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Brokerage Clerks


At a Glance

  • Help sell stocks, bonds, commodities, and other items
  • Often interact with customers
  • Keep detailed records
  • Use computers heavily
  • May work overtime
  • Train on the job

Career summary

Brokerage clerks record the purchase and transfer of securities.

Some of the job titles included in this description are transfer clerks, margin clerks, purchase- and-sale clerks, dividend clerks, trading assistants, sales traders, and broker's assistants.

# 3/28/19 lh

Brokerage clerks help with the sale and purchase of investments. Types of investments include:

Some clerks work with brokers and customers. The most common brokerage clerk is the broker's assistant or sales assistant. These assistants usually work for two brokers. They take calls from customers, answer questions, and take orders. They also monitor stock prices as they change throughout the day.

When clients want to buy or sell securities, clerks write up order tickets. Brokerage clerks prepare paperwork. Once the process is complete, assistants record purchases, sales, or conversions. When customers close accounts, clerks compute the value of their stock, apply brokerage fees and taxes, and pay the customers.

Some brokerage clerks work in the operations area processing the records of sales and transfers. These clerks' job titles depend upon the type of work they perform.

Purchase-and-sale clerks match orders to buy with orders to sell. They check stock trades by comparing the records of the selling firm to those of the buying firm.

Dividend clerks make sure that stock or cash dividends are paid to clients on time. Transfer clerks carry out customer requests for changes in ownership of accounts.

Margin clerks post changes and watch activity in customers' accounts. Their job is to make sure that customers make their payments and follow the rules of stock purchases.

Related careers

This career is part of the Finance cluster of careers.

Related careers include:

Job duties

Task list

The following list of tasks is specific to brokerage clerks.

Common work activities

Brokerage clerks perform the following tasks. These tasks are common to many careers.

Work requirements

Working conditions

In a typical work setting, brokerage clerks:

Interpersonal relationships

Physical work conditions

Work performance

Hours/travel

Physical demands

Brokerage clerks frequently:

It is important for brokerage clerks to be able to:

It is not as important, but still necessary, for brokerage clerks to be able to:

Skills and abilities

Brokerage clerks need to:

Communicate

Reason and problem solve

Use math and science

Manage oneself, people, time, and things

Work with people

Education and training

Educational programs

The programs of study listed below will help you prepare for the occupation or career cluster you are exploring.

Programs of study directly related to this occupation

Other programs of study to consider

Training

To work as a brokerage clerk, you typically need to:

Education after high school

You must have at least a high school diploma to become a brokerage clerk. Many clerks have taken college courses or completed a bachelor's degree. Clerks who work directly with clients generally have a college degree. You can get training at business schools, community colleges, and universities. You should take business, finance, and computer courses.

On-the-job training

As a beginning brokerage clerk, you often receive training on the job. The length of training varies by employer, your education, and your position. Many clerks receive up to three months of training. Many others receive up to one year of training. You start by learning office procedures and the computer software. You perform routine tasks while supervised by experienced clerks. As you gain experience you work on more complicated tasks and have greater responsibility.

Helpful high school courses

In high school, take classes that prepare you for college. A college preparatory curriculum may be different from your state's graduation requirements.

You should also consider taking some advanced courses in high school. This includes Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses if they are available in your school. If you do well in these courses, you may receive college credit for them. Advanced courses can also strengthen your college application.

Helpful electives to take in high school that prepare you for this career include:

The courses listed above are meant to help you create your high school plan. If you have not already done so, talk to a school counselor or parent about the courses you are considering taking.

You should also check with a teacher or counselor to see if work-based learning opportunities are available in your school and community. These might include field trips, job shadowing, internships, and actual work experience. The goal of these activities is to help you connect your school experiences with real-life work.

Join some groups, try some hobbies, or volunteer with an organization that interests you. By participating in activities you can have fun, make new friends, and learn about yourself. Maybe one of them will help direct you to a future career. Here are examples of activities and groups that may be available in your high school or community.

Things to know

Employers require brokerage clerks to have at least a high school diploma or equivalent. Many brokerage firms prefer to hire clerks who have a bachelor's degree.

Employers prefer to hire brokerage clerks who know how to work with computers. They may look for experience with word processing and spreadsheets. They also look for applicants with good customer service skills, since clerks work with customers. Brokerage clerks need to be careful, orderly, and attentive to details. These are important skills because clerks must avoid making errors and be able to recognize when something is wrong. Since they work so much with people's records, clerks also must be trustworthy.

Tips

Clerks who have a General Securities Representative (Series 7) brokerage license from the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) make themselves more marketable to employers and can undertake additional job duties.

#Added tip from info in 2006/07 OOH, 3/13/06, CJ. Updated name of assn 2/21/12 cj.

Licensing/certification

An optional license is available for brokerage clerks. This license is called the Series 7 brokerage license. The advantage of this license is that brokerage clerks or assistants who have it can work more with clients. In addition, they can pass on suggestions from brokers about which securities to consider.

Job listings

Listed below are links to job categories from the National Labor Exchange that relate to this career. Once you get a list of jobs, you can view information about individual jobs and find out how to apply. If your job search finds too many openings, or if you wish to search for jobs outside of Washington, you will need to refine your search.

To get a listing of current jobs from the WorkSource system, go to the WorkSource website (external link).

Wages

#In Washington, the average entry-level wage for brokerage clerks is $18.87 per hour ($3,270 per month).

#Updated ES wage info 07.16 sd

Brokerage clerks (SOC 43-4011)

Location
Pay Period
10%
25%
Median
75%
90%
Washington Hourly $19.08 $21.90 $26.45 $30.82 $36.88
Monthly $3,307 $3,795 $4,584 $5,341 $6,391
Yearly $39,690 $45,550 $55,010 $64,110 $76,710
    Bellingham Hourly $18.19 $21.77 $28.06 $33.81 $39.13
Monthly $3,152 $3,773 $4,863 $5,859 $6,781
Yearly $37,828 $45,267 $58,363 $70,318 $81,378
    Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue Hourly $19.86 $22.68 $27.25 $31.48 $37.20
Monthly $3,442 $3,930 $4,722 $5,455 $6,447
Yearly $41,313 $47,163 $56,664 $65,472 $77,379
    Spokane-Spokane Valley Hourly $18.17 $21.29 $24.62 $31.94 $42.43
Monthly $3,149 $3,690 $4,267 $5,535 $7,353
Yearly $37,791 $44,287 $51,213 $66,437 $88,253
    Vancouver Hourly $17.97 $20.72 $24.81 $31.46 $41.45
Monthly $3,114 $3,591 $4,300 $5,452 $7,183
Yearly $37,362 $43,096 $51,607 $65,425 $86,229
United States Hourly $16.67 $20.28 $24.71 $30.10 $36.81
Monthly $2,889 $3,515 $4,282 $5,216 $6,379
Yearly $34,670 $42,180 $51,400 $62,610 $76,550

Pay varies by the area of the country and the size of the city that the job is in. Securities firms in larger cities usually have more customers and make more money. This allows them to pay more than employers in smaller towns. Pay also varies by brokerage clerks' level of education. Those with a bachelor's degree start at higher salaries than those with a high school diploma or equivalent. The level of technical skills needed for the job also increases the amount they are paid.

Brokerage clerks who work full time usually receive benefits. These benefits may include health, dental, and retirement plans. They may also receive paid vacation and sick leave.

Employment and outlook

Washington outlook

#Between 2014 and 2024, it is estimated that there will be five openings annually due to new positions and 24 openings annually from workers leaving this career.

#Updated outlook 05.16 sd

The table below provides information about the number of workers in this career in various regions. It also provides information about the expected growth rate and future job openings.

Brokerage Clerks (SOC 43-4011)

Location Current employment Growth over 10 years Annual openings
This
occupation
All
occupations
Washington 646 7.7% 16.1% 78
    Island, San Juan, Skagit, and Whatcom Counties 36 8.3% 14.6% 4
    King County 478 9.2% 19.6% 60
    Pierce County 25 0.0% 15.2% 3
    Snohomish County 11 27.3% 12.4% 2
    Spokane County 73 4.1% 13.9% 8
United States 56,100 4.6% 5.2% 6,200

National employment

Major employers:

National outlook

Demand for brokerage clerks is expected to grow about as fast as average. Automation in the industry may lead to slower growth as more people can invest online or through other automated means.

Competition for jobs is expected to be strong. This is due to the financial services industry undergoing further consolidation. The number of people who apply for openings will be greater than the number of jobs available.

Job openings will be available as people leave the occupation.

Other resources

Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (external link)
1735 K Street
Washington, DC 20006
301.590.6500

References

Career cluster

Career path

O*Net (external link) occupation

O*Net job zone (external link)

DOT occupations

Holland occupational cluster

COPSystem