California Median
$130,330
per year
Hourly Rate
$62.66
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+24% vs US median
US median $105,070
State Rank
#3 of 49
32,200 employed here
How much does a Personal Financial Advisor make in California?
A Personal Financial Advisor working in California earns a median salary of $130,330 per year, or about $62.66 per hour. That is 24% above the national median of $105,070 for this occupation.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $67,690 while the top 10% make $393,860 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $83,860 and $195,420 a year.
Personal Financial Advisor salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $67,690 | $32.54 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $83,860 | $40.32 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $130,330 | $62.66 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $195,420 | $93.95 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $393,860 | $189.36 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 3rd out of 49 states and territories for Personal Financial Advisor pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Personal Financial Advisor salary in other states
New York $166,400New Jersey $158,570Connecticut $129,720South Dakota $128,720Massachusetts $125,670Delaware $125,050Oregon $122,830Illinois $120,130Wisconsin $119,430Washington $114,050Vermont $110,020Pennsylvania $105,200District of Columbia $104,990Minnesota $102,660Virginia $102,640Kansas $102,530Georgia $101,450Florida $100,970Missouri $99,930Maryland $99,880Texas $99,160Montana $97,450Arizona $96,950North Carolina $96,880New Hampshire $96,780South Carolina $96,330Idaho $94,370New Mexico $94,270Nebraska $93,280Nevada $92,720Iowa $92,310Ohio $90,990Colorado $89,280Indiana $87,710Tennessee $84,160Rhode Island $80,200West Virginia $80,010Arkansas $79,420Alaska $78,690Alabama $77,990Michigan $77,930Wyoming $77,490Utah $77,390North Dakota $76,870Hawaii $76,070Oklahoma $68,670Kentucky $67,150Mississippi $63,300
Working as a Personal Financial Advisor in California
Nationally, about 267,000 people work as Personal Financial Advisors in the United States. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
Considering a move? Compare California pay ($130,330) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Personal Financial Advisor make in California?
The median Personal Financial Advisor salary in California is $130,330 per year, or about $62.66 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $67,690 at the entry level to $393,860 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Personal Financial Advisors about 24% more than the national median of $105,070. California ranks 3rd out of 49 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Personal Financial Advisors?
Yes on pay — California pays above the national median for this occupation, at $130,330 a year. About 32,200 Personal Financial Advisors are employed in California. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in California?
The highest-paying occupations in California include Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($400,150), Neurologist ($357,080), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($353,900), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Personal Financial Advisor salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.