Personal Financial Advisor Salary in Washington, DC
Personal Financial Advisors in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn a median $106,230 a year — 1% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $77,502 take-home, or $6,458 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median personal financial advisor salary in Washington, DC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$14,541
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,586
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,540
- District of Columbia income tax$6,061
- Take-home pay$77,502
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 8.50% state
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro spans District of Columbia, Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Personal Financial Advisor pay by experience in Washington, DC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $58,790 | $28.26 | $47,043 | $3,920 |
| 25th percentile | $75,540 | $36.32 | $58,509 | $4,876 |
| Median (50th) | $106,230 | $51.07 | $77,502 | $6,458 |
| 75th percentile | $206,190 | $99.13 | $138,928 | $11,577 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $389,430+ | $187.23 | $240,147 | $20,012 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, District of Columbia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $106,230 buys in Washington, DC
Prices in Washington, DC are 8.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.51× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median personal financial advisor's $77,502 take-home pay has the buying power of $71,178 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 less concentrated in Washington, DC than nationally (location quotient 0.80), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for personal financial advisors, adjusted for cost of living
Washington, DC ranks #18 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 |
| 18 | Washington, DC | $106,230 | $77,502 | $71,178 |
*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.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a personal financial advisor make in Washington, DC?
The median personal financial advisor salary in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $106,230 a year, or about $51.07 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $75,540 and $206,190.
What is a personal financial advisor’s take-home pay in Washington, DC?
On the median $106,230 salary, a single filer living in District of Columbia takes home about $77,502 a year ($6,458 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $6,061 in District of Columbia taxes in 2026.
Is Washington, DC a good place to work as a personal financial advisor?
Pay here is 1% above the national median of $105,070. Local prices are 8.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $71,178 would in a typical U.S. city. Washington, DC ranks #18 of 23 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a personal financial advisor afford rent in Washington, DC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Washington, DC is $1,990 a month ($2,223 for two bedrooms) — 31% of a median personal financial advisor’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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