Best degree programs for Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents, ranked by enrollment
3 college programs and 114 schools train Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents. Compare graduates per year, cost and pay, $78,660 median wage, 489,570 U.S. jobs. Federal data.
3 college programs at 114 schools train securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents, graduating 5,125 people a year (IPEDS completions). The largest is Financial Planning and Services. The job pays a median of $78,660 (BLS OEWS May 2025).
About securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents
Buy and sell securities or commodities in investment and trading firms, or provide financial services to businesses and individuals. May advise customers about stocks, bonds, mutual funds, commodities, and market conditions.
Fields of study that lead to this job
Grouped at the 4-digit CIP level, the tier our program pages are built on. Numbers are graduates per year.
3 degree programs that lead to this job
Ranked by graduates per year (IPEDS completions). Graduate earnings and debt are College Scorecard figures for people who finished the program, reported at the 4-digit CIP level, so specializations within one field share a figure. That is a different measurement from the occupation-wide wages further down this page.
| # | Program | Graduates / yr | Share of pipeline | Schools | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CIP 52.0804 | 4,744 | 92.6% | 94 | $53,572 | $23,672 |
| 2 | CIP 52.0807 | 348 | 6.8% | 24 | $53,572 | $23,672 |
| 3 | CIP 52.1908 | 33 | 0.6% | 4 | $35,157 | $26,750 |
Top 50 schools by graduates into this job
Counting every feeder program a school offers, not just its largest one.
| # | School | Graduates / yr | Top feeder program | Grad rate | Net price | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | American College of Financial Services King of Prussia, PA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 3,439 | Financial Planning and Services | — | — | — |
| 2 | University of Wisconsin - Madison Madison, WI Public · 1 feeder programs | 181 | Financial Planning and Services | 90% | — | 45% |
| 3 | Kansas State University Manhattan, KS Public · 1 feeder programs | 119 | Financial Planning and Services | 71% | — | 82% |
| 4 | University of Missouri - Columbia Columbia, MO Public · 3 feeder programs | 119 | Investments and Securities | 75% | — | 78% |
| 5 | Texas Tech University Lubbock, TX Public · 1 feeder programs | 74 | Financial Planning and Services | 69% | — | 73% |
| 6 | New York University New York, NY Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 68 | Financial Planning and Services | 88% | $29,023 | 9% |
| 7 | University of North Dakota Grand Forks, ND Public · 1 feeder programs | 64 | Investments and Securities | 60% | — | 77% |
| 8 | University of Connecticut Storrs, CT Public · 1 feeder programs | 58 | Financial Planning and Services | 83% | — | 52% |
| 9 | Utah Valley University Orem, UT Public · 1 feeder programs | 45 | Financial Planning and Services | 45% | — | — |
| 10 | Purdue University - Main Campus West Lafayette, IN Public · 1 feeder programs | 43 | Financial Planning and Services | 83% | — | 50% |
| 11 | Harvard University Cambridge, MA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 39 | Investments and Securities | 98% | $15,013 | 4% |
| 12 | Merrimack College North Andover, MA Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 38 | Investments and Securities | 70% | $33,877 | 70% |
| 13 | Lynn University Boca Raton, FL Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 34 | Investments and Securities | 52% | $38,343 | 73% |
| 14 | University of Utah Salt Lake City, UT Public · 1 feeder programs | 28 | Financial Planning and Services | 65% | — | 86% |
| 15 | Pace University New York, NY Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 27 | Financial Planning and Services | 60% | $29,994 | 76% |
| 16 | Texas A&M University - College Station College Station, TX Public · 2 feeder programs | 22 | Financial Planning and Services | 84% | — | 57% |
| 17 | University of Northern Iowa Cedar Falls, IA Public · 2 feeder programs | 22 | Financial Planning and Services | 68% | — | 93% |
| 18 | Eastern Kentucky University Richmond, KY Public · 1 feeder programs | 21 | Financial Planning and Services | 50% | — | 78% |
| 19 | Northern Arizona University Flagstaff, AZ Public · 2 feeder programs | 21 | Investments and Securities | 61% | — | 90% |
| 20 | University of Arizona Tucson, AZ Public · 1 feeder programs | 20 | Financial Planning and Services | 68% | — | 86% |
| 21 | University of Delaware Newark, DE Public · 1 feeder programs | 20 | Financial Planning and Services | 81% | — | 71% |
| 22 | University of South Florida Tampa, FL Public · 1 feeder programs | 20 | Financial Planning and Services | 77% | — | 43% |
| 23 | Creighton University Omaha, NE Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 19 | Investments and Securities | 83% | $27,353 | 80% |
| 24 | Pennsylvania State University - World Campus University Park, PA Public · 1 feeder programs | 18 | Financial Planning and Services | 34% | — | 91% |
| 25 | Golden Gate University San Francisco, CA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 17 | Financial Planning and Services | — | — | — |
| 26 | University of North Texas Denton, TX Public · 1 feeder programs | 17 | Financial Planning and Services | 61% | — | 72% |
| 27 | Franklin University Columbus, OH Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 16 | Financial Planning and Services | 11% | $22,280 | — |
| 28 | University of Minnesota - Duluth Duluth, MN Public · 1 feeder programs | 16 | Financial Planning and Services | 65% | — | 89% |
| 29 | Whitworth University Spokane, WA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 16 | Financial Planning and Services | 71% | $23,510 | 90% |
| 30 | University of Kentucky Lexington, KY Public · 1 feeder programs | 15 | Financial Planning and Services | 71% | — | 93% |
| 31 | California Lutheran University Thousand Oaks, CA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 14 | Financial Planning and Services | 70% | $23,129 | 76% |
| 32 | University of North Florida Jacksonville, FL Public · 1 feeder programs | 14 | Financial Planning and Services | 69% | — | 53% |
| 33 | Fordham University Bronx, NY Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 13 | Investments and Securities | 82% | $38,931 | 59% |
| 34 | Hocking College Nelsonville, OH Public · 1 feeder programs | 13 | Business and Personal/Financial Services Marketing Operations | 37% | — | — |
| 35 | Bradley University Peoria, IL Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 12 | Financial Planning and Services | 76% | $21,768 | 77% |
| 36 | Bryant University Smithfield, RI Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 12 | Financial Planning and Services | 80% | $38,485 | 65% |
| 37 | George Fox University Newberg, OR Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 12 | Financial Planning and Services | 72% | $26,564 | 94% |
| 38 | John Carroll University University Heights, OH Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 12 | Financial Planning and Services | 79% | $25,705 | 81% |
| 39 | Marywood University Scranton, PA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 12 | Financial Planning and Services | 72% | $21,769 | 61% |
| 40 | Florida State University Tallahassee, FL Public · 1 feeder programs | 11 | Financial Planning and Services | 86% | — | 24% |
| 41 | Oklahoma State University - Main Campus Stillwater, OK Public · 1 feeder programs | 11 | Financial Planning and Services | 68% | — | 75% |
| 42 | Pennsylvania State University - Penn State Erie - Behrend College Erie, PA Public · 1 feeder programs | 11 | Financial Planning and Services | 44% | — | 97% |
| 43 | Robert Morris University Moon Township, PA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 11 | Financial Planning and Services | 66% | $24,175 | 90% |
| 44 | Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia Philadelphia, PA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 11 | Investments and Securities | 79% | $34,418 | 89% |
| 45 | Community College of Rhode Island Warwick, RI Public · 1 feeder programs | 10 | Financial Planning and Services | 26% | — | — |
| 46 | Edison State Community College Piqua, OH Public · 1 feeder programs | 10 | Financial Planning and Services | 38% | — | — |
| 47 | Palm Beach State College Lake Worth, FL Public · 1 feeder programs | 10 | Business and Personal/Financial Services Marketing Operations | 41% | — | — |
| 48 | Temple University Philadelphia, PA Public · 1 feeder programs | 10 | Financial Planning and Services | 75% | — | 80% |
| 49 | University of St Thomas Saint Paul, MN Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 10 | Financial Planning and Services | 76% | $28,888 | 85% |
| 50 | Western Michigan University Kalamazoo, MI Public · 1 feeder programs | 10 | Financial Planning and Services | 58% | — | 85% |
What securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents earn
What people already working in this job earn (BLS OEWS May 2025). Not graduate earnings.
