Personal Financial Advisors vs Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents: Salary Comparison (2024)
Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents
$78,140
Median annual salary
472,300 employed nationally
Which Career Pays More?
Personal Financial Advisors professionals earn $24,000 more per year than Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents professionals — that's 30.7% higher.
Salary Range Comparison
Personal Financial Advisors$49,990 – N/A
Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents$47,080 – $215,210
$47,080$215,210
Detailed Salary Comparison
| Percentile | Personal Financial Advisors | Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $49,990 | $47,080 | +$2,910 |
| 25th Percentile | $70,620 | $51,600 | +$19,020 |
| Median (50th) | $102,140 | $78,140 | +$24,000 |
| 75th Percentile | $172,540 | $129,480 | +$43,060 |
| 90th Percentile | N/A | $215,210 | N/A |
| Mean (Average) | $160,210 | $110,400 | +$49,810 |
Employment Numbers
Personal Financial Advisors
270,480
employed nationwide
Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents
472,300
employed nationwide
Top Paying Cities
Best Cities for Personal Financial Advisors
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $168,350 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $157,510 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $128,400 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $126,690 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $126,480 |
Best Cities for Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $166,170 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $101,720 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $97,110 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI | $95,910 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH | $84,270 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who earns more: Personal Financial Advisors or Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents?
Personal Financial Advisors professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $24,000 (30.7% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
What is the salary range for Personal Financial Advisors?
Personal Financial Advisors salaries range from $49,990 (10th percentile) to N/A (90th percentile), with a median of $102,140.
What is the salary range for Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents?
Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents salaries range from $47,080 (10th percentile) to $215,210 (90th percentile), with a median of $78,140.
How many Personal Financial Advisors and Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents jobs are there?
There are approximately 270,480 Personal Financial Advisors positions and 472,300 Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents to Personal Financial Advisors?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Personal Financial Advisors has a median salary of $102,140 while Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents earns $78,140. Consider job satisfaction, growth prospects, required education, and work-life balance.
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Data verified March 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS