At a glance
Median pay for Personal Financial Advisors runs from $58,450 in Tucson to $170,050 in New York across 73 curated metros; the middle value is $100,120.
After the BEA 2024 price adjustment, the top three are New York ($151,071), San Francisco ($138,920), Greensboro ($136,015).
These are workforce estimates from published medians, not job offers or expected hiring pay.
Sources: BLS wages (May 2025) · BEA price parity (2024) · Census ACS (2020–2024) · metro areas, not city limits · How we calculate
Personal Financial Advisors salary comparison
Advisor earnings depend on how pay is structured, whether salary, commission or fees based on client assets, and on the size of the client base. Metro medians combine very different pay models. 73 of 75 curated metros have a reported occupation median. The table is sorted by the site-calculated adjusted metric, not by predicted hiring demand.
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| Metropolitan area | Median annual wage | Adjusted median* | Median gross rent / month |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York, NY–NJ | $170,050 | $151,071 | $1,830 |
| San Francisco, CA | $160,610 | $138,920 | $2,474 |
| Greensboro, NC | $126,310 | $136,015 | $1,093 |
| Kansas City, MO–KS | $123,140 | $133,062 | $1,249 |
| Milwaukee, WI | $125,810 | $129,785 | $1,139 |
| Madison, WI | $126,000 | $129,514 | $1,354 |
| Bridgeport, CT | $135,770 | $127,049 | $1,875 |
| Albany, NY | $124,610 | $125,153 | $1,280 |
| Charleston, SC | $125,700 | $124,502 | $1,605 |
| San Jose, CA | $136,820 | $123,905 | $2,840 |
| Allentown, PA–NJ | $122,420 | $122,459 | $1,365 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $115,600 | $122,107 | $1,053 |
| Sacramento, CA | $127,950 | $119,949 | $1,819 |
| Boise City, ID | $117,460 | $119,381 | $1,487 |
| Worcester, MA | $120,400 | $117,437 | $1,426 |
| Boston, MA–NH | $126,530 | $116,870 | $2,023 |
| Portland, OR–WA | $122,830 | $116,514 | $1,724 |
| San Diego, CA | $130,330 | $116,484 | $2,246 |
| Philadelphia, PA–NJ–DE–MD | $116,560 | $113,657 | $1,480 |
| Richmond, VA | $110,910 | $113,338 | $1,447 |
Show all 73 metros with a reported median
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| Metropolitan area | Median annual wage | Adjusted median* | Median gross rent / month |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York, NY–NJ | $170,050 | $151,071 | $1,830 |
| San Francisco, CA | $160,610 | $138,920 | $2,474 |
| Greensboro, NC | $126,310 | $136,015 | $1,093 |
| Kansas City, MO–KS | $123,140 | $133,062 | $1,249 |
| Milwaukee, WI | $125,810 | $129,785 | $1,139 |
| Madison, WI | $126,000 | $129,514 | $1,354 |
| Bridgeport, CT | $135,770 | $127,049 | $1,875 |
| Albany, NY | $124,610 | $125,153 | $1,280 |
| Charleston, SC | $125,700 | $124,502 | $1,605 |
| San Jose, CA | $136,820 | $123,905 | $2,840 |
| Allentown, PA–NJ | $122,420 | $122,459 | $1,365 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $115,600 | $122,107 | $1,053 |
| Sacramento, CA | $127,950 | $119,949 | $1,819 |
| Boise City, ID | $117,460 | $119,381 | $1,487 |
| Worcester, MA | $120,400 | $117,437 | $1,426 |
| Boston, MA–NH | $126,530 | $116,870 | $2,023 |
| Portland, OR–WA | $122,830 | $116,514 | $1,724 |
| San Diego, CA | $130,330 | $116,484 | $2,246 |
| Philadelphia, PA–NJ–DE–MD | $116,560 | $113,657 | $1,480 |
| Richmond, VA | $110,910 | $113,338 | $1,447 |
| Miami, FL | $125,670 | $110,087 | $1,869 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $124,490 | $109,619 | $2,063 |
| Chicago, IL–IN | $113,210 | $109,281 | $1,430 |
| St. Louis, MO–IL | $103,690 | $109,046 | $1,113 |
| Memphis, TN–MS–AR | $100,120 | $108,615 | $1,220 |
| Buffalo, NY | $103,650 | $108,144 | $1,057 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $102,640 | $107,256 | $1,191 |
| San Antonio, TX | $101,430 | $107,089 | $1,363 |
| Raleigh, NC | $104,780 | $106,747 | $1,573 |
| Little Rock, AR | $94,370 | $105,602 | $1,055 |
| Rochester, NY | $101,150 | $104,241 | $1,143 |
| Greenville, SC | $97,090 | $104,107 | $1,150 |
| Atlanta, GA | $103,990 | $103,930 | $1,672 |
| Dayton, OH | $96,270 | $103,858 | $1,039 |
| Seattle, WA | $114,540 | $103,066 | $2,000 |
| Des Moines, IA | $94,270 | $102,801 | $1,150 |
| Charlotte, NC–SC | $99,440 | $102,149 | $1,473 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $101,480 | $102,006 | $1,513 |
| Columbia, SC | $94,130 | $100,500 | $1,193 |
| Albuquerque, NM | $95,990 | $100,465 | $1,156 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $103,680 | $100,352 | $1,702 |
| Houston, TX | $98,930 | $100,305 | $1,430 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $99,950 | $99,736 | $1,626 |
| Minneapolis, MN–WI | $103,410 | $98,653 | $1,440 |
| Fresno, CA | $100,240 | $98,123 | $1,392 |
| Austin, TX | $95,990 | $97,883 | $1,726 |
| Washington, DC–VA–MD–WV | $106,230 | $97,563 | $2,027 |
| Orlando, FL | $98,700 | $97,320 | $1,760 |
| Baltimore, MD | $98,970 | $94,720 | $1,611 |
| Nashville, TN | $91,040 | $94,501 | $1,528 |
| Grand Rapids, MI | $89,410 | $93,578 | $1,202 |
| Denver, CO | $98,740 | $93,343 | $1,874 |
| Riverside, CA | $96,100 | $90,284 | $1,846 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $80,910 | $89,128 | $1,135 |
| Omaha, NE–IA | $80,550 | $87,639 | $1,192 |
| Knoxville, TN | $80,370 | $86,822 | $1,145 |
| Birmingham, AL | $79,480 | $86,727 | $1,172 |
| Cleveland, OH | $81,130 | $86,379 | $1,050 |
| Columbus, OH | $81,600 | $85,473 | $1,274 |
| Cincinnati, OH–KY–IN | $80,540 | $84,450 | $1,105 |
| Tulsa, OK | $74,990 | $84,056 | $1,078 |
| Providence, RI–MA | $83,720 | $82,262 | $1,307 |
| Tampa, FL | $82,580 | $81,852 | $1,628 |
| New Orleans, LA | $74,990 | $80,985 | $1,217 |
| North Port, FL | $82,100 | $80,162 | $1,747 |
| Hartford, CT | $81,990 | $79,799 | $1,416 |
| Louisville, KY–IN | $72,760 | $78,174 | $1,116 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $77,990 | $77,319 | $1,583 |
| Detroit, MI | $76,830 | $76,602 | $1,207 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $67,380 | $74,529 | $1,124 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $76,170 | $68,646 | $2,083 |
| Durham, NC | $63,300 | $64,875 | $1,466 |
| Tucson, AZ | $58,450 | $60,322 | $1,212 |
The table shows the 20 highest adjusted medians; the full list of 73 metros is expandable above. The price-adjusted wage equals the BLS May 2025 annual occupational median × 100 ÷ the BEA 2024 all-items regional price parity. Census rent, household income and commuting figures are ACS 2020–2024 five-year estimates. They describe different populations and do not determine take-home pay, employment prospects or individual rent. ACS gross rent includes contract rent plus estimated utility and fuel costs.
How pay for Personal Financial Advisors varies across metros
Across the 73 curated metros with a reported median, the nominal annual median for Personal Financial Advisors runs from $58,450 in Tucson to $170,050 in New York, a 2.91× difference. After dividing each median by its metro’s BEA price parity, the range is $60,322 in Tucson to $151,071 in New York, a 2.50× difference. The middle value across these metros is $100,120 nominal and $102,149 adjusted.
The price adjustment changes the order. Out of 73 metros, Little Rock moves from 49th on nominal pay to 30th on adjusted pay while Washington moves from 25th to 47th. These ranks compare published medians only, not openings or offers.
Beyond the median: published wage percentiles
The following six metros lead this curated set on the price-adjusted median measure. The five annual wage statistics are the original BLS estimates; they have not been price-adjusted. They illustrate the estimated wage distribution for the same occupation and geographic unit.
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| Metropolitan area | 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York, NY–NJ | $81,520 | $112,000 | $170,050 | $302,290 | $420,630 |
| San Francisco, CA | $76,900 | $105,850 | $160,610 | $293,030 | $450,120 |
| Greensboro, NC | $58,230 | $78,480 | $126,310 | $188,130 | $278,130 |
| Kansas City, MO–KS | $60,890 | $78,500 | $123,140 | $176,090 | $320,820 |
| Milwaukee, WI | $64,820 | $97,510 | $125,810 | $206,620 | $390,270 |
| Madison, WI | $52,490 | $77,740 | $126,000 | $216,270 | $507,290 |
Percentiles describe a distribution, not an individual’s pay; suppressed values are marked Unavailable.
National career outlook and entry requirements
The BLS projects national employment for Personal financial advisors from 2025 to 2035. These occupational projections are national; they do not forecast openings in any particular metro area.
Among the 80 occupations curated on this site, projected 2025–2035 growth of +1.4% ranks 62nd (the middle value is +5.0%), and about 17,100 projected annual openings rank 56th. This compares only the occupations on this site and does not predict hiring in any one metro.
The BLS lists no related work experience as typically required for entry. Its typical training category is long-term on-the-job training. National employment base: 299,400 workers in 2025; projected 303,500 in 2035.
Openings are projected national totals, including replacements, not job ads or local vacancies. Education and training categories are typical patterns; licensing varies by role. BLS 2025–2035 Occupational Projections, Table 1.2. Read the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
What to check for this occupation before moving
How roles can differ: Personal financial advisors are paid in different ways, including salary, commissions, asset-based fees or a mix. Advisors early in a career at a firm often build a client base before earnings reach those of established advisors.
Questions to ask about a real offer: Ask how pay is structured, what base or training pay you receive while building clients, and who keeps the client relationships if you leave. Confirm the securities licenses and any CFP certification the employer expects, and who pays for them.
This is editorial guidance, not a claim that every employer or state follows these practices; verify terms with the employer and relevant authorities.
What this occupation median does—and does not—tell you
BLS OEWS wages are employer-reported estimates for wage-and-salary jobs, so self-employment income is not included. Annual figures assume a 2,080-hour year. Wages include commissions and tips but exclude overtime, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses and benefits. A median is neither a new-hire salary nor a vacancy count.
Regional price parities compare overall price levels with the U.S. average; housing data come from a different survey and are not subtracted again from the wage. Missing wages and suppressed percentiles stay unavailable. See the methodology for details.
Salary for Personal Financial Advisors in Atlanta, GA
Atlanta is shown as a worked example (one of the larger metros on this site); it is not a recommendation, and the table above lists every metro with a reported median. Of 73 metros, it ranks 27th on nominal median and 33rd on price-adjusted median.
For the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metro, the May 2025 BLS annual occupational median is $103,990. The published 25th-to-75th-percentile wage interval is $63,590 to $202,900. The price-adjusted median of $103,930 applies the BEA 2024 all-items index of 100.1 (U.S. = 100). It does not reflect an employer offer, taxes or your individual household costs.
The ACS metro-wide gross-rent median is $1,672 per month; with an ACS margin of error of ±$7. Gross rent includes estimated utilities and covers renters generally, not workers in this occupation. For a data-driven contrast, Dayton has a published BLS median of $96,270 and adjusted median of $103,858. This comparison metro has the closest observed adjusted median in our curated set. This does not establish similar rents or local job conditions. Compare Atlanta with Dayton in the interactive tool, or review the Atlanta metro profile for income, housing uncertainty and commute context.
Before relying on a quoted salary, confirm that the job matches this BLS occupation and that pay period, hours and benefits are comparable.