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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Real salary distribution from 288 tracked cities across 46 states. Compare entry-level, median, and senior compensation — then adjust for cost of living.
The data below covers the full spectrum — from six-figure metros to markets where the math is tighter. The national median salary for Securities Sales Agents in 2026 is $77,981, with entry-level positions averaging $56,146 and senior roles reaching $110,732. But those numbers flatten a reality with enormous geographic variation — Sunnyvale pays a median of $142,040, while other markets fall well below the national average. We tracked 288 cities to build the complete picture.
A career as a Securities Sales Agent sits at the intersection of Sales and Sales. Most professionals enter with Bachelor's + license, and the field is characterized by growing. The work itself is office. Understanding that context matters: it explains why certain markets pay premiums and others lag.
$86,430 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Securities Sales Agent in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $142,040 — $86,430 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($55,610). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. For early-career professionals, the geographic pay premium is worth the math.
The three-tier salary picture for Securities Sales Agents in 2026: $56,146 at entry (P10), $77,981 at midpoint, and $110,732 at the senior end (P90). The city-level data complicates the national narrative. The $54,586 range from bottom to top isn't just experience — it's geography, specialization, and industry mixed together. The median itself lands $2,386 below the national median household income of $80,367.
But raw salary is only half the story. The top 3 paying cities (Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Irvine) average $132,660 — while the bottom 3 (Toledo, Detroit, Akron) average $56,057. That $76,603 gap means choosing the right city could be the equivalent of a major promotion. In the right market, this is a six-figure career path.
A Securities Sales Agent in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $142,040 — $86,430 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($55,610). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
The national average entry-level (P10) salary for Securities Sales Agent is $56,146, while senior-level (P90) earners average $110,732. That $54,586 trajectory represents the earning growth a career in this field can deliver.
Even at the 10th percentile, Securities Sales Agents average $56,146 nationally. That's a higher starting floor than many careers' median — a signal of strong baseline demand and compensation.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $56,146 | $77,981 | $110,732 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £30,299 | £42,082 | £59,756 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$43,639 | CA$60,610 | CA$86,066 |
| Australia | 13 | A$49,483 | A$68,726 | A$97,591 |
| Sweden | 24 | 298,064 kr | 413,977 kr | 587,848 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 61 | $67,765 | $94,119 | $133,648 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $65,486 | $90,953 | $129,153 |
| Hawaii | 1 | $65,124 | $90,450 | $128,439 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $60,300 | $83,750 | $118,925 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $59,576 | $82,745 | $117,498 |
| Washington | 8 | $58,431 | $81,154 | $115,238 |
| New York | 5 | $54,993 | $76,380 | $108,459 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $54,994 | $76,380 | $108,460 |
| Florida | 22 | $54,577 | $75,801 | $107,638 |
| Colorado | 11 | $53,634 | $74,492 | $105,778 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $53,546 | $74,370 | $105,605 |
| Nevada | 5 | $53,450 | $74,236 | $105,415 |
| Arizona | 12 | $53,185 | $73,868 | $104,892 |
| Oregon | 5 | $53,064 | $73,700 | $104,654 |
| Idaho | 3 | $52,903 | $73,477 | $104,337 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $52,485 | $72,896 | $103,512 |
| Utah | 4 | $52,340 | $72,695 | $103,227 |
| Virginia | 7 | $51,479 | $71,499 | $101,528 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $50,813 | $70,573 | $100,214 |
| Alaska | 1 | $50,652 | $70,350 | $99,897 |
| Illinois | 5 | $50,073 | $69,546 | $98,755 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $48,830 | $67,819 | $96,303 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $48,240 | $67,000 | $95,140 |
| Montana | 1 | $48,240 | $67,000 | $95,140 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $48,079 | $66,777 | $94,823 |
| Texas | 40 | $47,842 | $66,447 | $94,355 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $47,758 | $66,330 | $94,189 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $47,517 | $65,995 | $93,713 |
| Georgia | 6 | $47,356 | $65,772 | $93,396 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $47,275 | $65,660 | $93,237 |
| Kansas | 4 | $47,034 | $65,325 | $92,762 |
| Michigan | 6 | $46,873 | $65,102 | $92,444 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $46,311 | $64,320 | $91,335 |
| Maryland | 1 | $46,310 | $64,320 | $91,334 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $45,828 | $63,650 | $90,383 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $45,828 | $63,650 | $90,383 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $44,622 | $61,975 | $88,005 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $44,381 | $61,640 | $87,529 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $43,778 | $60,803 | $86,340 |
| Missouri | 4 | $43,778 | $60,803 | $86,340 |
| Alabama | 5 | $43,609 | $60,568 | $86,007 |
| Indiana | 3 | $42,934 | $59,630 | $84,675 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $42,934 | $59,630 | $84,675 |
| Iowa | 2 | $42,451 | $58,960 | $83,723 |
| Ohio | 6 | $42,371 | $58,848 | $83,565 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $40,522 | $56,280 | $79,918 |
The state salary map for Securities Sales Agents: California at $94,119, Massachusetts at $90,953, Hawaii at $90,450 lead the pack. The bottom tier — Mississippi ($56,280), Ohio ($58,848), Iowa ($58,960) — shows how regional economics reshape compensation. Across all 46 states with data, the state-level spread alone is $37,839.
