The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports a median annual wage of $78,660 for securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents in May 2025. The middle 80% of workers earned between $48,040 and $212,880. Pay depends on the firm, the products you sell, and how long you have been producing, so no single number describes a Series 7 career.
The BLS category covers all securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents, not only Series 7 holders. Treat these numbers as a broad benchmark for the occupation, not a quote for any one job. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook entry also lists a bachelor’s degree as the typical entry-level education.
What jobs can you get with a Series 7?
The Series 7 (officially the General Securities Representative Qualification Examination) is the broadest sales license FINRA issues. Pass it and you can solicit, recommend, and sell almost every securities product: individual stocks, corporate bonds, municipal bonds, options, ETFs, REITs, mutual funds, variable annuities, and direct participation programs. That breadth opens up a wider hiring market than the Series 6, which covers packaged products only.
Series 7 roles generally fall into a few channels:
Full-service firms
Many large firms run structured trainee programs. They often pair a guaranteed first year with production targets that you must meet to keep the guarantee.
Bank brokerage
Bank-owned brokerages place reps in branches and often supply referral leads, so the job can rely less on cold prospecting.
Independent broker-dealers
Independent firms may pay reps a share of commissions, and reps may carry more of their own office and staffing costs.
Call-center and self-directed brokerage
Customer-facing roles at online and call-center brokerages are often the most remote-friendly option, with pay that combines a base and activity-based bonuses.
You will also see Series 7 listed as a requirement, or a strong preference, for compliance, supervisory, operations, and product roles at the same firms. Check each job posting for the license it requires.
How much do Series 7 reps make?
BLS does not publish pay for “Series 7 reps” as a separate group. Its occupation-level figures for May 2025 are below:
| Measure | Annual wage (May 2025) |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile (lowest 10% earned less than) | $48,040 |
| Median | $78,660 |
| 90th percentile (highest 10% earned more than) | $212,880 |
The gap between the 10th and 90th percentiles is wide. Pay depends mostly on the channel you join and how long you stay. Ask each firm how its pay plan works in years one through five before you compare offers.
Industry research also shows that many new advisors leave early. Cerulli Associates found that more than 72% of advisor trainees dropped out before becoming full-fledged advisors in 2022, roughly the same as in 2021 (reported by AdvisorHub). That industry-wide figure means fewer than three in ten trainees make it through.
Recruiting materials often quote senior-producer earnings. Those averages come from reps who cleared the production hurdle and stayed for years. Trainees who leave early are not in those numbers. Use the BLS figures above as a baseline and ask about the share of trainees who reach each pay level.
What to check in a Series 7 offer
Pay structures differ more than the headline salary suggests. Before you accept, ask:
- Is there a guarantee or draw? If so, how long does it last, and is any unearned amount repaid?
- What is the payout grid? The percentage of commissions and fees you keep changes with production.
- What are the production hurdles? Find the dollar target, the deadline, and what happens if you miss it.
- Who pays for licensing? Ask who covers the exam fees, prep materials, and any retakes.
- Are there other costs? Independent reps may pay for office space, staff, and insurance.
A first-year guarantee is often an advance against future commissions, not a salary. Read the offer letter section on draws and ask whether the guarantee is forgivable.
Bank brokerage vs independent broker-dealer
Bank brokerage and independent broker-dealers use different pay models:
- Branch-referral lead flow, so the bank brings prospects to you
- Lower production pressure than many full-service trainee programs
- Benefits and retirement plans are often offered
- Payout share is often lower than independent firms offer, and salary may be lower too
- You source most of your own clients
- You may pay for office, staff, and errors-and-omissions insurance
- Results depend heavily on your own production
Channel choice often depends on career stage. Many reps start where the lead flow and support are strongest, then move when they have a book of business.
Pass the Series 7 first
Every job on this page assumes you have the license. CertFuel runs the same adaptive engine across SIE, Series 7, Series 6, Series 63, Series 65, and Series 66.
Choose Your PathAre there remote Series 7 jobs?
Remote work is more common in operations and call-center roles than in production roles. Production roles usually require in-office or hybrid work for client acquisition and supervision. Check each posting for its location requirements.
Series 7 + Series 66 jobs
The Series 7 alone lets you sell securities on a transactional basis. Pair it with the Series 66 and you can also work as an Investment Adviser Representative (IAR), which opens up fee-based advisory work. Advisory compensation is often based on a percentage of assets under management, so the pay structure differs from commission-only work.
Some candidates also take the Series 66, or the Series 63 and Series 65. The Series 66 covers both state agent and adviser content. For which combined stack fits your career goals, see the Series 7 and Series 66 guide.
Highest-paying Series 7 careers
Some roles have higher ceilings than others, including senior producers at full-service firms, independent producers with large books, trading desk roles, and eventually owners of registered investment advisers. Each path takes years of production and carries the wash-out risk described above. The BLS 90th percentile of $212,880 is the best public benchmark for the upper end of the occupation.
Series 7 jobs and salary FAQ
What is the average Series 7 salary?
There is no honest single average because pay varies widely by channel and tenure. The most useful public figure is the Bureau of Labor Statistics median for securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents: $78,660 in May 2025. The BLS also reports a 10th percentile of $48,040 and a 90th percentile of $212,880.
Do you need a Series 7 to work at a brokerage?
For any role that involves recommending or discussing specific securities with customers, yes. Some firms will hire candidates before they pass and sponsor the exam. Operations and technology roles often do not require it. Ask the recruiter about the timeline and what happens if you do not pass within it.
Can you make six figures with just a Series 7?
Six figures sits above the BLS median and below the 90th percentile, so it is reachable but not typical for every rep. Reps who build a book over several years are the most likely to get there. Early-career pay varies more by firm than by license.
Is the Series 7 worth getting?
If you want a sales-oriented finance career, the Series 7 is the broadest representative license FINRA offers. If you want fee-based advisory work, the Series 65 (IAR-only license) may be a better fit. Many career reps hold both.
How do you find Series 7 sponsorship jobs?
Search job boards and firm careers pages for terms such as “financial advisor trainee,” “wealth advisor associate,” and “sponsored Series 7.” Be cautious with any employer that asks you to pay for your own exam or prep without a written reimbursement policy.
BLS median (May 2025): $78,660
BLS 10th to 90th percentile: $48,040 to $212,880
Pay structure: depends on channel, guarantee, payout grid, and production hurdles
Trainee wash-out: more than 72% of advisor trainees dropped out before becoming full-fledged advisors in 2022 (Cerulli Associates, via AdvisorHub)