Personal Financial Advisor Salary in San Francisco, CA
Personal Financial Advisors in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area earn a median $160,610 a year — 53% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $108,248 take-home, or $9,021 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median personal financial advisor salary in San Francisco, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$27,280
- Social Security (6.2%)$9,958
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,329
- California income tax$10,707
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$2,088
- Take-home pay$108,248
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 Francisco, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $76,900 | $36.97 | $58,990 | $4,916 |
| 25th percentile | $105,850 | $50.89 | $76,305 | $6,359 |
| Median (50th) | $160,610 | $77.22 | $108,248 | $9,021 |
| 75th percentile | $293,030+ | $140.88 | $183,978 | $15,332 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $450,120+ | $216.40 | $265,013 | $22,084 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $160,610 buys in San Francisco, CA
Prices in San Francisco, CA are 15.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.95× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median personal financial advisor's $108,248 take-home pay has the buying power of $93,629 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
San Francisco, CA has 1.8× the national concentration of personal financial advisor jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for personal financial advisors, adjusted for cost of living
San Francisco, CA ranks #3 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 |
*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 Diego, CA — $130,330
- Los Angeles, CA — $124,490
Frequently asked questions
How much does a personal financial advisor make in San Francisco, CA?
The median personal financial advisor salary in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area is $160,610 a year, or about $77.22 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $105,850 and $239,200+.
What is a personal financial advisor’s take-home pay in San Francisco, CA?
On the median $160,610 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $108,248 a year ($9,021 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $12,795 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Francisco, CA a good place to work as a personal financial advisor?
Pay here is 53% above the national median of $105,070. Local prices are 15.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $93,629 would in a typical U.S. city. San Francisco, CA ranks #3 of 23 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a personal financial advisor afford rent in San Francisco, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Francisco, CA is $2,620 a month ($3,187 for two bedrooms) — 29% of a median personal financial advisor’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Francisco, CA
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- Management Analyst — $126,730
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- Compliance Officer — $118,890
- Accountant and Auditor — $110,730
- Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators — $105,340
- Business Operations Specialists, All Other — $104,500
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- Loan Officer — $103,000
- Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists — $102,780
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