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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Real salary distribution from 288 tracked cities across 46 states. Compare entry-level, median, and senior compensation — then adjust for cost of living.
The salary headline is just the beginning — location changes everything. The national median salary for Personal Financial Advisors in 2026 is $110,570, with entry-level positions averaging $79,610 and senior roles reaching $157,009. But those numbers flatten a reality with enormous geographic variation — Sunnyvale pays a median of $201,400, while other markets fall well below the national average. We tracked 288 cities to build the complete picture.
Personal Financial Advisor falls within the Finance & Strategy sector, specifically in Business & Finance. The typical education path involves Bachelor's degree. The career outlook? Growing. Work style is hybrid/remote — which means location flexibility varies, and so does the premium different markets are willing to pay. In the right market, this is a six-figure career path.
$122,550 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Personal Financial Advisor in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $201,400 — $122,550 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($78,850). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. For early-career professionals, the geographic pay premium is worth the math.
The three-tier salary picture for Personal Financial Advisors in 2026: $79,610 at entry (P10), $110,570 at midpoint, and $157,009 at the senior end (P90). The city-level data complicates the national narrative. The $77,399 range from bottom to top isn't just experience — it's geography, specialization, and industry mixed together. The median itself lands $30,203 above the national median household income of $80,367.
Compare the extremes: the highest-paying trio of cities (Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Irvine) averages $188,100, while the lowest-paying trio (Toledo, Detroit, Akron) averages $79,483. The $108,617 difference is the kind of number that reshapes career strategy — assuming the cost of living cooperates.
A Personal Financial Advisor in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $201,400 — $122,550 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($78,850). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
The national average entry-level (P10) salary for Personal Financial Advisor is $79,610, while senior-level (P90) earners average $157,009. That $77,399 trajectory represents the earning growth a career in this field can deliver.
California pays the highest average median salary for Personal Financial Advisors at $133,452 across 61 tracked cities. The gap between #1 and #5 (New Jersey at $117,325) is $16,127.
At the 90th percentile, Personal Financial Advisors pull in an average of $157,009. In the top-paying markets, that figure climbs even higher — making this one of the more lucrative career trajectories in its field.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $79,610 | $110,570 | $157,009 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £44,553 | £61,879 | £87,868 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$61,148 | CA$84,928 | CA$120,598 |
| Australia | 13 | A$70,162 | A$97,447 | A$138,376 |
| Sweden | 24 | 415,341 kr | 576,862 kr | 819,144 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 61 | $96,085 | $133,452 | $189,501 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $92,853 | $128,963 | $183,127 |
| Hawaii | 1 | $92,340 | $128,250 | $182,115 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $85,500 | $118,750 | $168,625 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $84,474 | $117,325 | $166,602 |
| Washington | 8 | $82,850 | $115,069 | $163,398 |
| New York | 5 | $77,976 | $108,300 | $153,786 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $77,976 | $108,300 | $153,786 |
| Florida | 22 | $77,385 | $107,480 | $152,621 |
| Colorado | 11 | $76,048 | $105,623 | $149,984 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $75,924 | $105,450 | $149,739 |
| Nevada | 5 | $75,787 | $105,260 | $149,469 |
| Arizona | 12 | $75,411 | $104,738 | $148,727 |
| Oregon | 5 | $75,240 | $104,500 | $148,390 |
| Idaho | 3 | $75,012 | $104,183 | $147,940 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $74,419 | $103,360 | $146,771 |
| Utah | 4 | $74,214 | $103,075 | $146,367 |
| Virginia | 7 | $72,993 | $101,379 | $143,958 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $72,048 | $100,067 | $142,095 |
| Alaska | 1 | $71,820 | $99,750 | $141,645 |
| Illinois | 5 | $70,999 | $98,610 | $140,026 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $69,236 | $96,161 | $136,549 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $68,400 | $95,000 | $134,900 |
| Montana | 1 | $68,400 | $95,000 | $134,900 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $68,172 | $94,683 | $134,450 |
| Texas | 40 | $67,836 | $94,216 | $133,787 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $67,716 | $94,050 | $133,551 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $67,374 | $93,575 | $132,877 |
| Georgia | 6 | $67,146 | $93,258 | $132,427 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $67,032 | $93,100 | $132,202 |
| Kansas | 4 | $66,690 | $92,625 | $131,528 |
| Michigan | 6 | $66,462 | $92,308 | $131,078 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $65,664 | $91,200 | $129,504 |
| Maryland | 1 | $65,664 | $91,200 | $129,504 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $64,980 | $90,250 | $128,155 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $64,980 | $90,250 | $128,155 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $63,270 | $87,875 | $124,783 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $62,928 | $87,400 | $124,108 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $62,073 | $86,213 | $122,422 |
| Missouri | 4 | $62,073 | $86,213 | $122,422 |
| Alabama | 5 | $61,834 | $85,880 | $121,950 |
| Indiana | 3 | $60,876 | $84,550 | $120,061 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $60,876 | $84,550 | $120,061 |
| Iowa | 2 | $60,192 | $83,600 | $118,712 |
| Ohio | 6 | $60,078 | $83,442 | $118,487 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $57,456 | $79,800 | $113,316 |
At the state level, California leads with an average Personal Financial Advisor median of $133,452 across 61 cities, followed by Massachusetts ($128,963) and Hawaii ($128,250). The state breakdown adds another layer. The lowest-paying states — Mississippi, Ohio, Iowa — offer medians between $79,800 and $83,600. But state averages mask city-level variation that's often just as large.
When you adjust the top-paying cities for cost of living, the ranking reshuffles. Sunnyvale ($201,400 nominal, 212 cost index) delivers $95,000 in purchasing power — maintaining its lead even after cost adjustment. This is the metric that matters for anyone considering a geo-based career move.
Raw salary divided by the local cost index — this shows where your paycheck buys the most.
| # | City | Nominal Salary | Cost Index | Adjusted Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunnyvale California | $201,400 | 212 | $95,000 | $117,072 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $188,100 | 198 | $95,000 | $110,507 |
| 3 | Irvine California | $174,800 | 184 | $95,000 | $103,185 |
| 4 | San Francisco California | $171,950 | 181 | $95,000 | $101,616 |
| 5 | Carlsbad California | $169,100 | 178 | $95,000 | $100,047 |
| 6 | San Jose California | $168,150 | 177 | $95,000 | $99,524 |
| 7 | Fremont California | $168,150 | 177 | $95,000 | $99,524 |
| 8 | Berkeley California | $164,350 | 173 | $95,000 | $97,432 |
| 9 | Costa Mesa California | $164,350 | 173 | $95,000 | $97,432 |
| 10 | Huntington Beach California | $160,550 | 169 | $95,000 | $95,340 |
From a career planning perspective, Personal Financial Advisor offers a $77,399 earning range. The 2.0× progression is steady — not explosive, but reliable. The typical entry requires Bachelor's degree. Day-to-day, expect hybrid/remote work environments. With data from 288 cities, the geographic flexibility is substantial — this career travels well.
The weighted national median salary for Personal Financial Advisors is $110,570 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $79,610, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $157,009.
The highest-paying city for Personal Financial Advisors is Sunnyvale, California with a median salary of $201,400. The top 3 cities are Sunnyvale ($201,400), Santa Clara ($188,100), Irvine ($174,800). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median Personal Financial Advisor salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $78,850. However, lower-paying cities often have significantly lower costs of living, which can offset the pay gap. Always compare salary data alongside local cost of living.
Entry-level Personal Financial Advisors (10th percentile) average $79,610 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $145,008. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Personal Financial Advisors average $157,009 nationally — $77,399 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Personal Financial Advisors can earn up to $285,988.
The top-paying states for Personal Financial Advisors are California ($133,452 median), Massachusetts ($128,963 median), Hawaii ($128,250 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a Personal Financial Advisor involves Bachelor's degree. The field is in the Finance & Strategy sector (Business & Finance), and the career outlook is growing. Work style is typically hybrid/remote.
With a national median of $110,570 and representation across 288 metro areas, Personal Financial Advisor offers above-average earning potential compared to national household income. The $77,399 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: growing.
All salary data on this page is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan areas. We present 10th percentile (entry), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use our core database of 288 cities.
Salary data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. We present the 10th percentile (entry-level), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks.
Cost-of-living adjustments use Livably's core index derived from Zillow rent data, Census income surveys, and regional BLS price data. Take-home pay estimates apply simplified federal brackets, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax rates from the Tax Foundation.
State and national averages are computed as simple means across all tracked cities with data for this occupation. Rankings are updated monthly as new BLS releases become available.