jobfacts

Brokers

SOC 2020 3531

Brokers deal in commodities, stocks, shares and foreign exchange on behalf of clients or on own account, broker insurance and reinsurance, and buy and sell shipping and freight space.

Also calledInsurance brokerInsurance agentStockbrokerExchange brokerForeign exchange brokerForeign exchange dealerand 77 more titles
Typical full-time pay£56,7002025 Provisional
People in the job68,000across the UK
Demand for workersCritical
New adverts a month877↑ 47%on last year · 204th of 412

Pay

ONS · ASHE 2025
What full-time brokers earn, 2025
£56,700 typical£30,300lowest 10%£39,50025%n/ptop 10%
n/p: top 10% not published by ONS
Show as table
Lowest 10% earn less than£30,300
Lowest 20% earn less than£35,900
25%£39,500
Median£56,700
75%Not published
Top 20% earn more thanNot published
Top 10% earn more thanNot published
Typical pay by regionUK median £56,700
South East!£38,900
North EastNot published by ONS–
North WestNot published by ONS–
Yorkshire and The HumberNot published by ONS–
East MidlandsNot published by ONS–
West MidlandsNot published by ONS–
East of EnglandNot published by ONS–
LondonNot published by ONS–
South WestNot published by ONS–
ScotlandNot published by ONS–
WalesNot published by ONS–
!Small sample: treat with caution
Show as table
UK median, £56,700
South East£38,900 (small sample)
North EastNot published by ONS
North WestNot published by ONS
Yorkshire and The HumberNot published by ONS
East MidlandsNot published by ONS
West MidlandsNot published by ONS
East of EnglandNot published by ONS
LondonNot published by ONS
South WestNot published by ONS
ScotlandNot published by ONS
WalesNot published by ONS
Typical pay over 3 years
  • 2023 £51,400
  • 2024 £49,500
  • 2025 Provisional£56,700
↑ 10% since 2023Provisional figures are revised when ONS publishes the next year’s survey.

Jobs and demand

ONS · Textkernel adverts · DfE

About 877 jobs for brokers are advertised each month. The Department for Education rates demand for workers as critical.

New job adverts a month, Jan 2017 to Aug 2026
New advertsMonth not published by ONS (3 in all)
Show as table
Aug 2026Not published
Jul 2026Not published
Jun 2026811
May 2026639
Apr 20261,629
Mar 2026Not published
Feb 2026508
Jan 2026689
Dec 2025459
Nov 20251,351
Oct 2025862
Sept 2025947
Aug 2025924
Jul 20251,124
Jun 2025683
May 2025734
Apr 2025662
Mar 2025637
Feb 2025606
Jan 2025561
Dec 2024534
Nov 2024476
Oct 2024570
Sept 2024529
Aug 2024580
Jul 2024592
Jun 2024589
May 2024819
Apr 2024659
Mar 2024536
Feb 2024642
Jan 2024946
Dec 2023648
Nov 2023605
Oct 2023730
Sept 2023646
Aug 2023807
Jul 2023779
Jun 20231,067
May 20231,221
Apr 2023866
Mar 20231,522
Feb 20231,246
Jan 20231,320
Dec 2022941
Nov 20221,152
Oct 20221,237
Sept 20221,186
Aug 20221,139
Jul 20221,227
Jun 20221,296
May 20221,418
Apr 20221,108
Mar 20221,369
Feb 20221,201
Jan 20221,446
Dec 20211,113
Nov 20211,121
Oct 20211,165
Sept 20211,387
Aug 20211,218
Jul 20211,280
Jun 20211,187
May 20211,532
Apr 20211,175
Mar 20211,507
Feb 2021999
Jan 20211,064
Dec 2020959
Nov 2020743
Oct 20201,223
Sept 20201,207
Aug 2020760
Jul 2020693
Jun 2020770
May 2020689
Apr 2020803
Mar 20201,318
Feb 20201,327
Jan 20201,261
Dec 2019952
Nov 20191,332
Oct 20191,517
Sept 20191,363
Aug 20191,464
Jul 20191,672
Jun 20191,693
May 20191,670
Apr 2019948
Mar 20191,174
Feb 20191,172
Jan 20191,164
Dec 2018809
Nov 20181,349
Oct 20181,193
Sept 20181,306
Aug 20181,164
Jul 20181,298
Jun 20181,272
May 20181,406
Apr 20181,285
Mar 20181,344
Feb 20181,379
Jan 20181,638
Dec 20171,010
Nov 20171,059
Oct 20171,314
Sept 20171,086
Aug 20171,141
Jul 20171,085
Jun 20171,443
May 20171,178
Apr 20171,157
Mar 20171,555
Feb 20171,119
Jan 20171,469
Is there a shortage of brokers?
Critical

The Department for Education rates demand as not high, elevated or critical, using five indicators. This is its 2025 assessment; in 2024 it was not high.

