All About Securities and Commodities Traders
Career Description Buy and sell securities and commodities to transfer debt, capital, or risk. Establish and negotiate unit prices and terms of sale.
Securities & Commodities Trader Responsibilities
- Monitor markets or positions.
- Inform other traders, managers, or customers of market conditions, including volume, price, competition, or dynamics.
- Develop or maintain supplier or customer relationships.
- Make transportation arrangements for sold or purchased commodities.
- Process paperwork for special orders, including margin or option purchases.
- Buy, sell, or trade carbon emissions permits.
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Qualities of a Securities & Commodities Trader
Below is a list of the skills most Securities and Commodities Traders say are important on the job.
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
- Trader
- Commodity Trader
- Floor Broker
- Broker
- Trading Specialist
What Kind of Securities & Commodities Trader Job Opportunities Are There?
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. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 38,000 job openings in this field each 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.
Average Securities and Commodities Traders Salary
The typical yearly salary for Securities and Commodities Traders is somewhere between $34,360 and $208,000.

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 & Technology 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
Learn what Securities and Commodities Trader education requirements there are.

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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