Optimization is a process of finding the best solution for a problem. Heuristic and metaheuristic optimization algorithms are commonly used where the search space is complex. In recent decades, the ubiquity of trusses as structural systems has made their optimization an important engineering endeavor. The primary aim of structural optimization is to determine the most suitable combination of design variables, so as to achieve satisfactory performance of the structures subjected to constraints. the three basic features of the structural optimization problem are: The design variables, the objective function, the constraints. This study evaluates the performances of the exchange market algorithm (EMA) in the structural optimization field for the first time. This optimization algorithm is inspired by the procedure of trading the shares on stock market. In the proposed method there are two different modes in EMA. In the first mode, there is no oscillation in the market where as in the second mode, the market has oscillation. For the first mode, the algorithm’s duty is to recruit people toward successful individuals, while in the second case the algorithm seeks optimal points. the member’s section area has assumed to be a decision variable, and the objective function is to minimize their weight. The member stresses and node displacements are the constraints that must maintain within the allowed limits for each condition. The implementation of exchange market algorithm has been done in MATLAB software. to quantitatively assess the performance of the algorithm, three planar trusses (10 bar, 18 bar, and 200 bar) and three space trusses (22 bar, 25 bar and 72 bar) with multiple loading conditions and design constraints have been considered. The results demonstrate that the exchange market algorithm is very effective and efficient for the optimization designs of medium scale truss structural problems.