Career comparison
Brokerage Clerk vs. Financial Services Sales Agent
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Financial services sales agents earn more at the median ($78,660 vs. $65,750), while brokerage clerks usually get to work faster (A few months on the job of training). Brokerage clerks process trades and keep records for investment firms. Financial services sales agents help clients invest and buy financial products, from stocks to retirement plans.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Brokerage Clerk | Financial Services Sales Agent | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $65,750 ($31.61/hr) | $78,660 ($37.82/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $50,260 – $102,010 | $48,040 – $212,880 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | -7.6% (a projected decline) | +1.4% (slower than average) |
| Openings per year | 3,400 | 35,100 |
| Typical entry education | High school diploma or equivalent | Bachelor's degree |
| Training time | A few months on the job | 4 years plus licensing |
| Key credential | SIE exam | FINRA SIE |
| Work setting | Clerks work in offices at brokerages, banks and investment firms.. | Agents work in offices at banks, brokerages and financial firms, mostly at computers and on the phone.. |
What each job does
Brokerage Clerk
- Process trade orders
- Verify trade details
- Prepare confirmations
- Process transfers
- Update account records
Financial Services Sales Agent
- Build and manage client relationships
- Assess clients’ financial goals and risk tolerance
- Recommend investments and products
- Execute trades and transactions
- Monitor accounts and markets
How they’re similar
Both careers involve working with information, desk work, and a fast pace. They sit in different fields, business & office and sales & retail, but share transferable skills such as accuracy and trustworthiness.
Which should you choose?
Choose brokerage clerk if…
- I’m very accurate
- I like finance
- I work well under deadlines
Choose financial services sales agent if…
- I’m interested in investing
- I like building relationships
- I’m motivated by sales goals
Still torn? Take the Brokerage Clerk fit quiz and the Financial Services Sales Agent fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, brokerage clerk or financial services sales agent?
Financial Services Sales Agents earn more at the median: $78,660 versus $65,750 for brokerage clerks, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Brokerage Clerks typically train faster (A few months on the job) than financial services sales agents (4 years plus licensing).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects financial services sales agents to grow +1.4% from 2025–35, compared with -7.6% for brokerage clerks.