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Securities and Commodities Trader

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Life As a Securities and Commodities Trader

Example of Securities & Commodities Trader Job Buy and sell securities and commodities to transfer debt, capital, or risk. Establish and negotiate unit prices and terms of sale.

What Do Securities and Commodities Traders Do On a Daily Basis?

  • Agree on buying or selling prices at optimal levels for clients.
  • Buy or sell stocks, bonds, commodity futures, foreign currencies, or other securities on behalf of investment dealers.
  • Inform other traders, managers, or customers of market conditions, including volume, price, competition, or dynamics.
  • Report all positions or trading results.
  • Make bids or offers to buy or sell securities.
  • Devise trading, option, or hedge strategies.

What Skills Do You Need to Work as a Securities & Commodities Trader?

When polled, Securities and Commodities Traders say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:

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.

  • Bond Trader
  • Equity Trader
  • Securities Trader
  • Floor Broker
  • Flow Trader

Is There Job Demand 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.

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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.

Average Securities and Commodities Traders Salary

The average yearly salary of a Securities & Commodities Trader ranges between $34,360 and $208,000.

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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

Tools & Technologies Used by Securities and Commodities Traders

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

Individuals working as a Securities and Commodities Trader have obtained the following education levels:

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How Long Does it Take to Become a Securities & Commodities Trader?

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Where do Securities and Commodities Traders Work?

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

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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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