Financial and investment analysts vs. Securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents
| Measure | Financial and investment analysts | Securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents |
|---|---|---|
| Median annual wage (May 2025) | $102,740 | $78,660 |
| 10th percentile wage | $63,720 | $48,040 |
| 90th percentile wage | $180,860 | $212,880 |
| Employment (May 2025) | 361,980 | 489,570 |
| Projected change, 2025 to 2035 | +7.2% | +1.4% |
| Openings per year | 24,700 | 35,100 |
| Typical entry education | Bachelor's degree | Bachelor's degree |
| Related work experience | None | None |
| On-the-job training | None | Moderate-term on-the-job training |
| O*NET Job Zone (1 to 5) | 4 | 4 |
| Self-employed share | 2.2% | 6% |
| Top skills | Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Monitoring, Reading Comprehension | |
| Licenses and certifications in our library | CFA | FINRA-SERIES-7, FINRA-SIE |
Wages Verified data describe all workers in each occupation, not starting pay. Growth and openings are Official projection. Highlighted cells mark the highest median wage and fastest projected growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, National. May 2025 reference period. Published April 30, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, Table 1.2: Occupational projections, 2025-35, and worker characteristics, 2025. Base year 2025, projected year 2035. Published August 27, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Source: National Center for O*NET Development for USDOL/ETA, O*NET 31.0 Database (August 2026 release). Database release 31.0, August 2026; element dates vary by occupation. Published August 25, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.