How much does a brokerage clerk make?
a year · about $32 an hour
A typical brokerage clerk in the United States makes $65,750 a year, about $32 an hour, about the same as a typical US worker (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
They answer customer messages, enter and check stock trades on a computer, and work with teammates to solve account problems. They also watch prices, calculate dividends or fees, and prepare transaction records.
Did you know? A surprising U.S. rule: a brokerage worker doing only office tasks usually needs no FINRA registration, but taking a customer's order counts as more than clerical work.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $50,260 and $102,010How do you become one?
Most U.S. brokerage clerks start after high school; business or finance study can help, and employers train them on the job. Clerical-only work generally needs no FINRA registration, but taking customer orders requires registration.
School needed: Vocational school or a few years' experience
Good for people who like keeping things organized and leading and selling
Why does pay differ?
In the U.S., pay can differ with experience and skill, the employer or industry, and location. More complex work or useful credentials may be valued more, though clerical-only duties generally do not require FINRA registration.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in New York ($78,930), lowest in Indiana ($58,290).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
Data table and sources
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $50,260 | $65,750 | $102,010 | about 36,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| New York | $78,930 | about 6,000 |
| California | $77,960 | about 5,000 |
| New Jersey | $74,830 | about 3,000 |
| Ohio | $64,020 | about 800 |
| Massachusetts | $63,640 | about 890 |
Official definition: Perform duties related to the purchase, sale, or holding of securities. Duties include writing orders for stock purchases or sales, computing transfer taxes, verifying stock transactions, accepting and delivering securities, tracking stock price fluctuations, computing equity, distributing dividends, and keeping records of daily transactions and holdings.
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/43-4011.00
- www.bls.gov/oes/2022/May/oes434011.htm
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
- www.finra.org/rules-guidance/notices/17-30
- www.mynextmove.org/profile/summary/43-4011.00
- apps.illinoisworknet.com/cis/clusters/OccupationDetails/100024?parentId=110600
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY