Brokerage Clerks
Brokerage Clerks (SOC 43-4011) earn a median $65,750 a year ($31.61 an hour) in the United States, with 35,940 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is District of Columbia.
What brokerage clerks do
Brokerage clerks handle the paperwork and record keeping behind the purchase, sale, or holding of securities. They write orders for stock purchases or sales, verify stock transactions, compute transfer taxes, and keep records of daily transactions and holdings. They document each transaction, whether a purchase, sale, conversion, redemption, or payment, using computers, accounting ledgers, or certificate records. Other duties include accepting and delivering securities, tracking stock price fluctuations, computing equity, and distributing dividends. Clerks prepare forms such as receipts, withdrawal orders, transmittal papers, and transfer confirmations from stockholders' requests. They write to customers and consult coworkers in order to answer questions, talk through market movements, or settle account problems, and they also answer phones, distribute mail, file, and operate standard office machines. Securities sales agents, who work directly with clients to sell investments, and bank tellers and loan clerks are separate occupations.
Typical entry: O*NET survey respondents most often report a bachelor's degree as the education level for this occupation.
Also called: Account Administrator, Broker Assistant, Brokerage Agent, Brokerage Analyst, Brokerage Assistant.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $24.16 | $28.18 | $31.61 | $38.36 | $49.04 | $35.03 | 35,940 |
| Annual | $50,260 | $58,620 | $65,750 | $79,800 | $102,010 | $72,850 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where brokerage clerks earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| District of Columbia | Hourly | $40.31 | $40.64 | $45.89 | $46.39 | $46.78 | $43.08 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $83,840 | $84,540 | $95,450 | $96,490 | $97,300 | $89,610 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $27.32 | $30.48 | $37.95 | $48.97 | $60.42 | $41.31 | 5,950 | 0.62 | 2.66 |
| Annual | $56,820 | $63,400 | $78,930 | $101,860 | $125,680 | $85,910 | ||||
| Vermont | Hourly | $24.03 | $26.65 | $37.59 | $39.74 | $60.27 | $38.20 | 30 | 0.11 | 0.45 |
| Annual | $49,980 | $55,440 | $78,200 | $82,660 | $125,370 | $79,450 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $27.02 | $30.12 | $37.48 | $46.05 | $60.34 | $40.12 | 4,740 | 0.26 | 1.13 |
| Annual | $56,200 | $62,640 | $77,960 | $95,780 | $125,520 | $83,450 | ||||
| Connecticut | Hourly | $29.84 | $32.09 | $36.22 | $45.67 | $55.28 | $39.44 | 420 | 0.25 | 1.07 |
| Annual | $62,060 | $66,750 | $75,330 | $94,990 | $114,990 | $82,020 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York | Hourly | $27.32 | $30.48 | $37.95 | $48.97 | $60.42 | $41.31 | 5,950 | 0.62 | 2.66 |
| Annual | $56,820 | $63,400 | $78,930 | $101,860 | $125,680 | $85,910 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $27.02 | $30.12 | $37.48 | $46.05 | $60.34 | $40.12 | 4,740 | 0.26 | 1.13 |
| Annual | $56,200 | $62,640 | $77,960 | $95,780 | $125,520 | $83,450 | ||||
| New Jersey | Hourly | $29.29 | $31.00 | $35.98 | $38.36 | $48.27 | $37.12 | 3,260 | 0.76 | 3.30 |
| Annual | $60,930 | $64,490 | $74,830 | $79,800 | $100,410 | $77,210 | ||||
| Illinois | Hourly | $21.63 | $25.03 | $30.46 | $36.12 | $45.69 | $32.14 | 2,060 | 0.34 | 1.46 |
| Annual | $44,980 | $52,060 | $63,350 | $75,130 | $95,030 | $66,850 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $25.01 | $28.41 | $30.35 | $36.55 | $45.67 | $32.79 | 1,830 | 0.18 | 0.80 |
| Annual | $52,030 | $59,090 | $63,130 | $76,020 | $95,000 | $68,210 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | Hourly | $25.68 | $36.99 | $43.37 | $50.28 | $68.10 | $45.03 | 320 | 0.28 | 1.22 |
| Annual | $53,410 | $76,930 | $90,220 | $104,590 | $141,660 | $93,660 | ||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | $30.25 | $36.10 | $42.97 | $49.09 | $63.82 | $45.62 | 1,360 | 0.57 | 2.48 |
| Annual | $62,930 | $75,090 | $89,370 | $102,110 | $132,740 | $94,890 | ||||
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | Hourly | $29.85 | $32.32 | $39.75 | $45.71 | $46.82 | $39.68 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $62,080 | $67,220 | $82,680 | $95,070 | $97,380 | $82,540 | ||||
| Akron, OH | Hourly | $25.73 | $28.45 | $39.05 | $46.67 | $58.35 | $38.78 | 110 | 0.33 | 1.44 |
| Annual | $53,510 | $59,170 | $81,230 | $97,070 | $121,360 | $80,670 | ||||
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | Hourly | $29.84 | $33.13 | $38.30 | $46.13 | $56.80 | $41.69 | 270 | 0.66 | 2.85 |
| Annual | $62,060 | $68,910 | $79,660 | $95,940 | $118,140 | $86,720 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $30.26 | $33.30 | $37.95 | $48.48 | $60.42 | $42.07 | 7,100 | 0.75 | 3.24 |
| Annual | $62,930 | $69,260 | $78,930 | $100,830 | $125,680 | $87,500 | ||||
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | Hourly | $23.98 | $27.53 | $29.33 | $36.93 | $46.24 | $32.29 | 2,000 | 0.69 | 2.99 |
| Annual | $49,870 | $57,260 | $61,010 | $76,820 | $96,190 | $67,170 | ||||
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | Hourly | $21.63 | $25.63 | $30.47 | $36.86 | $45.69 | $32.44 | 1,790 | 0.40 | 1.72 |
| Annual | $44,980 | $53,310 | $63,390 | $76,680 | $95,040 | $67,480 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $26.21 | $30.01 | $37.36 | $45.28 | $58.83 | $38.48 | 1,730 | 0.28 | 1.19 |
| Annual | $54,510 | $62,420 | $77,710 | $94,170 | $122,360 | $80,050 | ||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | $30.25 | $36.10 | $42.97 | $49.09 | $63.82 | $45.62 | 1,360 | 0.57 | 2.48 |
| Annual | $62,930 | $75,090 | $89,370 | $102,110 | $132,740 | $94,890 | ||||
Top industries employing brokerage clerks
Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities employ 67.8% of brokerage clerks nationally (24,380 jobs) at a median $70,070 a year ($33.69 an hour), followed by Credit Intermediation and Related Activities (5221 and 5223 only) (14.1%) and Management of Companies and Enterprises (4.0%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities NAICS 523000 | 24,380 | 67.8% | $70,070 | $33.69 |
| Credit Intermediation and Related Activities (5221 and 5223 only) NAICS 5220A1 | 5,060 | 14.1% | $62,670 | $30.13 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises NAICS 551100 | 1,430 | 4.0% | $62,930 | $30.26 |
| Agencies, Brokerages, and Other Insurance Related Activities NAICS 524200 | 1,050 | 2.9% | $64,180 | $30.86 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement NAICS 488500 | 900 | 2.5% | $50,440 | $24.25 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (35,940). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $54,000 for brokerage clerks in May 2021 and $65,750 in May 2025, with employment of 39,980 and 35,940.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $54,000 | $25.96 | 39,980 |
| May 2022 | $54,680 | $26.29 | 42,700 |
| May 2023 | $60,150 | $28.92 | 48,060 |
| May 2024 | $62,940 | $30.26 | 40,090 |
| May 2025 | $65,750 | $31.61 | 35,940 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
43 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia profile | $45.89 | $95,450 | $83,840 | $97,300 | ** | ** | ** |
| 2 | New York profile | $37.95 | $78,930 | $56,820 | $125,680 | 5,950 | 0.62 | 2.66 |
| 3 | Vermont profile | $37.59 | $78,200 | $49,980 | $125,370 | 30 | 0.11 | 0.45 |
| 4 | California profile | $37.48 | $77,960 | $56,200 | $125,520 | 4,740 | 0.26 | 1.13 |
| 5 | Connecticut profile | $36.22 | $75,330 | $62,060 | $114,990 | 420 | 0.25 | 1.07 |
| 6 | New Jersey profile | $35.98 | $74,830 | $60,930 | $100,410 | 3,260 | 0.76 | 3.30 |
| 7 | Michigan profile | $35.26 | $73,350 | $57,080 | $92,160 | 430 | 0.10 | 0.42 |
| 8 | Washington profile | $35.15 | $73,120 | $52,870 | $97,380 | 140 | 0.04 | 0.17 |
| 9 | Maine profile | $35.02 | $72,840 | $54,980 | $101,760 | 80 | 0.12 | 0.51 |
| 10 | Oregon profile | $34.74 | $72,250 | $55,820 | $94,650 | 470 | 0.24 | 1.04 |
| 11 | New Hampshire profile | $32.76 | $68,140 | $57,930 | $102,870 | 200 | 0.30 | 1.27 |
| 12 | Utah profile | $32.41 | $67,410 | $51,890 | $93,540 | 320 | 0.19 | 0.80 |
| 13 | Tennessee profile | $31.06 | $64,610 | $49,700 | $86,460 | 370 | 0.11 | 0.49 |
| 14 | Ohio profile | $30.78 | $64,020 | $55,870 | $90,300 | 800 | 0.14 | 0.62 |
| 15 | Wisconsin profile | $30.71 | $63,870 | $52,880 | $75,300 | 460 | 0.16 | 0.67 |
| 16 | Massachusetts profile | $30.60 | $63,640 | $56,480 | $93,670 | 890 | 0.25 | 1.06 |
| 17 | Illinois profile | $30.46 | $63,350 | $44,980 | $95,030 | 2,060 | 0.34 | 1.46 |
| 18 | Florida profile | $30.35 | $63,130 | $52,030 | $95,000 | 1,830 | 0.18 | 0.80 |
| 19 | Texas profile | $30.32 | $63,060 | $47,470 | $80,820 | 1,300 | 0.09 | 0.40 |
| 20 | Virginia profile | $30.08 | $62,560 | $49,850 | $96,070 | 750 | 0.18 | 0.79 |
| 21 | Rhode Island profile | $30.00 | $62,400 | $51,780 | $63,830 | 450 | 0.90 | 3.89 |
| 22 | Minnesota profile | $29.86 | $62,110 | $50,560 | $79,360 | 960 | 0.33 | 1.41 |
| 23 | Maryland profile | $29.85 | $62,080 | $54,880 | $109,970 | 560 | 0.20 | 0.88 |
| 24 | Arizona profile | $29.76 | $61,900 | $53,210 | $78,250 | 940 | 0.29 | 1.25 |
| 25 | Georgia profile | $29.60 | $61,570 | $49,930 | $98,780 | 540 | 0.11 | 0.48 |
| 26 | Louisiana profile | $29.57 | $61,500 | $49,100 | $82,210 | ** | ** | ** |
| 27 | Delaware profile | $29.51 | $61,390 | $51,980 | $96,190 | ** | ** | ** |
| 28 | Colorado profile | $29.30 | $60,950 | $50,680 | $77,720 | 220 | 0.08 | 0.32 |
| 29 | North Carolina profile | $29.31 | $60,950 | $50,000 | $99,210 | 400 | 0.08 | 0.35 |
| 30 | Nebraska profile | $29.27 | $60,880 | $48,150 | $75,920 | 440 | 0.43 | 1.87 |
| 31 | Pennsylvania profile | $29.03 | $60,390 | $49,770 | $98,610 | 1,470 | 0.24 | 1.05 |
| 32 | South Carolina profile | $28.71 | $59,710 | $48,060 | $79,570 | 440 | 0.19 | 0.82 |
| 33 | Arkansas profile | $28.21 | $58,670 | $43,140 | $75,290 | 90 | 0.07 | 0.30 |
| 34 | Indiana profile | $28.03 | $58,290 | $39,850 | $74,260 | 1,260 | 0.39 | 1.70 |
| 35 | Mississippi profile | $27.98 | $58,200 | $47,310 | $109,630 | 40 | 0.03 | 0.15 |
| 36 | Kentucky profile | $27.74 | $57,690 | $51,060 | $93,380 | ** | ** | ** |
| 37 | Iowa profile | $27.10 | $56,360 | $27,510 | $70,970 | 160 | 0.10 | 0.43 |
| 38 | South Dakota profile | $26.96 | $56,080 | $47,710 | $83,650 | 130 | 0.29 | 1.27 |
| 39 | Kansas profile | $24.03 | $49,990 | $46,580 | $66,700 | 310 | 0.21 | 0.92 |
| 40 | Montana profile | $23.25 | $48,360 | $39,080 | $66,700 | 110 | 0.22 | 0.94 |
| – | Alabama profile | * | * | * | * | 110 | 0.05 | 0.23 |
| – | Missouri profile | * | * | * | * | 630 | 0.22 | 0.93 |
| – | West Virginia profile | * | * | * | * | 130 | 0.19 | 0.81 |
Part of Office and Administrative Support Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 43-4011 Brokerage Clerks.
*- Wage estimate not available.
**- Employment estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 43-4011, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 43-4011.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.