Top-paying states
Top-paying metro areas
Job outlook
Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections, 2024 to 2034.
Where the jobs are, state by state
Pick a state for in-state pay, the schools there, and the programs they run.
| State | Median pay | Jobs | Concentration | Schools | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | $71,840 | 15,510 | 0.81× | 13 | 3,530 |
| Wisconsinmoderate | $74,010 | 5,980 | 0.65× | 4 | 190 |
| Missouri | $78,500 | 8,770 | 0.95× | 5 | 131 |
| New York | $168,340 | 55,630 | 1.82× | 6 | 121 |
| Kansaslimited | $75,810 | 2,310 | 0.51× | 1 | 119 |
| Texasmoderate | $78,470 | 41,640 | 0.94× | 4 | 115 |
| Massachusetts | $100,310 | 14,510 | 1.27× | 7 | 99 |
| Florida | $62,770 | 42,600 | 1.36× | 5 | 89 |
| Utahlimited | $64,660 | 4,520 | 0.83× | 2 | 73 |
| North Dakotalimited | $63,670 | 740 | 0.54× | 2 | 65 |
| Michigan | $73,480 | 7,160 | 0.52× | 11 | 60 |
| Ohio | $73,300 | 13,520 | 0.77× | 5 | 60 |
| Connecticutlimited | $98,560 | 5,730 | 1.07× | 2 | 59 |
| Kentuckymoderate | $59,110 | 5,340 | 0.85× | 4 | 47 |
| Indianalimited | $68,290 | 6,460 | 0.64× | 2 | 45 |
| Arizonalimited | $74,840 | 14,600 | 1.43× | 2 | 41 |
| Californiamoderate | $79,730 | 55,860 | 0.97× | 3 | 35 |
| Nebraskamoderate | $82,560 | 2,150 | 0.67× | 4 | 30 |
| Minnesotalimited | $83,350 | 8,820 | 0.95× | 2 | 26 |
| Delawarelimited | $83,750 | 2,300 | 1.51× | 2 | 23 |
| Iowalimited | $64,290 | 2,300 | 0.47× | 1 | 22 |
| Rhode Islandlimited | — | 1,780 | 1.13× | 2 | 22 |
| Washingtonlimited | $75,510 | 8,770 | 0.78× | 2 | 18 |
| Illinoislimited | $99,840 | 27,920 | 1.45× | 1 | 12 |
| Oklahomalimited | $76,080 | 2,310 | 0.43× | 2 | 12 |
| Oregonlimited | $76,710 | 2,900 | 0.47× | 1 | 12 |
| Georgialimited | $59,990 | 14,950 | 0.97× | 1 | 8 |
| Virginialimited | $62,910 | 11,320 | 0.87× | 2 | 8 |
| Wyominglimited | — | 280 | 0.32× | 1 | 8 |
| Arkansasmoderate | $54,660 | 2,330 | 0.57× | 3 | 7 |
| New Jerseymoderate | $82,420 | 15,230 | 1.13× | 3 | 6 |
| South Carolinalimited | $55,390 | 7,230 | 1.00× | 2 | 6 |
| Coloradolimited | $67,010 | 12,360 | 1.37× | 1 | 5 |
| Mainelimited | $59,970 | 690 | 0.34× | 1 | 5 |
| Tennesseelimited | $58,050 | 11,370 | 1.10× | 1 | 5 |
| Montanalimited | — | 430 | 0.27× | 1 | 4 |
| West Virginialimited | $50,050 | 930 | 0.42× | 1 | 4 |
| South Dakotalimited | $86,780 | 730 | 0.51× | 1 | 2 |
| Marylandlimited | $61,660 | 8,420 | 0.97× | 1 | 1 |
Skills and tools
From O*NET, the U.S. Department of Labor's occupational database. Importance is a 1 to 5 scale.
What they do day to day
- Make bids or offers to buy or sell securities.
- Monitor markets or positions.
- Agree on buying or selling prices at optimal levels for clients.
- Keep accurate records of transactions.
