What is a Securities and Commodities Trader?
Occupation Description Buy and sell securities and commodities to transfer debt, capital, or risk. Establish and negotiate unit prices and terms of sale.
Daily Life Of a Securities & Commodities Trader
- Identify opportunities or develop channels for purchase or sale of securities or commodities.
- Prepare financial reports, such as reviews of portfolio positions.
- Develop or maintain supplier or customer relationships.
- Analyze target companies or investment opportunities to inform investment decisions.
- Make transportation arrangements for sold or purchased commodities.
- Agree on buying or selling prices at optimal levels for clients.
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What Skills Do You Need to Work as a Securities & Commodities Trader?
These are the skills Securities and Commodities Traders say are the most useful in their careers:
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Mathematics: Using mathematics to solve problems.
Related Job Titles for this Occupation:
- Foreign Exchange Trader
- Commodities Trader
- Trading Specialist
- Commodity Trader
- Investment Trader
Job Outlook for Securities and Commodities Traders
In the United States, there were 375,700 jobs for Securities and Commodities Trader in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 6.2% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 23,200 new jobs for Securities and Commodities Trader by 2026. There will be an estimated 38,000 positions for Securities & Commodities Trader per year.

The states with the most job growth for Securities & Commodities Trader are Arizona, Utah, and Iowa. Watch out if you plan on working in Massachusetts, New Jersey, or Maine. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Salary for a Securities & Commodities Trader
Securities and Commodities Traders make between $34,360 and $208,000 a year.

Securities and Commodities Traders who work in New York, South Dakota, or Connecticut, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Securities and Commodities Traders in different U.S. states.
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $82,810 |
Alaska | $101,290 |
Arizona | $72,750 |
Arkansas | $74,490 |
California | $81,610 |
Colorado | $76,160 |
Connecticut | $122,890 |
Delaware | $87,390 |
District of Columbia | $103,380 |
Florida | $82,810 |
Georgia | $77,000 |
Hawaii | $85,660 |
Idaho | $62,690 |
Illinois | $91,640 |
Indiana | $92,400 |
Iowa | $75,380 |
Kansas | $107,500 |
Kentucky | $85,420 |
Louisiana | $89,550 |
Maine | $81,670 |
Maryland | $97,570 |
Massachusetts | $118,310 |
Michigan | $79,320 |
Minnesota | $104,570 |
Mississippi | $78,220 |
Missouri | $80,280 |
Montana | $89,270 |
Nebraska | $86,920 |
Nevada | $70,480 |
New Hampshire | $98,030 |
New Jersey | $98,850 |
New Mexico | $56,380 |
New York | $161,580 |
North Carolina | $88,810 |
North Dakota | $100,060 |
Ohio | $77,960 |
Oklahoma | $78,220 |
Oregon | $66,120 |
Pennsylvania | $86,970 |
Rhode Island | $100,390 |
South Carolina | $75,120 |
South Dakota | $113,460 |
Tennessee | $75,610 |
Texas | $85,720 |
Utah | $71,460 |
Vermont | $105,770 |
Virginia | $90,410 |
Washington | $79,930 |
West Virginia | $83,930 |
Wisconsin | $77,780 |
Wyoming | $70,030 |
What Tools & Technology do Securities and Commodities Traders Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Securities and Commodities Traders may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Web browser software
- Microsoft Access
- The MathWorks MATLAB
- Linux
- Microsoft Visual Basic
- UNIX
- R
- Customer information control system CICS
- Bloomberg Professional
- C++
How to Become a Securities & Commodities Trader
Education needed to be a Securities and Commodities Trader:

How many years of work experience do I need?

Where Securities and Commodities Traders Work

The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.

References:
Image Credit: Dave Dugdale via Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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