Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
Interview clients to determine their current income, expenses, insurance coverage, tax status, financial objectives, risk tolerance, or other information needed to develop a financial plan.
Analyze financial information obtained from clients to determine strategies for meeting clients' financial objectives.
Answer clients' questions about the purposes and details of financial plans and strategies.
Review clients' accounts and plans regularly to determine whether life changes, economic changes, environmental concerns, or financial performance indicate a need for plan reassessment.
Top skills:Reading ComprehensionActive ListeningSpeakingWritingCritical ThinkingSocial Perceptiveness
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Personal Financial Advisor pay by experience level
Entry level$52,000
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$75,000
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$108,500
Mid-career median pay
Senior$183,000
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$369,500
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
+9.6%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
24,100
projected openings per year
Growing faster than average
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Personal Financial Advisor salary by industry
Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities
192,160 workers
$175,500
Credit Intermediation and Related Activities
46,240 workers
$136,000
Credit Intermediation and Related Activities (5221 and 5223 only)
44,920 workers
$136,000
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
8,680 workers
$109,500
Insurance Carriers and Related Activities
8,390 workers
$111,500
Agencies, Brokerages, and Other Insurance Related Activities
6,460 workers
$111,000
Management of Companies and Enterprises
4,680 workers
$127,000
Management of Companies and Enterprises
4,680 workers
$127,000
Accounting, Tax Preparation, Bookkeeping, and Payroll Services
4,110 workers
$114,000
Insurance Carriers
1,930 workers
$112,000
National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
How this role compares
Personal Financial Advisor pays 71% above the average across 47 roles in the Business and Financial Operations job family (family average $94,500).
Similar-paying roles in Business and Financial Operations
Related occupations from O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Personal Financial Advisor make?
The average base salary for a Personal Financial Advisor in the United States is $162,000 per year, or about $77.88 per hour.
What is the typical salary range?
Pay typically falls between $75,000 and $183,000 per year (25th to 75th percentile) depending on experience, location, industry, and organization size.
How does this compare with other Business and Financial Operations roles?
The Business and Financial Operations job family averages $94,500 across 47 roles tracked by WePayFairly.
Need a defensible market price for this role? WePayFairly data is compiled from published survey sources and maintained by compensation professionals.
Need Personal Financial Advisor pay benchmarked for your organization, or defensible compensation analysis for a dispute or valuation? Grahall builds it from primary sources, backed by an expert who testifies.
