Financial Examiners 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 $11,740 more per year than Financial Examiners professionals — that's 13.0% higher.
Salary Range Comparison
Financial Examiners$53,420 – $171,540
Personal Financial Advisors$49,990 – N/A
$49,990$171,540
Detailed Salary Comparison
| Percentile | Financial Examiners | Personal Financial Advisors | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $53,420 | $49,990 | +$3,430 |
| 25th Percentile | $66,800 | $70,620 | $-3,820 |
| Median (50th) | $90,400 | $102,140 | $-11,740 |
| 75th Percentile | $127,210 | $172,540 | $-45,330 |
| 90th Percentile | $171,540 | N/A | N/A |
| Mean (Average) | $103,650 | $160,210 | $-56,560 |
Employment Numbers
Financial Examiners
62,830
employed nationwide
Personal Financial Advisors
270,480
employed nationwide
Top Paying Cities
Best Cities for Financial Examiners
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $139,790 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $132,190 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $131,670 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $111,780 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $109,450 |
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: Financial Examiners or Personal Financial Advisors?
Personal Financial Advisors professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $11,740 (13.0% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
What is the salary range for Financial Examiners?
Financial Examiners salaries range from $53,420 (10th percentile) to $171,540 (90th percentile), with a median of $90,400.
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 Financial Examiners and Personal Financial Advisors jobs are there?
There are approximately 62,830 Financial Examiners positions and 270,480 Personal Financial Advisors positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Personal Financial Advisors to Financial Examiners?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Financial Examiners has a median salary of $90,400 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