Financial Advisor Salary in California: $135,266 (2026)

Quick Answer:Across California's 157 metropolitan areas, the average median financial advisor pay sits at $135,266/year heading into 2026 — a figure projected from 2025 BLS OEWS wage data for SOC 13-2052. Because California sits at BEA RPP 113.1 (13% above the U.S. baseline), that statewide median translates to roughly $119,599 in nationally-comparable purchasing power. Highest-paying metros: Oakland ($164,265), Fremont ($160,642), San Francisco ($160,610).

Financial Advisor Salary in California - 2025 BLS Data Infographic — California financial advisor salary overview (2026)

$135,266

Avg Median Salary

$65.03

Avg Hourly Rate

32,749

Metro Employed

157

Cities

In 2026, the average median salary for financial advisors in California is projected to be $135,266, significantly higher than the national median of $108,537, reflecting a difference of +24.6%. This disparity is driven by various factors, including the cost of living, the concentration of high-net-worth clients, and California's robust financial services sector. The highest paying city, Oakland, sees salaries up to $169,686, while the lowest, Chico, offers $91,524—illustrating a salary gap of $78,162. This gap is influenced by regional demand, the presence of affluent communities, and varying levels of competition across different metropolitan areas. California's financial advisors must adhere to state licensing requirements and navigate a complex regulatory environment, which includes specific scope of practice laws. The state also shows a promising job market, with an annual growth rate projected at 3.30%, indicating steady demand for financial advising services. With a total of 32,749 financial advisors employed in the state, cities like Fremont ($165,943), San Francisco ($165,910), Sunnyvale ($144,654), and Santa Clara ($143,704) highlight the diverse earning potential available across various locations.

California Financial Advisor Salary Range

Entry Level (10th %ile)

$71,673

avg across 157 cities

Median

$135,266

state average

Top Earners (90th %ile)

$344,883

avg across 157 cities

Overall salary range in California: $53,086 (lowest entry-level) to $498,040 (highest top earner)

California vs National Average

California

$135,266

National Median

$108,537

California financial advisors earn 24.63% more than the national median (+$26,729/year difference).

California Financial Advisor Salary Distribution (2026)

Financial Advisor salaries in California range from $71,673 (entry-level, 10th percentile) to $344,883 (top earners, 90th percentile), with a median of $135,266. The California median is $26,729 above the US national median of $108,537. The average hourly rate is $65.03/hr. Approximately 32,749 financial advisors are employed across 157 cities.

2019 BLS Actual

$95,060

2025 BLS Actual

$130,945

2026 Current Est.

$135,266

2019–2027 Growth

+47.0%

Salary Trajectory for Financial Advisors in California (2019–2027)

2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.30% projection.

BLS Actual Estimated Projected

Year	Annual Salary	Status
2019	$95,060	Actual
2020	$100,823	Actual
2021	$108,576	Actual
2022	$103,943	Actual
2023	$107,709	Actual
2024	$133,925	Actual
2025	$130,945	Actual
2026(current)	$135,266	Estimated
2027	$139,730	Projected

Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the California metropolitan area, the median financial advisor salary grew 37.8% from $95,060 (2019) to $130,945 (2025). At a 3.30% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $139,730 by 2027 — a total increase of $44,670 (46.99%) from 2019.

Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the California metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 3.30% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.

Top 5 Highest Paying Cities in California

Oakland

78 employed · $81.58/hr

$169,686

+25.45% vs avg

Fremont

43 employed · $79.78/hr

$165,943

+22.68% vs avg

San Francisco

7,130 employed · $79.77/hr

$165,910

+22.65% vs avg

Sunnyvale

26 employed · $69.54/hr

$144,654

+6.94% vs avg

Santa Clara

32 employed · $69.09/hr

$143,704

+6.24% vs avg

Lowest Paying Cities in California

City	Median Salary	vs State Avg	Hourly
Chico	$91,524	-32.34%	$44.01
San Luis Obispo	$94,354	-30.25%	$45.36
Redding	$96,771	-28.46%	$46.53
Lodi	$97,636	-27.82%	$46.94
Stockton	$99,003	-26.81%	$47.60

Best Value Cities for Financial Advisors in California

When adjusted for local cost of living, these California cities offer the most purchasing power for financial advisors.

City	Nominal Salary	CoL Index	Adjusted Salary
Oakland	$169,686	113.1	$150,032
Fremont	$165,943	113.1	$146,722
San Francisco	$165,910	115.613	$143,505
Visalia	$128,009	99.825	$128,233
San Jose	$141,335	110.423	$127,994

Adjusted salary = nominal salary × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average. Lower index = lower cost of living.

Salary by Experience Level in California

Experience Level	Estimated Annual	Est. Hourly	Description
Entry Level (0-2 years)	$71,673	$34.46	10th percentile, new graduates
Mid Career (3-7 years)	$135,266	$65.03	50th percentile, median salary
Experienced (7+ years)	$344,883	$165.81	90th percentile, top earners

Estimates based on BLS percentile data averaged across California metro areas. Individual pay varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.

All 157 Cities in California

#	City	Median Salary	Hourly	Entry (P10)	Top (P90)	Employed
1	Oakland	$169,686	$81.58	$98,418	$263,013	78
2	Fremont	$165,943	$79.78	$96,247	$257,212	43
3	San Francisco	$165,910	$79.77	$79,438	$464,974	7,130
4	Sunnyvale	$144,654	$69.54	$83,899	$224,214	26
5	Santa Clara	$143,704	$69.09	$83,349	$222,741	32
6	San Jose	$141,335	$67.95	$71,628	$498,040	1,530
7	Chula Vista	$134,787	$64.80	$78,176	$208,920	51
8	San Diego	$134,631	$64.73	$70,905	$418,923	3,010
9	Carlsbad	$133,505	$64.18	$77,433	$206,933	23
10	Folsom	$133,066	$63.97	$77,179	$206,252	17
11	Sacramento	$132,172	$63.55	$70,905	$325,447	1,260
12	Roseville	$131,628	$63.28	$76,344	$204,024	35
13	Napa	$131,439	$63.19	$70,905	$293,083	100
14	Anaheim	$130,887	$62.93	$75,914	$202,875	51
15	Long Beach	$129,025	$62.03	$74,835	$199,989	89
16	Los Angeles	$128,598	$61.83	$69,924	$294,498	13,980
17	Santa Maria	$128,485	$61.77	$63,901	$391,765	210
18	Visalia	$128,009	$61.55	$63,633	$199,534	80
19	Santa Cruz	$126,202	$60.68	$58,871	$280,759	80
20	Vallejo	$124,446	$59.83	$68,984	$335,715	70
21	Santa Ana	$122,124	$58.72	$70,832	$189,293	69
22	Fontana	$119,864	$57.63	$69,521	$185,789	32
23	Irvine	$119,733	$57.57	$69,445	$185,586	72
24	Pomona	$119,148	$57.28	$69,106	$184,680	36
25	Simi Valley	$119,083	$57.25	$69,068	$184,579	23
26	Escondido	$119,055	$57.24	$69,052	$184,536	31
27	Fairfield	$118,840	$57.14	$68,928	$184,202	25
28	Fullerton	$118,403	$56.93	$68,674	$183,526	25
29	Daly City	$118,300	$56.88	$68,614	$183,366	20
30	El Monte	$118,263	$56.86	$68,592	$183,308	20
31	Vista	$118,198	$56.83	$68,555	$183,207	24
32	Concord	$118,170	$56.81	$68,539	$183,163	29
33	Clovis	$117,993	$56.73	$68,436	$182,890	19
34	Garden Grove	$117,873	$56.67	$68,366	$182,703	37
35	Temecula	$117,845	$56.66	$68,349	$182,659	25
36	Santa Clarita	$117,765	$56.62	$68,304	$182,536	41
37	Lancaster	$117,611	$56.55	$68,214	$182,298	40
38	Inglewood	$117,611	$56.55	$68,214	$182,298	21
39	Corona	$117,462	$56.47	$68,128	$182,067	24
40	Richmond	$117,444	$56.46	$68,117	$182,038	25
41	Rialto	$117,388	$56.43	$68,085	$181,952	17
42	Torrance	$117,239	$56.36	$67,999	$181,721	26
43	Elk Grove	$117,015	$56.26	$67,869	$181,373	25
44	Oceanside	$116,987	$56.25	$67,853	$181,331	28
45	Whittier	$116,953	$56.23	$67,833	$181,277	22
46	San Rafael	$116,944	$56.23	$67,828	$181,263	11
47	Rancho Cucamonga	$116,838	$56.17	$67,766	$181,099	46
48	Hayward	$116,773	$56.14	$67,729	$180,999	23
49	Woodland	$116,743	$56.12	$67,711	$180,953	15
50	Buena Park	$116,725	$56.12	$67,701	$180,924	20
51	Encinitas	$116,716	$56.11	$67,695	$180,909	16
52	Downey	$116,708	$56.11	$67,690	$180,898	22
53	Dublin	$116,643	$56.08	$67,653	$180,797	14
54	Redlands	$116,606	$56.06	$67,632	$180,740	16
55	Chino	$116,542	$56.03	$67,594	$180,640	17
56	Westminster	$116,506	$56.01	$67,574	$180,584	21
57	Santa Monica	$116,497	$56.01	$67,567	$180,569	20
58	San Mateo	$116,484	$56.00	$67,561	$180,551	21
59	Tulare	$116,451	$55.99	$67,542	$180,499	17
60	San Buenaventura	$116,410	$55.97	$67,518	$180,435	19
61	Mission Viejo	$116,332	$55.93	$67,472	$180,315	23
62	Moreno Valley	$116,331	$55.93	$67,472	$180,313	53
63	Pleasanton	$116,314	$55.92	$67,462	$180,286	16
64	Pasadena	$116,149	$55.84	$67,367	$180,031	35
65	Santee	$116,068	$55.80	$67,320	$179,905	9
66	Glendale	$115,964	$55.75	$67,259	$179,743	36
67	Mountain View	$115,904	$55.72	$67,225	$179,651	13
68	Pittsburg	$115,894	$55.72	$67,218	$179,637	19
69	Novato	$115,858	$55.70	$67,198	$179,580	11
70	Costa Mesa	$115,814	$55.68	$67,172	$179,512	23
71	Berkeley	$115,693	$55.62	$67,102	$179,324	23
72	Huntington Beach	$115,665	$55.61	$67,086	$179,281	50
73	Jurupa Valley	$115,563	$55.55	$67,026	$179,122	24
74	Hemet	$115,529	$55.54	$67,007	$179,070	14
75	Union City	$115,520	$55.53	$67,001	$179,057	11
76	West Covina	$115,507	$55.53	$66,994	$179,035	25
77	Chino Hills	$115,474	$55.51	$66,975	$178,985	21
78	Gilroy	$115,310	$55.44	$66,880	$178,730	10
79	Bakersfield	$115,262	$55.41	$60,369	$277,732	80
80	San Marcos	$115,246	$55.41	$66,842	$178,630	17
81	Tustin	$115,145	$55.36	$66,784	$178,476	18
82	San Ramon	$115,136	$55.36	$66,779	$178,461	19
83	Eastvale	$115,027	$55.30	$66,715	$178,292	10
84	Murrieta	$115,022	$55.30	$66,713	$178,284	25
85	Vacaville	$115,022	$55.30	$66,713	$178,284	15
86	Brentwood	$114,972	$55.28	$66,683	$178,206	13
87	Hesperia	$114,917	$55.24	$66,652	$178,121	14
88	Lake Elsinore	$114,908	$55.24	$66,646	$178,107	18
89	Citrus Heights	$114,762	$55.17	$66,562	$177,882	19
90	El Cajon	$114,659	$55.12	$66,502	$177,721	18
91	San Clemente	$114,625	$55.11	$66,483	$177,669	10
92	Bellflower	$114,579	$55.09	$66,456	$177,597	11
93	Palmdale	$114,529	$55.06	$66,427	$177,520	29
94	La Mirada	$114,528	$55.06	$66,426	$177,518	10
95	Apple Valley	$114,507	$55.05	$66,414	$177,486	19
96	Menifee	$114,473	$55.04	$66,394	$177,433	20
97	Yucaipa	$114,424	$55.01	$66,366	$177,358	14
98	Norwalk	$114,417	$55.01	$66,362	$177,346	22
99	Yuba City	$114,370	$54.99	$66,334	$177,273	10
100	Rancho Cordova	$114,315	$54.96	$66,303	$177,188	20
101	Montebello	$114,205	$54.90	$66,239	$177,018	16
102	Compton	$114,160	$54.88	$66,213	$176,948	25
103	Porterville	$114,077	$54.84	$66,165	$176,820	11
104	Lompoc	$114,063	$54.84	$66,156	$176,797	8
105	Hawthorne	$113,886	$54.75	$66,054	$176,523	13
106	Antioch	$113,849	$54.74	$66,032	$176,466	17
107	Burbank	$113,840	$54.73	$66,027	$176,452	22
108	Alhambra	$113,575	$54.60	$65,873	$176,042	13
109	Livermore	$113,575	$54.60	$65,873	$176,042	21
110	Orange	$113,541	$54.58	$65,854	$175,989	21
111	South Gate	$113,539	$54.58	$65,853	$175,986	25
112	Victorville	$113,513	$54.57	$65,837	$175,946	30
113	West Sacramento	$113,475	$54.55	$65,816	$175,887	9
114	Poway	$113,445	$54.54	$65,798	$175,840	8
115	San Leandro	$113,292	$54.47	$65,709	$175,603	23
116	Indio	$113,165	$54.41	$65,636	$175,406	23
117	Lake Forest	$113,165	$54.41	$65,636	$175,406	14
118	Carson	$112,964	$54.30	$65,519	$175,094	21
119	Rocklin	$112,945	$54.30	$65,508	$175,065	10
120	Newport Beach	$112,754	$54.21	$65,397	$174,769	12
121	Redwood City	$112,745	$54.20	$65,392	$174,755	13
122	Turlock	$112,718	$54.19	$65,377	$174,712	17
123	Manteca	$112,681	$54.17	$65,355	$174,656	13
124	Perris	$112,671	$54.17	$65,350	$174,641	12
125	Madera	$112,580	$54.13	$65,297	$174,500	8
126	Baldwin Park	$112,380	$54.03	$65,180	$174,190	19
127	Palo Alto	$112,380	$54.03	$65,180	$174,190	15
128	Lakewood	$112,334	$54.01	$65,153	$174,117	19
129	Hanford	$112,105	$53.90	$65,021	$173,763	10
130	Beaumont	$112,005	$53.85	$64,963	$173,608	9
131	Merced	$111,988	$53.84	$64,953	$173,581	20
132	Tracy	$111,978	$53.84	$64,948	$173,567	14
133	Alameda	$111,941	$53.82	$64,926	$173,509	12
134	Laguna Niguel	$111,914	$53.81	$64,911	$173,467	16
135	Milpitas	$111,859	$53.78	$64,879	$173,382	16
136	Camarillo	$111,622	$53.66	$64,740	$173,014	13
137	Oakley	$111,576	$53.64	$64,714	$172,944	8
138	Davis	$111,549	$53.63	$64,698	$172,900	14
139	Upland	$111,467	$53.59	$64,650	$172,773	18
140	La Habra	$111,303	$53.51	$64,555	$172,519	16
141	Lynwood	$111,257	$53.49	$64,529	$172,449	16
142	Brea	$109,358	$52.58	$63,427	$169,504	10
143	Modesto	$108,548	$52.19	$53,530	$273,456	110
144	Salinas	$107,876	$51.87	$64,655	$278,301	110
145	Santa Rosa	$107,101	$51.50	$62,600	$307,968	190
146	Petaluma	$106,078	$51.00	$61,525	$164,421	12
147	Fresno	$103,548	$49.78	$62,662	$260,905	200
148	Oxnard	$101,503	$48.80	$65,379	$400,453	390
149	Thousand Oaks	$101,092	$48.60	$58,634	$156,694	32
150	Ontario	$100,609	$48.37	$58,353	$155,944	42
151	San Bernardino	$99,394	$47.79	$57,649	$154,061	33
152	Riverside	$99,271	$47.72	$67,651	$306,181	830
153	Stockton	$99,003	$47.60	$62,393	$233,716	110
154	Lodi	$97,636	$46.94	$56,629	$151,336	14
155	Redding	$96,771	$46.53	$53,086	$292,814	50
156	San Luis Obispo	$94,354	$45.36	$65,657	$299,208	120
157	Chico	$91,524	$44.01	$62,961	$207,024	60