  • Visas grantedWell above usual
  • Online job advertsUsual
  • Wage growthWell above usual
  • Pay against similar jobsWell above usual
  • Hours workedUsual
Vacancies hard to fill because of skills
24%against 27% for all jobs
Broader groupFigure for business and public service associate professionals, which includes brokers. DfE Employer Skills Survey 2024.
Where the most jobs are advertisedadverts a quarter
London897
Manchester54
Birmingham43
Leeds38
Bristol, City of37
Glasgow City27
Liverpool26
City of Edinburgh25
Sheffield22
Nottingham21
London is published as one area. Averages leave out quarters ONS withheld.
Where brokers are most concentratedShare of local job adverts, compared with the UK.

Recruitment from abroad. 409 sponsored work visas were granted for this job from July 2025 to June 2026, most to people from United States, France, China, ranking it 43rd of 313. Home Office

Who does it

ONS · Annual Population Survey · April 2025 to March 2026
Age of brokers
n/p
32%!
21%!
17%!
19%!
4.4%!
!Small sample: treat with cautionn/p: too few in the survey to publish
Show as table
16–24Not published
25–3432% (small sample)
35–4421% (small sample)
45–5417% (small sample)
55–6419% (small sample)
65+4.4% (small sample)
Highest qualification
Degree or equivalent56%
Higher education below degree!2.3%
A levels or equivalent23%
GCSEs or equivalent!12%
Other qualifications!2.4%
No qualifications!3.5%
!Small sample: treat with caution
Show as table
Degree or equivalent56%
Higher education below degree2.3% (small sample)
A levels or equivalent23%
GCSEs or equivalent12% (small sample)
Other qualifications2.4% (small sample)
No qualifications3.5% (small sample)

Main employers: other activities auxiliary to financial services, except insurance and pension funding (19%), activities of insurance agents and brokers (13%), non-life insurance (11%), security and commodity contracts brokerage (9.9%).

How to get in

Hold a degree
56%
as their highest qualification
Apprenticeships
1
from level 3
Apprenticeships take
1 year
typically
T Levels
1
college courses for 16 to 19 year olds

Routes in

Insurance broker

You can get into this job through:

University

You can take a degree before applying for a place on an insurance company's graduate training scheme. Useful subjects include:

  • business studies
  • finance
  • surveying
  • engineering
  • law

It can help to get some relevant work experience whilst you're studying, for example through an internship or placement.

Your university careers service will be able to help you with this.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

Apprenticeship

You could apply to do an apprenticeship with an insurance firm or company that provides brokerage services, such as:

  • Insurance Practitioner Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship
  • Insurance Professional Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship
  • Senior Insurance Professional Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship
Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship

Work your way up

You could start as an insurance trainee or junior account handler and become a broker through workplace training and promotion.

Employers will usually look for a minimum of GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), including English and maths, and A levels. IT skills are also important.

Experience in customer care, finance or sales could be helpful, though not essential.

Once working, you could take qualifications offered by the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII), such as:

  • Certificate in Insurance - for trainee brokers
  • Diploma in Insurance
  • Advanced Diploma in Insurance

Registration and professional bodies

Professional and industry bodies

You could join the Chartered Insurance Institute or British Insurance Brokers' Association for professional development and training opportunities.

Further information

You can find out more about careers in insurance from the Chartered Insurance Institute and British Insurance Brokers' Association.

Routes in are from the National Careers Service job profile for insurance broker. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Stockbroker

You can get into this job through:

University

You could start by doing a degree in a relevant subject like:

  • management
  • business
  • economics
  • finance
  • maths

A course with a placement year or a summer internship will give you valuable experience and an advantage when applying for work.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

Apprenticeship

You may be able to get into this job by applying to do an apprenticeship, such as:

  • Investment Operations Specialist Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship
  • Financial Services Level 6 Apprenticeship

You will take professional exams as part of these apprenticeships and at the end you will be able to apply for membership of a professional body that covers your particular area of work.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship

Other ways in

Apply directly

You could move into stockbroking if you have a experience in accountancy, banking or insurance and take further training on the job.