- Buy or sell stocks, bonds, commodity futures, foreign currencies, or other securities on behalf of investment dealers.
- Complete sales order tickets and submit for processing of client-requested transactions.
- Report all positions or trading results.
- Interview clients to determine clients' assets, liabilities, cash flow, insurance coverage, tax status, or financial objectives.
Skills
- Active Listening3.8
- Critical Thinking3.8
- Monitoring3.6
- Active Learning3.5
- Reading Comprehension3.5
- Speaking3.5
- Writing3.4
- Mathematics3.1
Knowledge areas
- Customer and Personal Service4.3
- Economics and Accounting3.9
- English Language3.8
- Mathematics3.7
- Sales and Marketing3.7
- Computers and Electronics3.5
Abilities
- Oral Comprehension4.1
- Oral Expression3.9
- Deductive Reasoning3.8
- Speech Clarity3.6
- Written Comprehension3.6
- Problem Sensitivity3.5
Core activities
- Working with Computers4.4
- Getting Information4.3
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships4.2
- Processing Information4.1
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems4.1
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge4.0
Tools and technology
hotmarks an O*NET hot technologyHow to get in
How to become a Security
Job zone 4 of 5 · SVP 7.0 to < 8.0- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Every major mapped to this job
The official federal mapping behind the rankings above.
All 3 majors mapped to Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents3 of them graduated someone in the latest IPEDS year. NCES CIP 2020 → SOC 2018 crosswalk.+
- 52.0804Financial Planning and Services
- 52.0807Investments and Securities
- 52.1908Business and Personal/Financial Services Marketing Operations
Related careers
Jobs O*NET identifies as close to this one, with their own pay and outlook.
Common questions
What degree do you need to become a Security?+
Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education BLS reports for this occupation. The most common program people actually graduate from is Financial Planning and Services, which awarded 4,744 degrees in 2024-25, 92.6% of everyone graduating from a program that feeds this career.
Which college majors lead to becoming a Security?+
The NCES CIP-to-SOC crosswalk maps 3 programs to this occupation. The largest are Finance and Financial Management Services, Specialized Sales. Together they graduate about 5,125 people a year.
How much do securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents earn?+
The median is $78,660 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). The middle range runs from $48,040 at the 10th percentile to $212,880 at the 90th. This is pay for people already working in the occupation, not the same thing as graduate earnings one year after finishing a degree.
Is demand for securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents growing?+
BLS projects a +3.3% change in employment between 2024 and 2034, about as fast as average, with roughly 38,100 openings a year nationally once retirements and job changes are counted.
How many schools offer programs for this career?+
114 institutions reported graduates from at least one of the 3 programs that feed this occupation in IPEDS 2024-25. Rankings on this page use graduates per year, because the federal data publishes no enrollment count by program.
What other job titles do securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents work under?+
Employers advertise this work under many names. O*NET records Broker, Equity Trader, Financial Advisor, Financial Consultant among the most commonly reported, all mapping to SOC 41-3031.
About the data on this page
Rankings use IPEDS completions 2024-25, degrees awarded per year. That is the closest federal measure of how many people a program puts into a career, because no federal dataset publishes enrollment by program. Wages and employment come from BLS OEWS May 2025, growth and openings from BLS Employment Projections 2024-34, and which majors lead to which jobs from the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk. Occupation descriptions, tasks, skills and tools are O*NET 30.3 (CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor/ETA).
BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics
May 2025Wages, employment counts, location quotients and metro breakdowns.
BLS Employment Projections
2024–34Projected growth, annual openings and typical entry-level education.
IPEDS Completions
2024-25 (provisional)Graduates per year by program and institution — the ranking metric.
College Scorecard, Field of Study
2020-21 cohortsMedian graduate earnings one year after completion, and median debt.
Census Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes
latest availableGraduate earnings 1/5/10 years out, where the state participates.
NCES CIP 2020 and the CIP-to-SOC 2018 crosswalk
CIP 2020 / SOC 2018Which college programs officially lead to this occupation.
O*NET Database 30.3
30.3Tasks, skills, knowledge, tools, job zone and alternate job titles.
Official source →CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor / ETA
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