Financial Advisor Pay

New Brunswick vs Trenton: Financial Advisor Salary (2026)

Compare financial advisor salaries between New Brunswick, NJ and Trenton, NJ. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

New Brunswick, NJ
$125,513
$60.34/hr
Trenton, NJ
$133,391
$64.13/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricNew Brunswick, NJTrenton, NJ
Median Salary$125,513$133,391
Hourly Rate$60.34$64.13
Entry Level (P10)$72,798$86,090
25th Percentile$90,369$98,899
75th Percentile$160,656$213,387
Top Earner (P90)$194,545$328,866
Total Employed81,070
Side-by-side bar chart comparing New Brunswick ($125,513) and Trenton ($133,391) financial advisor salaries.New BrunswickTrentonMedian Salary$125,513$133,391Entry Level (P10)$72,798$86,090Top Earner (P90)$194,545$328,866US Median $108,537

Verdict

Trenton, NJ offers better overall compensation for financial advisors, winning 4 out of 4 metrics compared to New Brunswick.

The salary gap between New Brunswick and Trenton is $7,878 (6.28%). Trenton's median is +22.90% compared to the US national median of $108,537.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in New Brunswick spans $121,747,Trenton spans $242,776. Trenton has a wider pay range, suggesting more variation in pay between entry-level and experienced financial advisors.

New Brunswick
P10 (Entry)$72,798
P25$90,369
Median$125,513
P75$160,656
P90 (Top)$194,545
Trenton
P10 (Entry)$86,090
P25$98,899
Median$133,391
P75$213,387
P90 (Top)$328,866

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Trenton ($129,280 effective) pays 18.66% more than New Brunswick ($108,952 effective).

New Brunswick
Nominal: $125,513
CoL Index: 115.2
Adjusted: $108,952
Trenton
Nominal: $133,391
CoL Index: 103.18
Adjusted: $129,280

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

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose New Brunswick if…

  • You prefer the New Jersey area and lifestyle

Choose Trenton if…

  • Higher median salary ($133,391/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($328,866)
  • Larger job market (1,070 employed)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $129,280)
  • You prefer the New Jersey area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, financial advisor salaries in New Brunswick grew -29.0% from 2024 to 2025, compared to 9.4% growth in Trenton over the same period.

New Brunswick, NJ

+-29.0%

$171,147 (2024) → $121,503 (2025)

Trenton, NJ

+9.4%

$118,060 (2020) → $129,130 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays financial advisors more: New Brunswick or Trenton?

Trenton has a higher median financial advisor salary at $133,391/year, compared to New Brunswick at $125,513/year — a difference of $7,878 (6.28%).

What is the hourly rate difference between New Brunswick and Trenton?

New Brunswick financial advisors earn $60.34/hr while Trenton hygienists earn $64.13/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from New Brunswick to Trenton as a financial advisor?

Consider more than just salary when comparing New Brunswick and Trenton. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: New Brunswick = $108,952, Trenton = $129,280), job availability (8 vs 1,070 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level financial advisors earn in New Brunswick vs Trenton?

Entry-level (10th percentile) financial advisors earn $72,798 in New Brunswick and $86,090 in Trenton. The Trenton area offers higher starting salaries.
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