Other routes

You can apply for a place on a company's graduate training scheme if you have a degree. You'll usually need at least an upper second class degree to apply. Useful subjects include:

  • business management
  • economics
  • finance
  • maths

There's a lot of competition for places, so it'll help if you have some relevant work experience.

Many graduates have a postgraduate qualification like a master's in business administration.

Registration and professional bodies

Registration
  • you'll need to register as an 'approved person' by the Financial Conduct Authority
Career tips

You may find it useful to complete professional qualifications with an organisation like the CFA Institute or the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment.

Skills in a second business language can also help to widen your options.

Further information

You can find out more about careers and training in stockbroking from the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment and the Chartered Financial Analysts Society UK.

Routes in are from the National Careers Service job profile for stockbroker. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Apprenticeships

1 for this job
Level 3About 1 year

Insurance practitioner

You gain
CILA Certificate in Insurance; CII Certificate in Insurance
Leads to
Professional membership of the Chartered Insurance Institute
Employers may ask for
Entry requirements are a matter for individual employers. However, by the gateway to end-point assessment, apprentices must have achieved either: 30 credits…
Details on Skills England

© Skills England 2025. This information is licensed under the Open Government Licence https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/

Other qualifications

QualificationTypeLevel
FinanceT Level3

The work

ONS · ESCO · O*NET

Typical tasks

  • advises client on the suitability of insurance schemes and places insurance on behalf of client
  • discusses buying and or selling requirements of client and gives advice accordingly
  • analyses information concerning market trends for commodities, financial assets and foreign exchange and advises client and employer on the suitability of investments
  • records and transmits buy and sell orders for stocks, shares and bonds and calculates transaction costs
  • provides independent advice on the suitability of insurance schemes and places insurance on behalf of client
  • arranges the production of auction catalogues, fixes reserve prices, attends auction and bids on behalf of client, or negotiates purchase/sale by private treaty of goods not sold at auction
  • obtains cargo space, fixes freight charges and signs and issues bills of loading
  • collects freight charges from client and undertakes all necessary formalities concerning customs and the loading/unloading of cargo

Skills

  • advise on financial matters
  • analyse market financial trends
  • create a financial plan
  • handle financial transactions
  • manage financial risk
  • obtain financial information
  • review investment portfolios
  • apply technical communication skills
  • communicate with customers
  • develop investment portfolio
  • maintain records of financial transactions
  • operate financial instruments
  • protect client interests
  • provide financial product information

Knowledge

  • actuarial science
  • modern portfolio theory
  • securities
  • economics
  • financial jurisdiction
  • financial markets
  • financial products
  • banking activities

Suits people who like

  • Leading and persuading
  • Organising and following procedures

Outlook

DfE · Skills Imperative 2035
Broader groupThese projections are for business and public service associate professionals, a group of 26 jobs that includes brokers.
Change in jobs, 2020 to 2035↑ 1.2%about 26,000 more jobs
Workers needed by 20351.1 millionincluding people replacing those who retire or leave

Sources

Pay
ONS, Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, 2025 provisional
People in the job, who does it
ONS, Annual Population Survey, April 2025 to March 2026
Job adverts
ONS, online job adverts (Textkernel), to Aug 2026
Demand, skill shortages
Department for Education and Skills England, Occupations in demand and the Employer Skills Survey
Outlook
The Skills Imperative 2035 (2024), NFER/Nuffield/DfE/IER/CE
Routes in
National Careers Service job profiles
Apprenticeships, qualifications
Skills England occupational maps
Skills, interests
ESCO classification of the European Commission; O*NET data, U.S. Department of Labor (CC BY 4.0, modified)
Visas
Home Office, immigration system statistics

Figures as of 10 October 2026.

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: Office for National Statistics licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Occupations in demand and the Employer Skills Survey: Department for Education and Skills England. Immigration system statistics: Home Office. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

© Skills England 2025. This information is licensed under the Open Government Licence https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/

Source: The Skills Imperative 2035 (2024), NFER/Nuffield/DfE/IER/CE.

This service uses the ESCO classification of the European Commission.

This service includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. This service has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. CC BY 4.0 licence.

jobfacts is independent. It is not part of, affiliated with or endorsed by the Office for National Statistics, the Department for Education, Skills England, the National Careers Service, the Home Office, the European Commission or the U.S. Department of Labor.