Financial Advisor Salary in San Francisco, CA: $165,910 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time financial advisor in San Francisco, CA earns a median $165,910/year (≈ $79.77/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 13-2052). Once you factor in San Francisco's price level (16% above national, BEA RPP 115.6), that paycheck buys what $143,505 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 43.9% above the California state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, financial advisors in San Francisco, CA, are projected to earn a median annual salary of $165,910, significantly outpacing the national median of $108,537 by 52.86%. This attractive compensation reflects the ongoing trend towards fee-only fiduciary practices, particularly among those with the CFP credential, who typically command higher fees. The salary range for financial advisors in the region varies dramatically, from $79,438 at the 10th percentile to $464,974 at the 90th percentile, highlighting the diverse opportunities available within this sector. These figures, derived from 2025 BLS OEWS data and projected to 2026, underscore the competitive nature of San Francisco's job market for financial professionals.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $79,438 | $38.19 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $109,343 | $52.57 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $165,910 | $79.77 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $302,700 | $145.53 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $464,974 | $223.54 |
Median Salary Position
52.86% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in San Francisco
In San Francisco, CA, the financial advisor salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $385,536 (2026 est.). At $165,910, the local median is 52.86% above the national median of $108,537.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in San Francisco: You'd be in the entry-level range
How San Francisco Financial Advisor Pay Compares
San Francisco median: $165,910/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | San Francisco Pays |
|---|---|---|
| California Average | $115,295 | +43.90% more |
| National Average | $108,537 | +52.86% more |
Financial Advisors in San Francisco, CA earn a median of $165,910 per year (2026 est.), which is 52.86% higher than the national median of $108,537 and 43.90% above the California state average of $115,295.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
San Francisco has a cost of living 15.61% above the national average.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
San Francisco, CA has a cost-of-living index of 115.613 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $165,910 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $143,505 — a 13.5% reduction.
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2019 BLS Actual
$135,000
2025 BLS Actual
$160,610
2026 Current Est.
$165,910
2019–2027 Growth
+27.0%
Salary Trajectory for Financial Advisors in San Francisco (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.30% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $135,000 | Actual |
| 2020 | $130,720 | Actual |
| 2021 | $150,580 | Actual |
| 2022 | $132,900 | Actual |
| 2023 | $125,220 | Actual |
| 2024 | $157,510 | Actual |
| 2025 | $160,610 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $165,910 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $171,385 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the San Francisco metropolitan area, the median financial advisor salary grew 19.0% from $135,000 (2019) to $160,610 (2025). At a 3.30% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $171,385 by 2027 — a total increase of $36,385 (26.95%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the San Francisco 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.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $79,438 – $109,343 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $109,343 – $165,910 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $165,910 – $302,700 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $302,700 – $464,974 |
CFP, FA salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual financial advisor compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Financial Advisor Job Market in San Francisco
With 7,130 financial advisors currently employed in the area, San Francisco presents a robust job market characterized by varying compensation levels influenced by the cost of living index of 115.613. This higher index means that take-home pay is crucial to maintaining purchasing power in the city. Among local employers, wirehouses such as Morgan Stanley and Merrill Lynch offer appealing salaries, yet many advisors are transitioning to independent registered investment advisory firms (RIAs), which are often more lucrative for those managing sizable assets under management (AUM) using the industry-standard fee model. Various dynamics contribute to the spread between lower and higher pay, such as client concentration, credentialing premiums like CFP or CFA, and the evolving compensation structures as wirehouses shift toward employee models. Leveraging networks and considering a transition to a fee-based advisory model are effective strategies for maximizing financial advisor pay in San Francisco CA.
More salary data for San Francisco, CA:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Related Pages
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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.
Methodology & Data Source
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. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $160,610 for financial advisorsin the San Francisco metropolitan area. A 3.30% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (–). 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