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What Does it Take to Be a Securities and Commodities Trader?
Job Description & Duties 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
- Monitor markets or positions.
- Receive sales order tickets and inspect forms to determine accuracy of information.
- Supervise support staff and ensure proper execution of contracts.
- Identify opportunities or develop channels for purchase or sale of securities or commodities.
- Buy, sell, or trade carbon emissions permits.
- Identify or pursue investment strategies related to the green economy, including green hedge funds, renewable energy markets, or clean technology investment opportunities.
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What Every Securities & Commodities Trader Should Know
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.
Related Job Titles
- Foreign Exchange Trader
- Forex Trader
- Bond Trader
- Investment Trader
- Securities Lending Trader
Is There Job Demand for Securities and Commodities Traders?
There were about 375,700 jobs for Securities and Commodities Trader in 2016 (in the United States). 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
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 |
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 do I Become a Securities & Commodities Trader?
What education or degrees do I need to become a Securities and Commodities Trader?
How Long Does it Take to Become a Securities & Commodities Trader?
Securities and Commodities Traders Sector
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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