Basics

• Stockbrokers typically work in comfortable offices, armed with a phone and a computer. They normally work a 40-hour week, with shifts that can include evenings and weekends for the convenience of their clients. The job can be stressful because they are under pressure from their bosses to make sales, and from customers to select the most profitable investments. According to May 2009 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), their median salary is $66,930 annually, with a range of $29,980 to more than $166,400. This breaks down to $32.18 per hour, with a range of $14.42 to more than $80. Stockbrokers' salaries often are supplemented with bonuses, depending on the profitability of the company, or commissions made with each client transaction.
  
  

Employers

• BLS data show the biggest employers of stockbrokers are securities and commodities brokerages, with almost 47 percent of the available positions. They pay a mean $51.63 per hour or $107,400 per year. Next are banks with 23 percent of the jobs, paying a mean $28.96 per hour or $60,240 per year. The highest-paying employers are wholesalers for metal and minerals, which offer a mean $84.97 per hour or $176,730 per year.
  
  

States

• New York State represents two high points for stockbrokers. First, it contains the highest concentration of workers with approximately 36,500 positions, paying a mean $60.36 per hour or $125,550. Second, it has the second-highest-paying jobs for the positions at $60.36 per hour or $125,550 per year. The state with the highest-paying positions is Connecticut at $77.46 per hour or $161,110 per year. However, it has considerably fewer job opportunities, at around 6,680.
  
  

Outlook

• The BLS predicts that jobs for stockbrokers will grow by 9 percent from 2008 to 2018, which is about average for all jobs. The consolidation of the financial industry will be the biggest barrier to this growth. In addition, more customers are accessing their accounts and trading online, bypassing traditional brokers. The best opportunities will be in smaller firms, rather than in large brokerages where many positions have been eliminated due to consolidation. A degree from a prestigious school, certifications or master's degrees can improve employment prospects.