Trading has been automated for years, and AI tools can now research companies, summarize filings and draft client notes in seconds. Stockbrokers and financial services sales agents still win and keep clients, explain risk and help people act on their plans.
The short answer: this is one of the more exposed finance jobs, and parts of it have already been automated, but the BLS still expects steady demand. The ILO's 2025 index puts securities and finance dealers and brokers in gradient 4, its highest exposure band, with a score of 0.63. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 1 percent growth for securities, commodities and financial services sales agents from 2025 to 2035, slower than average, with about 35,100 openings a year. Projections are estimates, not guarantees.
How exposed stockbrokers are
The International Labour Organization scores occupations' tasks from 0 (cannot be automated with generative AI) to 1 (could be done without a human operator), and groups them into gradients from 1 to 4, with 4 the most exposed; below them sit minimal exposure and not exposed (ILO Working Paper 140, 2025).
| Occupation (ISCO-08) | ILO category | Mean task score (0 to 1) |
|---|---|---|
| Securities and Finance Dealers and Brokers | Gradient 4 (highest) | 0.63 |
What the BLS projects
| Occupation | Projected change 2025 to 2035 | Openings a year |
|---|---|---|
| Securities, commodities and financial services sales agents | Grow 1% | About 35,100 |
The BLS says investment banking services will stay in demand as the economy grows, and that an aging population and the decline of traditional pensions may boost demand as people near retirement seek brokers. It also says automated trading systems have reduced demand for securities traders. Most openings come from replacing workers who retire or change jobs.
What AI and automation are taking on
- Order execution and algorithmic trading.
- Research summaries, screening and earnings call notes.
- Client reports, emails and meeting notes.
- Compliance checks on trades and communications.
What stays with stockbrokers
- Clients: finding them, earning trust and keeping them through bad markets.
- Suitability: matching products to a person's goals, risk and rules.
- Deals: the relationships behind offerings and large transactions.
- Checking AI help: research summaries and figures can be confidently wrong, which NIST calls confabulation (NIST AI 600-1). See checking AI output.
How the job is changing
Execution and routine research are largely automated, so the job leans further toward advice, relationships and complex deals. With a high ILO score and slow BLS growth, this is a role where workers should expect real change. This page is general information, not financial advice.
See also will AI replace financial advisors?, will AI replace financial analysts? and will AI replace bankers?
Pay and how to get in
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the median annual pay for securities commodities and financial services sales agents at $78,660 in May 2025, against $50,980 for all workers. The typical education needed to enter is: bachelor's degree. See how this job compares in AI exposure by pay and AI exposure by education level.
Questions and answers
Will AI replace stockbrokers?
Not entirely, but the role is highly exposed. The ILO puts securities dealers and brokers in gradient 4, and the BLS projects only 1 percent growth from 2025 to 2035.
Does the BLS mention automation for brokers?
Yes. It says automated trading systems have reduced demand for securities traders.
How many openings are expected?
The BLS projects about 35,100 openings a year for securities, commodities and financial services sales agents.
What broker work stays human?
Winning and keeping clients, judging suitability, deal relationships and checking AI research.