Personal Financial Advisors vs Software Developers: Salary Comparison (2024)
Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Which Career Pays More?
Software Developers professionals earn $30,940 more per year than Personal Financial Advisors professionals — that's 30.3% higher.
Salary Range Comparison
Personal Financial Advisors$49,990 – N/A
Software Developers$79,850 – $211,450
$49,990$211,450
Detailed Salary Comparison
| Percentile | Personal Financial Advisors | Software Developers | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $49,990 | $79,850 | $-29,860 |
| 25th Percentile | $70,620 | $103,050 | $-32,430 |
| Median (50th) | $102,140 | $133,080 | $-30,940 |
| 75th Percentile | $172,540 | $169,000 | +$3,540 |
| 90th Percentile | N/A | $211,450 | N/A |
| Mean (Average) | $160,210 | $144,570 | +$15,640 |
Employment Numbers
Personal Financial Advisors
270,480
employed nationwide
Software Developers
1,654,440
employed nationwide
Top Paying Cities
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 |
Best Cities for Software Developers
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $208,270 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $174,910 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $169,340 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $161,970 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $159,240 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who earns more: Personal Financial Advisors or Software Developers?
Software Developers professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $30,940 (30.3% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
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.
What is the salary range for Software Developers?
Software Developers salaries range from $79,850 (10th percentile) to $211,450 (90th percentile), with a median of $133,080.
How many Personal Financial Advisors and Software Developers jobs are there?
There are approximately 270,480 Personal Financial Advisors positions and 1,654,440 Software Developers positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Software Developers to Personal Financial Advisors?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Personal Financial Advisors has a median salary of $102,140 while Software Developers earns $133,080. 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