Description
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.
Interests
- Enterprising
- Conventional
Work Values
- Achievement
- Working Conditions
- Independence
Work Styles
- Integrity
- Dependability
- Stress Tolerance
- Attention to Detail
- Initiative
Tasks
- 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.
Work Activities
- Working with Computers
- Getting Information
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
- Processing Information
Detailed Work Activities
- Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
- Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
- Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
- Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
- Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
- Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
- Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
- Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
- Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
- Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
Technology Skills
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software
- Presentation software
- Financial analysis software
- Data base user interface and query software
- Customer relationship management CRM software
Abilities
- Oral Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Deductive Reasoning
- Speech Clarity
- Written Comprehension
Skills
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Monitoring
- Active Learning
Knowledge
- Customer and Personal Service
- Economics and Accounting
- English Language
- Mathematics
- Sales and Marketing
Most Common Education Level
The “Most Common Education Level” refers to the level of education held by the majority of workers in a given occupation. For example, if the highest percentage of workers in a role have an Associate’s Degree, that suggests this is the typical educational requirement. Knowing this helps you plan how many years of education you may need to pursue that career.
Certificates
Certificate name
Certified Securities Operations ProfessionalCertifying Organization
American Bankers Association
Type
Advanced
Certificate name
Registered Financial SpecialistCertifying Organization
American Academy of Financial Management
Type
Advanced
Certificate name
Certified Demand-Side ManagerCertifying Organization
Association of Energy Engineers
Type
Advanced
Certificate name
Series 65, Uniform Investment Adviser Law ExaminationCertifying Organization
North American Securities Administrators Association
Type
Core
Certifying Organization
ETA International
Type
Core
Income Percentile
The income percentiles show how earnings are distributed within a profession. The 10th percentile means that 10% of workers earned less than that amount. The median (50th percentile) indicates that half of workers earned more, and half earned less. The 90th percentile reflects what the top 10% of earners in the field make.
| Income Percentile | Annual Income |
|---|---|
| Low (10%) | $63,789 |
| Median (50%) | $77,343 |
| High (90%) | $143,666 |
Income by Experience
This table shows how income typically grows with experience—from entry level (0–2 years), to mid-level (3–5 years), to senior level (6–8 years), to expert level (8+ years).
| Experience | Income |
|---|---|
Entry Level  | $76,907 |
| Mid Level | $101,035 |
| Senior Level | $141,975 |
| Expert Level | $199,308 |
Employability
There are currently 513,800 jobs in this career path. Over the next 10 years, that number is expected to increase to 547,900 positions, reflecting a projected growth of 7%.
The Projected Job Growth figure refers to the expected increase or decrease in employment within a specific career field over a certain period of time.
Projected Job Growth of 7%
Related Careers
The career information and data on this site incorporates information from O*NET Web Services, Lightcast, CareerOneStop, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). For more details regarding the data sources and the specific information sourced, click here.
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