Cost Estimators 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 $25,070 more per year than Cost Estimators professionals — that's 32.5% higher.
Salary Range Comparison
Cost Estimators$46,330 – $128,640
Personal Financial Advisors$49,990 – N/A
$46,330$128,640
Detailed Salary Comparison
| Percentile | Cost Estimators | Personal Financial Advisors | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $46,330 | $49,990 | $-3,660 |
| 25th Percentile | $59,830 | $70,620 | $-10,790 |
| Median (50th) | $77,070 | $102,140 | $-25,070 |
| 75th Percentile | $99,630 | $172,540 | $-72,910 |
| 90th Percentile | $128,640 | N/A | N/A |
| Mean (Average) | $83,160 | $160,210 | $-77,050 |
Employment Numbers
Cost Estimators
219,530
employed nationwide
Personal Financial Advisors
270,480
employed nationwide
Top Paying Cities
Best Cities for Cost Estimators
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH | $104,190 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $103,030 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $97,990 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $86,540 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $86,300 |
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: Cost Estimators or Personal Financial Advisors?
Personal Financial Advisors professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $25,070 (32.5% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
What is the salary range for Cost Estimators?
Cost Estimators salaries range from $46,330 (10th percentile) to $128,640 (90th percentile), with a median of $77,070.
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 Cost Estimators and Personal Financial Advisors jobs are there?
There are approximately 219,530 Cost Estimators positions and 270,480 Personal Financial Advisors positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Personal Financial Advisors to Cost Estimators?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Cost Estimators has a median salary of $77,070 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