Personal Financial Advisor Salary in San Diego, CA
Personal Financial Advisors in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median $130,330 a year — 24% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $90,761 take-home, or $7,563 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median personal financial advisor salary in San Diego, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$20,013
- Social Security (6.2%)$8,080
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,890
- California income tax$7,891
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,694
- Take-home pay$90,761
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 9.30% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Personal Financial Advisor pay by experience in San Diego, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $68,640 | $33.00 | $53,947 | $4,496 |
| 25th percentile | $95,550 | $45.94 | $70,151 | $5,846 |
| Median (50th) | $130,330 | $62.66 | $90,761 | $7,563 |
| 75th percentile | $189,690 | $91.20 | $125,363 | $10,447 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $405,540+ | $194.97 | $242,255 | $20,188 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $130,330 buys in San Diego, CA
Prices in San Diego, CA are 11.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.79× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median personal financial advisor's $90,761 take-home pay has the buying power of $81,119 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Personal Financial Advisor jobs are about as common in San Diego, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.14).
Best-paying cities for personal financial advisors, adjusted for cost of living
San Diego, CA ranks #9 of 23 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $170,050 | $118,502 | $105,277 |
| 2 | Kansas City, MO | $123,140 | $90,582 | $97,881 |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | $160,610 | $108,248 | $93,629 |
| 4 | Bridgeport, CT | $135,770 | $98,069 | $91,770 |
| 5 | Miami, FL | $125,670 | $97,161 | $85,114 |
| 6 | Philadelphia, PA | $116,560 | $87,252 | $85,079 |
| 7 | St. Louis, MO | $103,690 | $77,840 | $81,861 |
| 8 | Indianapolis, IN | $102,640 | $78,039 | $81,549 |
| 9 | San Diego, CA | $130,330 | $90,761 | $81,119 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 23 metros →
About the job: personal financial advisors
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.
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Long-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +1.4% (slower than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Personal Financial Advisor salaries elsewhere in California
- San Francisco, CA — $160,610
- Los Angeles, CA — $124,490
Frequently asked questions
How much does a personal financial advisor make in San Diego, CA?
The median personal financial advisor salary in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $130,330 a year, or about $62.66 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $95,550 and $189,690.
What is a personal financial advisor’s take-home pay in San Diego, CA?
On the median $130,330 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $90,761 a year ($7,563 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $9,585 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Diego, CA a good place to work as a personal financial advisor?
Pay here is 24% above the national median of $105,070. Local prices are 11.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $81,119 would in a typical U.S. city. San Diego, CA ranks #9 of 23 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a personal financial advisor afford rent in San Diego, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Diego, CA is $2,459 a month ($3,001 for two bedrooms) — 33% of a median personal financial advisor’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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