Personal Financial Advisors vs Tax Preparers: Salary Comparison (2024)
Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Which Career Pays More?
Personal Financial Advisors professionals earn $51,580 more per year than Tax Preparers professionals — that's 102.0% higher.
Salary Range Comparison
Personal Financial Advisors$49,990 – N/A
Tax Preparers$30,500 – $96,240
$30,500$96,240
Detailed Salary Comparison
| Percentile | Personal Financial Advisors | Tax Preparers | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $49,990 | $30,500 | +$19,490 |
| 25th Percentile | $70,620 | $37,750 | +$32,870 |
| Median (50th) | $102,140 | $50,560 | +$51,580 |
| 75th Percentile | $172,540 | $75,590 | +$96,950 |
| 90th Percentile | N/A | $96,240 | N/A |
| Mean (Average) | $160,210 | $58,860 | +$101,350 |
Employment Numbers
Personal Financial Advisors
270,480
employed nationwide
Tax Preparers
73,570
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 Tax Preparers
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $83,600 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $83,240 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $74,670 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $71,990 |
| Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX | $68,160 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who earns more: Personal Financial Advisors or Tax Preparers?
Personal Financial Advisors professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $51,580 (102.0% 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 Tax Preparers?
Tax Preparers salaries range from $30,500 (10th percentile) to $96,240 (90th percentile), with a median of $50,560.
How many Personal Financial Advisors and Tax Preparers jobs are there?
There are approximately 270,480 Personal Financial Advisors positions and 73,570 Tax Preparers positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Tax Preparers to Personal Financial Advisors?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Personal Financial Advisors has a median salary of $102,140 while Tax Preparers earns $50,560. 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