Life As a Securities and Commodities Trader
Career Description Buy and sell securities and commodities to transfer debt, capital, or risk. Establish and negotiate unit prices and terms of sale.
A Day in the Life of a Securities & Commodities Trader
- Reconcile account-related statements, such as quarterly or annual statements or confirmations.
- Identify opportunities or develop channels for purchase or sale of securities or commodities.
- Buy, sell, or trade carbon emissions permits.
- Write or sign sales order confirmation forms to record or approve security transactions.
- Inform other traders, managers, or customers of market conditions, including volume, price, competition, or dynamics.
- Make bids or offers to buy or sell securities.
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Qualities of 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
- Floor Broker
- Hybrid Derivatives Trader
- Bank and Savings Securities Trader
- Bond Trader
- Options Trader
Securities & Commodities Trader Employment Estimates
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 375,700 jobs in the United States for Securities and Commodities Trader. 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.
Securities & Commodities Trader Salary
The salary for Securities and Commodities Traders ranges between about $34,360 and $208,000 a year.

Securities and Commodities Traders who work in New York, South Dakota, or Connecticut, make the highest salaries.
How much do Securities and Commodities Traders make 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 do Securities and Commodities Traders Use?
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Securities and Commodities Traders:
- 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++
Becoming a Securities & Commodities Trader
Are there Securities and Commodities Traders education requirements?

What work experience do I need to become a Securities & Commodities Trader?

Where Securities and Commodities Traders Are Employed

The table below shows the approximate number of Securities and Commodities Traders employed by various industries.

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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