Salary Range & Percentiles
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$50,190
- 25th Percentile — Junior$72,440
- 50th Percentile — Median$105,070
- 75th Percentile — Senior$176,790
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$357,020
The top 10% of Personal Financial Advisors earn $357,020 or more per year. Entry-level professionals can expect to start around $50,190, with significant growth over the first 5 years.
Salary by State
Geographic salary comparison
| State | Avg Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|
| New York | $210,310 | +34.2% |
| New Jersey | $191,890 | +22.5% |
| South Dakota | $175,820 | +12.2% |
| Massachusetts | $172,430 | +10.1% |
| California | $170,070 | +8.6% |
| Wisconsin | $166,810 | +6.5% |
| Pennsylvania | $165,100 | +5.4% |
| Virginia | $163,180 | +4.2% |
| Florida | $162,780 | +3.9% |
| Washington | $162,590 | +3.8% |
| Oregon | $161,810 | +3.3% |
| Connecticut | $160,780 | +2.6% |
| Maine (est.) | $159,803 | +2.0% |
| Illinois | $158,450 | +1.1% |
| Georgia | $154,620 | -1.3% |
| Maryland | $153,800 | -1.8% |
| Tennessee | $153,140 | -2.3% |
| New Mexico | $151,100 | -3.6% |
| Kansas | $149,410 | -4.6% |
| Texas | $146,000 | -6.8% |
| District of Columbia | $144,800 | -7.6% |
| North Carolina | $143,740 | -8.3% |
| Minnesota | $141,760 | -9.5% |
| Louisiana (est.) | $137,870 | -12.0% |
| Indiana | $137,220 | -12.4% |
| Delaware | $136,950 | -12.6% |
| Missouri | $136,640 | -12.8% |
| Vermont | $136,000 | -13.2% |
| Idaho | $135,790 | -13.3% |
| Nevada | $135,470 | -13.5% |
| Alabama | $132,860 | -15.2% |
| South Carolina | $132,810 | -15.2% |
| Iowa | $132,560 | -15.4% |
| Nebraska | $129,590 | -17.3% |
| Wyoming | $129,060 | -17.6% |
| New Hampshire | $129,040 | -17.6% |
| Montana | $126,570 | -19.2% |
| Arizona | $125,750 | -19.7% |
| West Virginia | $124,400 | -20.6% |
| Kentucky | $124,320 | -20.6% |
| Ohio | $123,380 | -21.2% |
| Colorado | $123,110 | -21.4% |
| Michigan | $121,890 | -22.2% |
| Mississippi | $117,880 | -24.8% |
| Alaska | $117,610 | -24.9% |
| Hawaii | $117,560 | -25.0% |
| Utah | $117,140 | -25.2% |
| Arkansas | $113,140 | -27.8% |
| Rhode Island | $105,650 | -32.6% |
| Oklahoma | $94,010 | -40.0% |
| North Dakota | $90,390 | -42.3% |
What Factors Affect Personal Financial Advisors Salary?
Key factors affecting compensation
Pay for Personal Financial Advisors is influenced by geographic location, years of experience, employer type, and educational background. Location alone is a large factor: New York pays an average of $210,310, while North Dakota pays $90,390 — a gap of $119,920 per year.
The middle half of Personal Financial Advisors earn between $72,440 and $176,790 per year. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $50,190, while the top 10% earn more than $357,020.
These figures are the wages employers report to BLS: base pay plus commissions, production bonuses and tips. They exclude overtime pay, shift differentials, year-end bonuses, benefits and self-employed workers, so total compensation can be higher than the numbers shown.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average salary for Personal Financial Advisors?
The average salary for Personal Financial Advisors in the United States is $156,670 per year, with a median of $105,070.
What is the starting salary for Personal Financial Advisors?
Entry-level Personal Financial Advisors typically earn between $50,190 and $72,440 per year depending on location and employer.
What state pays Personal Financial Advisors the most?
New York pays Personal Financial Advisors the most at $210,310 per year on average, followed by New Jersey ($191,890) and South Dakota ($175,820).
How much do Personal Financial Advisors make per hour?
Based on the average annual salary of $156,670, Personal Financial Advisors earn approximately $75.32 per hour (based on 2,080 working hours/year).
Is Personal Financial Advisors a good career in 2026?
BLS counts 266,800 Personal Financial Advisors jobs in the United States, with a mean annual wage of $156,670 and a median of $105,070 (OEWS May 2025). This site does not publish job-growth projections; the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook covers the outlook for each occupation.
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