Personal Financial Advisors Salary
The median pay for a personal financial advisors in Pennsylvania is $105,200/year ($50.58/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $60K at the entry level to $393K for experienced workers. Note: the mean (average) wage is $165K, significantly higher than the median. This typically reflects a mix of employment settings including academic and private practice positions. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.97), which stretches that salary to about $110,772 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,351/month, or 19.9% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Pennsylvania. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $105K get you in Pennsylvania?
About personal financial advisors
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What this looks like in Pennsylvania
Personal financial advisors pay in Pennsylvania tracks closely to the national median, $105K locally vs. $105K nationwide, a 0% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,351/month, 20.5% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.97 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Pennsylvania
Entry-level personal financial advisors (10th percentile) start around $60K. Mid-career wages sit at $105K. Top earners bring in $393K or more, a $333K spread from bottom to top.
Personal Financial Advisors salary by metro in Pennsylvania
14 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Altoona | $126K | +20% | 40 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton | $122K | +16% | 420 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington | $117K | +11% | 7,390 |
| Pittsburgh | $116K | +10% | 2,030 |
| York-Hanover | $116K | +10% | 130 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle | $112K | +7% | 420 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre | $103K | -2% | 280 |
| Williamsport | $100K | -5% | 60 |
| Lancaster | $100K | -5% | 360 |
| Reading | $99K | -6% | 220 |
| State College | $98K | -6% | 140 |
| Erie | $97K | -7% | 100 |
| Johnstown | $95K | -9% | 60 |
| Chambersburg | $82K | -22% | 50 |
Showing 1–10 of 14 metros
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Pennsylvania numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a personal financial advisor afford a 2BR apartment alone in Pennsylvania?
Yes — at the median salary of $105K, rent takes 20.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,351/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for personal financial advisors in Pennsylvania?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new personal financial advisors typically earn — is $60K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,598/month. At HUD’s $1,351/month FMR, rent would take 38% 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 Pennsylvania?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $105K locally vs. $105K nationally, a 0% difference.
How does Pennsylvania compare to the national average for personal financial advisors?
Pennsylvania pays $105K median vs. the U.S. average of $105K — that’s +0%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $111K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do personal financial advisors make in Pennsylvania?
The median is $105,200 a year, that works out to about $51 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $59,960, and experienced personal financial advisors can clear $392,900. The mean (average) is $165,100, reflecting that some workers earn substantially more. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $105K enough to live in Pennsylvania?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,597/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,351/month, which eats 20.5% 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 Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania has a Regional Price Parity of 94.97 (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 $110,772 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.