Personal Financial Advisors Salary
The median pay for a personal financial advisors in Maryland is $99,880/year ($48.02/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $48K at the entry level to $378K for experienced workers. Note: the mean (average) wage is $154K, significantly higher than the median. This typically reflects a mix of employment settings including academic and private practice positions. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.76), that's roughly $101,134 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,795/month, or 28.6% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Maryland. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $100K get you in Maryland?
About personal financial advisors
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Maryland
Personal financial advisors pay in Maryland tracks closely to the national median, $100K locally vs. $105K nationwide, a 5% difference. Rent runs $1,795/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 29.1% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 98.76) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Maryland
Entry-level personal financial advisors (10th percentile) start around $48K. Mid-career wages sit at $100K. Top earners bring in $378K or more, a $330K spread from bottom to top.
Personal Financial Advisors salary by metro in Maryland
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson | $99K | -1% | 3,240 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg | $92K | -8% | 60 |
| Salisbury | $89K | -11% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track personal financial advisors salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Maryland numbers change.
Related careers in Business & Finance
Frequently asked questions
Can a personal financial advisor afford a 2BR apartment alone in Maryland?
Yes — at the median salary of $100K, rent takes 29.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,795/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for personal financial advisors in Maryland?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new personal financial advisors typically earn — is $48K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,869/month. At HUD’s $1,795/month FMR, rent would take 63% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is personal financial advisor a high-paying job in Maryland?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $100K locally vs. $105K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does Maryland compare to the national average for personal financial advisors?
Maryland pays $100K median vs. the U.S. average of $105K — that’s -5%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 98.76), the purchasing-power equivalent is $101K — below the national median.
How much do personal financial advisors make in Maryland?
The median is $99,880 a year, that works out to about $48 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $47,810, and experienced personal financial advisors can clear $378,060. The mean (average) is $153,800, reflecting that some workers earn substantially more. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $100K enough to live in Maryland?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,173/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,795/month, which eats 29.1% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a personal financial advisors salary go in Maryland?
Maryland has a Regional Price Parity of 98.76 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median personal financial advisors salary is worth about $101,134 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do personal financial advisors get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.
