What Does A Securities and Commodities Trader Do (including Their Typical Day at Work)

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Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz

Securities and Commodities Traders

Securities and Commodities Traders buy and sell securities and commodities to transfer debt, capital, or risk. Establish and negotiate unit prices and terms of sale.

Salary
$96540
Becoming One
Hard
Education
Bachelor's degree
Job Satisfaction
Low
Job Growth

Personality


What they do

Securities and Commodities Traders buy and sell securities and commodities to transfer debt, capital, or risk. Establish and negotiate unit prices and terms of sale.

  • Make bids or offers to buy or sell securities.
  • Monitor markets or positions.
  • Agree on buying or selling prices at optimal levels for clients.
  • Buy or sell stocks, bonds, commodity futures, foreign currencies, or other securities on behalf of investment dealers.

Typical day

On a daily basis, Securities and Commodities Traders monitor markets or positions. They make bids or offers to buy or sell securities.

A typical day for a Securities and Commodities Trader will also include:

  • Agree on buying or selling prices at optimal levels for clients.
  • Buy or sell stocks, bonds, commodity futures, foreign currencies, or other securities on behalf of investment dealers.
  • Analyze target companies or investment opportunities to inform investment decisions.
  • Review securities transactions to ensure conformance to regulations.
  • Receive sales order tickets and inspect forms to determine the accuracy of information.

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Securities and Commodities Traders also reconcile account-related statements, such as quarterly or annual statements or confirmations. They may also prepare financial reports, such as reviews of portfolio positions.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Securities and Commodities Traders devise trading, option, or hedge strategies. They might also make transportation arrangements for sold or purchased commodities.

In addition, they develop or maintain supplier or customer relationships.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them receive sales order tickets and inspect forms to determine the accuracy of information.

To some Securities and Commodities Traders, it is also their responsibility to report deficiencies in account payments, securities deliveries, or documentation requirements to avoid rule violations.

What is the job like

Job satisfaction

Low

Is this job meaningful

Low

63% said they were satisfied with their job and 42% said they found their job meaningful.


Deutsche Bank

I was a Cash Equity Sales Trader. The clients I served were mostly traders with institutions i.e. mutual funds, hedge funds, insurance companies, sovereign funds, etc, and helped them execute their trades in equity markets throughout Asia but primarily in Taiwan and Hong Kong. I used to work at CLSA, Sanford C Bernstein and Deutsche … Read More


My typical day can be either incredibly stressful or really relaxed depending on the movement in the crypto market. The day usually starts with waking up, making a coffee, and kicking back on my couch while catching up on crypto news. Most of the work consists of checking periodically for spikes and price fluctuations of … Read More


IG Markets

Having graduated from UCL in 2019 after studying Economics, I was able to land myself in a graduate role at IG Markets; the UK’s largest OTC Derivative provider. I am currently a Sales Trader at IG focusing primarily on the Futures and Equities Dealing Desks. A typical day in this industry will be very face … Read More


Pros

Suitable for people who like to start and carry out projects.

Suitable for people who value achievements and are results-oriented.

It is easy to get into this career. Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required to get started.

One of the highest-paid careers in the world.

Cons

Not suitable for people who like to work with designs.

How much do they make

Average salary

$96540 per year

Average hourly wage

$46 per hour

Entry-level Securities and Commodities Traders with little to no experience can expect to make anywhere between $36,910 to $45,930 per year or $18 to $22 per hour.

Salary by experience Annual Hourly
Highest (Top 10%) $208,000+ $100+
Senior (Top 25%) $116,020 $56
Median $64,770 $31
Junior (Bottom 25%) $45,930 $22
No experience (Bottom 10%) $36,910 $18

What is the work day like

Working hours

Less than 40 hours
1%

40 hours
19%

More than 40 hours
81%

Working schedule

91%

9%

0%

Email

How often do you use email in this job?

Once a week
0%

Every day
100%

Telephone

How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?

Once a week
0%

Every day
100%

Group discussions

How often do you have group discussions in this job?

Once a week
0%

Every day
98%

Public speaking

How often does this job require you to do public speaking?

Never
5%

Once a year
55%

Once a month
12%

Once a week
16%

Every day
12%

Level of competition

How much competitive pressure is in this job?

Not competitive at all
0%

Slightly competitive
4%

Moderately competitive
6%

Highly competitive
37%

Extremely competitive
52%

What is the work environment like

Office-style environment

Indoors in an environmentally controlled condition

Never
15%

Once a year or more
0%

Once a month or more
0%

Once a week or more
1%

Every day
84%

Warehouse-style environment

Indoors in a non-controlled environmental condition such as a warehouse

Never
100%

Once a year or more
0%

Once a month or more
0%

Once a week or more
0%

Every day
0%

Outdoors

Outdoors exposed to all weather conditions

Never
100%

Once a year or more
0%

Once a month or more
0%

Once a week or more
0%

Every day
0%

Outdoors – Under Cover

Outdoors but under cover (e.g. structure with roof but no walls)

Never
100%

Once a year or more
0%

Once a month or more
0%

Once a week or more
0%

Every day
0%

How to become one

Difficulty to become one

Hard
You will need a considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience. Careers in this difficulty category usually require a Bachelor’s degree and several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training. Similar careers include Database Administrators, Chemists, Art Directors, and Accountants.

Required level of education

What level of education do you need to perform the job?

Less than a High School Diploma
0%

High School Diploma or equivalent
12%

Post-Secondary Certificate
12%

Some College Courses
2%

Associate’s Degree or similar
12%

Bachelor’s Degree
55%

Post-Baccalaureate Certificate
1%

Master’s Degree
6%

Post-Master’s Certificate
0%

First Professional Degree
0%

Doctoral Degree
0%

Post-Doctoral Training
0%

Relevant majors

No majors found

Relevant work experience

How much related work experience do you need to get hired for the job?

None
1%

1 month
12%

1 to 3 months
0%

3 to 6 months
0%

6 months to 1 year
7%

1 to 2 years
30%

2 to 4 years
31%

4 to 6 years
2%

6 to 8 years
2%

8 to 10 years
0%

Over 10 years
14%

On The Job Training

How much on the job training do you need to perform the job?

None or short demonstration
0%

1 month
27%

1 to 3 months
24%

3 to 6 months
34%

6 months to 1 year
1%

1 to 2 years
12%

2 to 4 years
1%

4 to 10 years
1%

Over 10 years
0%

Should you become one

Best personality type for this career

The Leader

People with this personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.

The Builder
14%

People with The Builder personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.


The Thinker
19%

People with The Thinker personality likes to work with ideas that require an extensive amount of thinking. They prefer work that requires them to solve problems mentally.


The Artist
14%

People with The Artist personality likes to work with designs and patterns. They prefer activities that require self-expression and prefer work that can be done without following a clear set of rules.


The Helper
33%

People with The Helper personality type likes to work with people and in teams. They prefer work that allows them to build relationships with others.


The Leader
95%

People with The Leader personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.


The Organizer
67%

People with The Organizer personality type likes to follow set procedures and routines. They prefer working with data and details more than with ideas.


You can read more about these career personality types here.

People who are suitable for this job tend to like starting up and carrying out projects. They like leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk-taking and often deal with business.

They also like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas.

Take this quiz to see if this is the right career for you.

Work Values

Which values are the most important to a person’s satisfaction for this job?

Achievement
76%

You are someone who is results oriented. You prefer work that allows you to utilize your skills and abilities while at the same time giving you a sense of accomplishment.

Working Conditions
74%

You are someone who values job security, steady employment, and good working conditions. You also prefer work that keeps you busy all the time with something different to do every day.

Recognition
71%

You are someone who values job advancement and leadership roles. You prefer work that receives recognition for the work you do and jobs that are looked up to by others in the company and your community.

Relationships
62%

You are someone who likes to provide a service to others. You prefer a work environment where you can work with your co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment.

Support
62%

You are someone who values a company that stands behind their employees. You prefer a work environment where everyone is treated fairly and is being supported by the company.

Independence
76%

You are someone who likes to work on your own and make your own decisions. You prefer work that requires little supervision and are allowed to try out your own ideas.

FAQ


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