Financial Advisor Pay

Garden Grove vs Los Angeles: Financial Advisor Salary (2026)

Compare financial advisor salaries between Garden Grove, CA and Los Angeles, CA. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Garden Grove, CA
$117,873
$56.67/hr
Los Angeles, CA
$128,598
$61.83/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricGarden Grove, CALos Angeles, CA
Median Salary$117,873$128,598
Hourly Rate$56.67$61.83
Entry Level (P10)$68,366$69,924
25th Percentile$84,868$80,429
75th Percentile$150,877$184,907
Top Earner (P90)$182,703$294,498
Total Employed3713,980
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Garden Grove ($117,873) and Los Angeles ($128,598) financial advisor salaries.Garden GroveLos AngelesMedian Salary$117,873$128,598Entry Level (P10)$68,366$69,924Top Earner (P90)$182,703$294,498US Median $108,537

Verdict

Los Angeles, CA offers better overall compensation for financial advisors, winning 4 out of 4 metrics compared to Garden Grove.

The salary gap between Garden Grove and Los Angeles is $10,725 (9.10%). Los Angeles's median is +18.48% compared to the US national median of $108,537.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Garden Grove spans $114,337,Los Angeles spans $224,574. Los Angeles has a wider pay range, suggesting more variation in pay between entry-level and experienced financial advisors.

Garden Grove
P10 (Entry)$68,366
P25$84,868
Median$117,873
P75$150,877
P90 (Top)$182,703
Los Angeles
P10 (Entry)$69,924
P25$80,429
Median$128,598
P75$184,907
P90 (Top)$294,498

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Los Angeles ($113,236 effective) pays 8.65% more than Garden Grove ($104,220 effective).

Garden Grove
Nominal: $117,873
CoL Index: 113.1
Adjusted: $104,220
Los Angeles
Nominal: $128,598
CoL Index: 113.566
Adjusted: $113,236

Cost-of-living adjustment: salary × (100 / CoL index). Index of 100 = national average.

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Garden Grove if…

  • You prefer the California area and lifestyle

Choose Los Angeles if…

  • Higher median salary ($128,598/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($294,498)
  • Larger job market (13,980 employed)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $113,236)
  • You prefer the California area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, financial advisor salaries in Garden Grove grew -29.5% from 2024 to 2025, compared to 70.9% growth in Los Angeles over the same period.

Garden Grove, CA

+-29.5%

$161,926 (2024) → $114,107 (2025)

Los Angeles, CA

+70.9%

$72,840 (2019) → $124,490 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays financial advisors more: Garden Grove or Los Angeles?

Los Angeles has a higher median financial advisor salary at $128,598/year, compared to Garden Grove at $117,873/year — a difference of $10,725 (9.10%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Garden Grove and Los Angeles?

Garden Grove financial advisors earn $56.67/hr while Los Angeles hygienists earn $61.83/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Garden Grove to Los Angeles as a financial advisor?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Garden Grove and Los Angeles. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Garden Grove = $104,220, Los Angeles = $113,236), job availability (37 vs 13,980 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level financial advisors earn in Garden Grove vs Los Angeles?

Entry-level (10th percentile) financial advisors earn $68,366 in Garden Grove and $69,924 in Los Angeles. The Los Angeles area offers higher starting salaries.

Related Comparisons

JL

Written by Jordan Lee, CFP

Career Analyst

Jordan has over 10 years of experience in financial planning. They specialize in retirement planning for individuals. They work at a financial services firm in New York City.

Clinically reviewed by Sophia Martinez, CFAData verified by Ethan Wang, ChFC

Methodology & Data Source

All salary figures are 2026 projections based on BLS OEWS May 2025 data. A 3.30% CAGR (derived from 6-year national BLS trends) was applied to estimate current compensation. Cost-of-living adjustments use BEA Regional Price Parity data. Actual salaries vary by employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS , released .

Compiled and verified by Jordan Lee, CFP, a licensed financial advisor with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov