Personal Financial Advisor salary in California
Personal Financial Advisors in California earn a median of $130,330 a year ($62.66 an hour), based on BLS data for 32,200 workers.
Pay ranges from $67,690 for the lowest-paid 10% to $393,860 for the top 10%. That is 24% higher than the national median of $105,070. California ranks 3rd of 49 states for personal financial advisors pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 1.8 personal financial advisors per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $170,070, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for personal financial advisors in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $67,690 | $32.55 |
| 25th percentile | $83,860 | $40.32 |
| Median | $130,330 | $62.66 |
| 75th percentile | $195,420 | $93.95 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $393,860 | $189.35 |
| Average (mean) | $170,070 | $81.77 |
Half of personal financial advisors earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $10,860.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,430.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,012.69 |
| Weekly | $2,506.35 |
| Hourly | $62.66 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Personal Financial Advisor salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $160,610 | 7,130 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $136,820 | 1,530 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $130,330 | 3,010 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $127,950 | 1,260 |
| Napa, CA | $127,240 | 100 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $124,490 | 13,980 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $124,380 | 210 |
| Visalia, CA | $123,920 | 80 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $122,170 | 80 |
| Vallejo, CA | $120,470 | 70 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $111,580 | 80 |
| Modesto, CA | $105,080 | 110 |
| Salinas, CA | $104,430 | 110 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $103,680 | 190 |
| Fresno, CA | $100,240 | 200 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $98,260 | 390 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $96,100 | 830 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $95,840 | 110 |
| Redding, CA | $93,680 | 50 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $91,340 | 120 |
| Chico, CA | $88,600 | 60 |
Highest-paying states for personal financial advisors
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New York | $166,400 |
| New Jersey | $158,570 |
| California | $130,330 |
| Connecticut | $129,720 |
| South Dakota | $128,720 |
| Massachusetts | $125,670 |
| Delaware | $125,050 |
| Oregon | $122,830 |
| Illinois | $120,130 |
| Wisconsin | $119,430 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Accountants and Auditors | $97,050 | $46.66 |
| Financial and Investment Analysts | $109,110 | $52.46 |
| Loan Officer | $81,770 | $39.31 |
| Financial Specialists, All Other | $80,810 | $38.85 |
| Tax Preparer | $70,030 | $33.67 |
| Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents | $74,110 | $35.63 |
| Insurance Underwriter | $95,320 | $45.83 |
| Property Appraisers and Assessors | $88,900 | $42.74 |
| Financial Risk Specialist | $129,110 | $62.07 |
| Credit Analyst | $97,860 | $47.05 |
| Financial Examiner | $106,000 | $50.96 |
| Budget Analyst | $99,520 | $47.84 |
| Credit Counselor | $67,120 | $32.27 |
| Business Operations Specialists, All Other | $87,570 | $42.10 |
More: Business and Financial Operations Occupations · all salaries in California
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 13-2052. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a personal financial advisor make in California?
The median salary for personal financial advisors in California is $130,330 a year, or $62.66 an hour. Pay ranges from $67,690 for the lowest-paid 10% to $393,860 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid personal financial advisors make in California?
The top 10% of personal financial advisors in California earn at least $393,860 a year. The top 25% earn $195,420 or more.
What is the starting pay for personal financial advisors in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $67,690 a year, and a quarter of personal financial advisors earn $83,860 or less.
How many personal financial advisors work in California?
About 32,200 personal financial advisors are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.