When you adjust the top-paying cities for cost of living, the ranking reshuffles. Sunnyvale ($142,040 nominal, 212 cost index) delivers $67,000 in purchasing power — maintaining its lead even after cost adjustment. This is the metric that matters for anyone considering a geo-based career move.
Raw salary divided by the local cost index — this shows where your paycheck buys the most.
| # | City | Nominal Salary | Cost Index | Adjusted Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunnyvale California | $142,040 | 212 | $67,000 | $85,151 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $132,660 | 198 | $67,000 | $79,987 |
| 3 | Irvine California | $123,280 | 184 | $67,000 | $74,823 |
| 4 | San Francisco California | $121,270 | 181 | $67,000 | $73,717 |
| 5 | Carlsbad California | $119,260 | 178 | $67,000 | $72,610 |
| 6 | San Jose California | $118,590 | 177 | $67,000 | $72,241 |
| 7 | Fremont California | $118,590 | 177 | $67,000 | $72,241 |
| 8 | Berkeley California | $115,910 | 173 | $67,000 | $70,766 |
| 9 | Costa Mesa California | $115,910 | 173 | $67,000 | $70,766 |
| 10 | Huntington Beach California | $113,230 | 169 | $67,000 | $69,291 |
Career economics for Securities Sales Agents: entry level averages $56,146, mid-career hits $77,981, and experienced professionals reach $110,732. That's a 2.0× multiplier from start to peak. The path typically requires Bachelor's + license, and the work is office. The outlook: growing. Cost-adjusted, this occupation outearns its reputation.
The weighted national median salary for Securities Sales Agents is $77,981 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $56,146, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $110,732.
The highest-paying city for Securities Sales Agents is Sunnyvale, California with a median salary of $142,040. The top 3 cities are Sunnyvale ($142,040), Santa Clara ($132,660), Irvine ($123,280). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median Securities Sales Agent salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $55,610. However, lower-paying cities often have significantly lower costs of living, which can offset the pay gap. Always compare salary data alongside local cost of living.
Entry-level Securities Sales Agents (10th percentile) average $56,146 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $102,269. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Securities Sales Agents average $110,732 nationally — $54,586 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Securities Sales Agents can earn up to $201,697.
The top-paying states for Securities Sales Agents are California ($94,119 median), Massachusetts ($90,953 median), Hawaii ($90,450 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a Securities Sales Agent involves Bachelor's + license. The field is in the Sales sector (Sales), and the career outlook is growing. Work style is typically office.
With a national median of $77,981 and representation across 288 metro areas, Securities Sales Agent offers a foundation that can be strengthened by strategic location choices. The $54,586 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: growing.
All salary data on this page is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan areas. We present 10th percentile (entry), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use our core database of 288 cities.
Salary data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. We present the 10th percentile (entry-level), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks.
Cost-of-living adjustments use Livably's core index derived from Zillow rent data, Census income surveys, and regional BLS price data. Take-home pay estimates apply simplified federal brackets, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax rates from the Tax Foundation.
State and national averages are computed as simple means across all tracked cities with data for this occupation. Rankings are updated monthly as new BLS releases become available.