Insurance Sales Agents 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 $41,770 more per year than Insurance Sales Agents professionals — that's 69.2% higher.
Salary Range Comparison
Insurance Sales Agents$36,390 – $135,660
Personal Financial Advisors$49,990 – N/A
$36,390$135,660
Detailed Salary Comparison
| Percentile | Insurance Sales Agents | Personal Financial Advisors | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $36,390 | $49,990 | $-13,600 |
| 25th Percentile | $45,520 | $70,620 | $-25,100 |
| Median (50th) | $60,370 | $102,140 | $-41,770 |
| 75th Percentile | $91,150 | $172,540 | $-81,390 |
| 90th Percentile | $135,660 | N/A | N/A |
| Mean (Average) | $81,510 | $160,210 | $-78,700 |
Employment Numbers
Insurance Sales Agents
469,480
employed nationwide
Personal Financial Advisors
270,480
employed nationwide
Top Paying Cities
Best Cities for Insurance Sales Agents
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $81,890 |
| Hartford-East Hartford-Middletown, CT | $79,860 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $78,130 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $77,630 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH | $76,570 |
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: Insurance Sales Agents or Personal Financial Advisors?
Personal Financial Advisors professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $41,770 (69.2% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
What is the salary range for Insurance Sales Agents?
Insurance Sales Agents salaries range from $36,390 (10th percentile) to $135,660 (90th percentile), with a median of $60,370.
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 Insurance Sales Agents and Personal Financial Advisors jobs are there?
There are approximately 469,480 Insurance Sales Agents positions and 270,480 Personal Financial Advisors positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Personal Financial Advisors to Insurance Sales Agents?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Insurance Sales Agents has a median salary of $60,370 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