Career comparison
Bank Teller vs. Brokerage Clerk
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Brokerage clerks earn more at the median ($65,750 vs. $43,030), while bank tellers usually get to work faster (A few weeks on the job of training). Bank tellers help bank customers with deposits, withdrawals and everyday banking. Brokerage clerks process trades and keep records for investment firms.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Bank Teller | Brokerage Clerk | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $43,030 ($20.69/hr) | $65,750 ($31.61/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $34,360 – $49,680 | $50,260 – $102,010 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | -13.2% (a projected decline) | -7.6% (a projected decline) |
| Openings per year | 26,800 | 3,400 |
| Typical entry education | High school diploma or equivalent | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Training time | A few weeks on the job | A few months on the job |
| Key credential | Bank teller certificate | SIE exam |
| Work setting | Tellers work in bank and credit union branches.. | Clerks work in offices at brokerages, banks and investment firms.. |
What each job does
Bank Teller
- Process deposits and withdrawals
- Cash checks
- Balance the cash drawer
- Spot counterfeit bills and fraud
- Answer account questions
Brokerage Clerk
- Process trade orders
- Verify trade details
- Prepare confirmations
- Process transfers
- Update account records
How they’re similar
Both careers involve steady routines and working with information. Both are part of the business & office field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose bank teller if…
- I’m accurate with money
- I like customers
- I’m trustworthy
Choose brokerage clerk if…
- I’m very accurate
- I like finance
- I work well under deadlines
Still torn? Take the Bank Teller fit quiz and the Brokerage Clerk fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, bank teller or brokerage clerk?
Brokerage Clerks earn more at the median: $65,750 versus $43,030 for bank tellers, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Bank Tellers typically train faster (A few weeks on the job) than brokerage clerks (A few months on the job).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects brokerage clerks to grow -7.6% from 2025–35, compared with -13.2% for bank tellers.