What Does it Take to Be 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
- Process paperwork for special orders, including margin or option purchases.
- Prepare financial reports, such as reviews of portfolio positions.
- Write or sign sales order confirmation forms to record or approve security transactions.
- Devise trading, option, or hedge strategies.
- Analyze target companies or investment opportunities to inform investment decisions.
- Develop or maintain supplier or customer relationships.
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Securities & Commodities Trader Skills
Securities and Commodities Traders state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
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:
- Commodity Trader
- Securities Lending Trader
- Proprietary Trader
- Equities Trader
- Hedge Fund 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. The BLS estimates 38,000 yearly job openings in this field.
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.
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 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Securities and Commodities Traders
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
What education is needed to be a Securities and Commodities Trader?
How Long Does it Take to Become a Securities & Commodities Trader?
Securities and Commodities Traders Sector
Below are examples of industries where Securities and Commodities Traders 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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