modest growth, and steady annual openings suggests that opportunities are regularly available, both for new entrants and for experienced professionals moving between employers or regions. While competition and specific hiring conditions will differ by location and employer, the core outlook data support viewing this as a career path with continuing, if measured, opportunity over time.
Location plays a major role in opportunity for securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents. Among states, California and New York each employ more than 55,000 agents, offering both large labor markets and strong CareerGPS opportunity scores (67.38 and 65.78, respectively). New York combines this with a median salary of $168,340, the highest among the listed states. Massachusetts has a smaller employment base (14,510) but a high median salary of $100,310 and a strong opportunity score of 65.87. Colorado and Washington feature more moderate salaries ($67,010 and $75,510) and opportunity scores in the mid-50s. At the metro level, New York-Newark-Jersey City and San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara stand out with the highest opportunity scores (77.27 and 77.42), supported by high median salaries and solid employment counts. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont and Boston-Cambridge-Newton also combine six-figure median salaries with sizable employment and strong opportunity scores, giving career seekers multiple geographic options to consider.
The typical education level for securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents is a bachelor’s degree. This requirement aligns with the broad mix of analytical, technical, and communication skills associated with the role. Strong mathematics skills support working with financial information, while problem solving and decision making help agents navigate complex situations. Customer service and adaptability are important for working effectively with clients and responding to changing circumstances. Competence with computers and information technology underpins modern financial work environments, and project management skills support handling multiple tasks and priorities. Critical and analytical thinking, along with being detail oriented, contribute to accuracy and sound judgments. Finally, speaking and listening, as well as writing and reading, are central to communicating with clients and colleagues and understanding financial information. Together, a bachelor’s degree and this skill set form a solid preparation path for entering and growing in this career.
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