Budget Analysts vs Personal Financial Advisors: Salary Comparison (2024)
Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Which Career Pays More?
Personal Financial Advisors professionals earn $14,210 more per year than Budget Analysts professionals — that's 16.2% higher.
Salary Range Comparison
Budget Analysts$60,510 – $134,640
Personal Financial Advisors$49,990 – N/A
$49,990$134,640
Detailed Salary Comparison
| Percentile | Budget Analysts | Personal Financial Advisors | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $60,510 | $49,990 | +$10,520 |
| 25th Percentile | $72,240 | $70,620 | +$1,620 |
| Median (50th) | $87,930 | $102,140 | $-14,210 |
| 75th Percentile | $110,380 | $172,540 | $-62,160 |
| 90th Percentile | $134,640 | N/A | N/A |
| Mean (Average) | $93,920 | $160,210 | $-66,290 |
Employment Numbers
Budget Analysts
47,170
employed nationwide
Personal Financial Advisors
270,480
employed nationwide
Top Paying Cities
Best Cities for Budget Analysts
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $141,590 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $125,170 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $121,890 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $104,970 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $103,960 |
Best Cities for Personal Financial Advisors
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $168,350 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $157,510 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $128,400 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $126,690 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $126,480 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who earns more: Budget Analysts or Personal Financial Advisors?
Personal Financial Advisors professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $14,210 (16.2% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
What is the salary range for Budget Analysts?
Budget Analysts salaries range from $60,510 (10th percentile) to $134,640 (90th percentile), with a median of $87,930.
What is the salary range for Personal Financial Advisors?
Personal Financial Advisors salaries range from $49,990 (10th percentile) to N/A (90th percentile), with a median of $102,140.
How many Budget Analysts and Personal Financial Advisors jobs are there?
There are approximately 47,170 Budget Analysts positions and 270,480 Personal Financial Advisors positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Personal Financial Advisors to Budget Analysts?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Budget Analysts has a median salary of $87,930 while Personal Financial Advisors earns $102,140. Consider job satisfaction, growth prospects, required education, and work-life balance.
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Data verified March 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS