Analysts at financial institutions of all kinds must have a strong understanding of trading and financial markets to guide their investment strategies. It’s particularly important for the quantitative analysts, or “quants” responsible for programming financial engineering tools.
Trading is also an essential part of the work of brokers, who are agents that sell securities and commodities directly to individuals. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, brokers make a median pay of $62,270 per year as of 2019. Though they often start with only a bachelor’s degree, many have masters in business administration (MBA) degrees, and they may need to attain additional licenses and certifications depending on the products they represent.