New college graduates with a bachelor’s degree in business earned average starting salaries of $63,907 in 2024, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers.
Sales agents who work in securities, commodities, and financial services earned mean annual salaries of $76,900 in May 2023, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Ten percent of securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents earned less than $45,420; the top 10 percent earned about $212,180 or more per year. Highly-skilled and experienced sales brokers can earn more than $500,000 a year.
Brokers usually receive benefits such as paid vacation days and sick leave, health and life insurance, and a 401(k) or another retirement savings plan. In addition to salary, sales brokers make money through commissions on trades made through their firms or, increasingly, as a percentage of their clients’ assets with the firm.
- Accountants
- Auditors
- Chief Executive Officers
- Chief Financial Officers
- Commodities Brokers
- Compliance Managers
- Financial Analysts
- Financial Consultants
- Financial Institution Officers and Managers
- Financial Institution Tellers, Clerks, and Related Workers
- Financial Quantitative Analysts
- Financial Services Brokers
- Hedge Fund Investor Relations Specialists
- Hedge Fund Relationship Managers
- Investment Bankers
- Investment Banking Analysts
- Investment Banking Associates
- Investment Banking Traders
- Investment Fund Managers
- Investment Professionals
- Investment Underwriters
- Mergers and Acquisitions Attorneys
- Mutual Fund Wholesalers
- Private Bankers
- Regulatory Affairs Managers
- Regulatory Affairs Specialists
- Wealth Management Associates
- Wealth Management Investor Relations Specialists
