Personal Financial Advisors
SOC code 13-2052 · O*NET-SOC 13-2052.00 · Considerable preparation needed · Business and finance
Bright Outlook — O*NET expects rapid growth for this occupation
Personal Financial Advisors pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$105,070
a year
Hourly
$50.51
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$156,670
$75.32 per hour
Middle 50%
$72,440 – $176,790
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$50,190 – $357,020
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
266,800
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
- 10th percentile
- $50,190
- $24.13/hr
- 25th percentile
- $72,440
- $34.83/hr
- Median percentile
- $105,070
- $50.51/hr
- 75th percentile
- $176,790
- $84.99/hr
- 90th percentile
- $357,020
- $171.65/hr
Job outlook · federal projection 2024–34
+10%
Growing much faster than average
326,000
jobs in 2024
357,200
projected for 2034
About 31,200 more jobs
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics employment projections, 2024–34. Projections describe the broader occupation group and are estimates, not guarantees.
What does a personal financial advisor do?
Advise clients on financial plans using knowledge of tax and investment strategies, securities, insurance, pension plans, and real estate. Duties include assessing clients' assets, liabilities, cash flow, insurance coverage, tax status, and financial objectives. May also buy and sell financial assets for clients.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- Interview clients to determine their current income, expenses, insurance coverage, tax status, financial objectives, risk tolerance, or other information needed to develop a financial plan.
- Analyze financial information obtained from clients to determine strategies for meeting clients' financial objectives.
- Answer clients' questions about the purposes and details of financial plans and strategies.
- Review clients' accounts and plans regularly to determine whether life changes, economic changes, environmental concerns, or financial performance indicate a need for plan reassessment.
- Manage client portfolios, keeping client plans up-to-date.
- Recommend to clients strategies in cash management, insurance coverage, investment planning, or other areas to help them achieve their financial goals.
- Recommend financial products, such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, or insurance.
- Implement financial planning recommendations, or refer clients to someone who can assist them with plan implementation.
How to become a personal financial advisor
Most people in this role hold bachelor's degree — 58% of workers surveyed reported it as their level of education.
Preparation level: zone 4 — Considerable preparation needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- Experience
- A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Education reported by people doing this job
- Bachelor's Degree58%
- Post-Baccalaureate Certificate23%
- Master's Degree12%
- Post-Secondary Certificate8%
Common questions
How much does a personal financial advisor earn?
The national median is $105,070 a year. The full range runs from $50,190 at the 10th percentile to $357,020 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.
Can you become a personal financial advisor without a degree?
Not usually — this occupation sits in preparation zone 4, where the typical entry route is most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not. The education breakdown above shows what people in the role actually reported.
Is personal financial advisor in demand?
Federal projections expect employment to grow by about 10% between 2024 and 2034 — growing much faster than average. Openings also come from people retiring or changing jobs, which the growth figure does not count.
Skills and knowledge you need
Core skills
- Reading Comprehension4.1/5
- Active Listening4.1/5
- Speaking4.0/5
- Writing3.9/5
- Critical Thinking3.8/5
- Mathematics3.6/5
Knowledge areas
- Customer and Personal Service4.4/5
- Economics and Accounting4.1/5
- English Language3.9/5
- Mathematics3.7/5
- Psychology3.1/5
- Administration and Management2.9/5
- Sales and Marketing2.9/5
- Computers and Electronics2.9/5
Transferable strengths: Social Perceptiveness, Service Orientation, Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making.