More California Salary Data

Hourly Rates

Explore financial advisor hourly pay in California cities.

Oakland →Fremont →San Francisco →

Entry Level

Starting salaries for new financial advisors.

Oakland →Fremont →San Francisco →

Senior / Experienced

Top earner salaries for experienced financial advisors.

Oakland →Fremont →San Francisco →

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much do financial advisors make in California in 2026?

The average median financial advisor salary in California is $135,266/year across 157 metro areas, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Salaries range from $91,524 in Chico to $169,686 in Oakland. This makes California one of the higher-paying states, at 24.63% above the national median of $108,537. The state employs approximately 32,749 financial advisors.

What is the highest paying city for financial advisors in California?

Oakland offers the highest financial advisor salary in California at $169,686/year ($81.58/hr), based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). The top 3 highest-paying cities are Oakland ($169,686), Fremont ($165,943), San Francisco ($165,910). Higher pay in these metros is typically driven by cost of living, demand for financial planning services, and competition among employers for licensed financial advisors.

How does California financial advisor pay compare to the national average?

California's average financial advisor salary of $135,266 is 24.63% above the national median of $108,537 in 2026. The state employs approximately 32,749 financial advisors across 157 metropolitan areas. When comparing salaries, consider cost-of-living differences — a lower nominal salary in an affordable area may provide better purchasing power than a higher salary in an expensive metro.

What is the entry-level financial advisor salary in California?

Entry-level financial advisors (10th percentile) in California earn approximately $71,673/year on average, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Starting salaries range from $53,086 in lower-paying areas to $98,418 in the highest-paying metros. New graduates should expect salaries at the lower end and can typically reach the area median within 3–5 years of clinical experience.

How many financial advisors are employed in California?

California employs approximately 32,749 financial advisors across 157 metropolitan areas, based on the latest BLS data. This makes California one of the larger employers of financial advisors nationally. Demand continues to grow as the financial planning field expands and the population ages.

Which California city offers the best value for financial advisors?

When adjusted for cost of living, Oakland offers the highest purchasing power for financial advisors in California, with an adjusted salary of $150,032 (nominal: $169,686, CoL index: 113.1). This means your dollar goes 12% less far compared to the national average, making it important to negotiate higher base pay.

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

Statewide salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. A 3.30% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to each metro area's reported salary to estimate current 2026 financial advisor compensation across California. State averages are employment-weighted across 157 metro areas — larger metro areas with more financial advisorscontribute proportionally more to the average, producing figures that better reflect typical compensation. Individual pay varies by city, employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (2019–2025). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.

2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.30%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for financial advisors (SOC 13-2052).

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

Last verified: June 10, 2026

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