What is the salary and career path for a wealth advisor?
Wealth advisor is closely mapped to Personal Financial Advisors (SOC 13-2052), whose OEWS May 2025 median is $105,070 a year ($50.51 an hour), from $50,190 at the 10th percentile to a very high $357,020 at the 90th. The wide top reflects advisors paid on assets under management and fees, so those with large books earn far above the median. BLS projects strong 9.6% growth over 2024–2034, about 24,100 openings a year. Advisors who give investment advice must generally pass the Series 65 or hold Series 7 and 66, and the CFP is the leading professional mark.
- Wealth Advisors map to Personal Financial Advisors (SOC 13-2052), a national median $105,070/yr ($50.51/hr) (BLS OEWS May 2025); the top 10% clear $357,020 on assets and fees.
- Giving investment advice generally requires Series 65 or Series 7 plus 66, and the CFP is the leading professional mark.
- BLS projects strong 9.6% growth for 2024–34, about 24,100 openings a year, driven by an aging, wealthier population.
- The ladder runs from paraplanner through wealth advisor to private wealth advisor near $357,020, driven by assets under management.
Career Path
How do you become a wealth advisor?
Associate Advisor / Paraplanner
Builds plans and services clients under a lead advisor; pay near the BLS 10th percentile.
Wealth Advisor
Manages a client book, sets plans and allocations, and grows assets — around the $105,070 median.
Senior Wealth Advisor
Handles a larger, higher-net-worth book with complex planning; earnings near the 75th percentile.
Private Wealth Advisor / Partner
Runs a substantial fee-based book or practice; top-decile pay near the 90th percentile.
BLS Salary Data
Which state pays wealth advisors the most in 2026?
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 13-2052. National median: $105,070. Full salary guide →
Pay Comparison
How does wealth advisor pay compare to related roles?
Head-to-head against the roles wealth advisors most often weigh against. BLS OEWS May 2025 medians.
Takeaway: wealth advisors rank 1 of 4 on median pay among the comparable roles above, with a projected +9.6% employment change 2024–34 (BLS Employment Projections). Pay position and projected demand together are what determine how quickly wealth advisors clear offers across the GlobalCybers placement network.
Methodology & Sources
How this guide is sourced and reviewed
Wages (BLS): All median and percentile figures are BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 13-2052 (wealth advisors) and the matching SOC codes for each comparison role. OEWS is sampled on a rolling 3-year basis and published ~10 months after collection, so treat it as a firm anchor rather than a spot rate.
Job growth: Projected 2024–34 employment change, and the average annual openings figure, are from the BLS Employment Projections program, by occupation. Openings are a per-year average over the projection decade, not a decade total.
Licensing & credentials:Requirements are drawn from the issuing state licensing boards and the certifying body behind each credential — not from third-party aggregators.
Demand signal:Any statement about how quickly this role clears offers reflects GlobalCybers placement request volume across the trailing 12 months — our own network data, offered as a directional real-world indicator alongside BLS, not a market-wide survey.
Credentials
What licences and certifications do wealth advisors need?
The leading planning designation from the CFP Board, requiring education, exam, experience and a fiduciary standard. See all state licences →
Licenses that allow giving investment advice and managing client accounts; Series 65 covers advisory work.
Advanced designations that deepen investment or tax-planning credibility for high-net-worth practices.
Tools & Software
What tools and software do wealth advisors use on the job?
⚙️ Core Tools & Equipment
📊 BLS Employment Data, SOC 13-2052
Salary Levers
How do wealth advisors earn above the $105,070 BLS median?
Assets under management
Growing a larger fee-based book of assets moves an advisor from the associate tier near $50,190 well past the $105,070 median.
CFP and high-net-worth expertise
A CFP and complex-planning skill for wealthy clients raise value toward the $176,790 upper quartile.
Building an independent practice
Owning a substantial fee-based practice pushes earnings toward the $357,020 top decile.
This Route vs. College
Is becoming a wealth advisor worth it vs. a 4-year degree?
The entry route into this role, set against a four-year degree. Same starting line, side by side.
Entry-level (10th percentile) and all-level median wages: BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 13-2052. Student-debt figure: median federal borrower balance for bachelor's-degree completers. Starting-salary comparison is illustrative and varies by field and region.
FAQ
Wealth Advisor Career, Frequently Asked Questions
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