Financial Managers vs Personal Financial Advisors: Salary Comparison (2024)
Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Which Career Pays More?
Financial Managers professionals earn $59,560 more per year than Personal Financial Advisors professionals — that's 58.3% higher.
Salary Range Comparison
Financial Managers$86,490 – N/A
Personal Financial Advisors$49,990 – N/A
$49,990$86,490
Detailed Salary Comparison
| Percentile | Financial Managers | Personal Financial Advisors | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $86,490 | $49,990 | +$36,500 |
| 25th Percentile | $118,360 | $70,620 | +$47,740 |
| Median (50th) | $161,700 | $102,140 | +$59,560 |
| 75th Percentile | $214,210 | $172,540 | +$41,670 |
| 90th Percentile | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Mean (Average) | $180,470 | $160,210 | +$20,260 |
Employment Numbers
Financial Managers
818,620
employed nationwide
Personal Financial Advisors
270,480
employed nationwide
Top Paying Cities
Best Cities for Financial Managers
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $218,920 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $216,520 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $211,730 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH | $188,490 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $180,770 |
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 Managers or Personal Financial Advisors?
Financial Managers professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $59,560 (58.3% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
What is the salary range for Financial Managers?
Financial Managers salaries range from $86,490 (10th percentile) to N/A (90th percentile), with a median of $161,700.
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 Managers and Personal Financial Advisors jobs are there?
There are approximately 818,620 Financial Managers positions and 270,480 Personal Financial Advisors positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Personal Financial Advisors to Financial Managers?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Financial Managers has a median salary of $161,700 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