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2026 Financial Planner Salary Data

Updated April 28, 2026

Financial Planner Salary: $96K US Median

Financial planners help individuals and families plan for retirement, investments, taxes, and estate goals. CFP-track planners deliver holistic, fiduciary-grade advice.

Quick Answer

As of April 2026, the US national median Financial Planner salary is $96,000 per year. Financial Planners earn between $62,400 (entry, 25th percentile) and $158,400 (90th percentile). Highest-paying cities: San Francisco ($149K), Oakland ($134K), New York ($130K). Year-over-year growth: 410.0% from 2025.

National Median

$96,000

+410.0% YoY

Entry Level

$74,880

Experienced

$126,720

Top 10%

$158,400

Financial Planner Salary by Years of Experience

How Financial Planner pay scales over a career — US national averages.

Experience	Annual Salary	vs Entry
0–1 yr	$68,890	-8%
2–3 yr	$74,880	+0%
4–6 yr	$100,800	+35%
7–10 yr	$126,720	+69%
11–15 yr	$149,530	+100%
15+ yr	$142,560	+90%

Curve derived from BLS percentile data; actual progression varies by employer, location, and specialty.

Financial Planner Salary by City

All 50 top US metros, sorted by salary level. Click any city for the full breakdown.

City	vs National	Median	Top 10%
San Francisco, CA	+55%	$148,800	$245,520
Oakland, CA	+40%	$134,400	$221,760
New York, NY	+35%	$129,600	$213,840
Seattle, WA	+32%	$126,720	$209,088
Washington, DC	+30%	$124,800	$205,920
Boston, MA	+30%	$124,800	$205,920
Los Angeles, CA	+28%	$122,880	$202,752
Long Beach, CA	+20%	$115,200	$190,080
San Diego, CA	+18%	$113,280	$186,912
Austin, TX	+15%	$110,400	$182,160
Denver, CO	+10%	$105,600	$174,240
Portland, OR	+10%	$105,600	$174,240
Baltimore, MD	+10%	$105,600	$174,240
Minneapolis, MN	+10%	$105,600	$174,240
Sacramento, CA	+8%	$103,680	$171,072
Chicago, IL	+5%	$100,800	$166,320
Houston, TX	+5%	$100,800	$166,320
Dallas, TX	+5%	$100,800	$166,320
Atlanta, GA	+5%	$100,800	$166,320
Raleigh, NC	+5%	$100,800	$166,320
Miami, FL	+5%	$100,800	$166,320
Philadelphia, PA	+4%	$99,840	$164,736
Fort Worth, TX	+2%	$97,920	$161,568
Charlotte, NC	+2%	$97,920	$161,568
Phoenix, AZ	+0%	$96,000	$158,400
Nashville, TN	+0%	$96,000	$158,400
Colorado Springs, CO	+0%	$96,000	$158,400
Arlington, TX	+0%	$96,000	$158,400
Mesa, AZ	-2%	$94,080	$155,232
Virginia Beach, VA	-2%	$94,080	$155,232
Columbus, OH	-3%	$93,120	$153,648
Omaha, NE	-3%	$93,120	$153,648
Las Vegas, NV	-5%	$91,200	$150,480
Milwaukee, WI	-5%	$91,200	$150,480
Fresno, CA	-5%	$91,200	$150,480
Kansas City, MO	-5%	$91,200	$150,480
San Antonio, TX	-7%	$89,280	$147,312
Indianapolis, IN	-7%	$89,280	$147,312
Detroit, MI	-7%	$89,280	$147,312
Jacksonville, FL	-8%	$88,320	$145,728
New Orleans, LA	-8%	$88,320	$145,728
Cleveland, OH	-8%	$88,320	$145,728
Louisville, KY	-9%	$87,360	$144,144
Albuquerque, NM	-10%	$86,400	$142,560
Tucson, AZ	-10%	$86,400	$142,560
Memphis, TN	-12%	$84,480	$139,392
Oklahoma City, OK	-12%	$84,480	$139,392
Tulsa, OK	-12%	$84,480	$139,392
El Paso, TX	-15%	$81,600	$134,640
Wichita, KS	-15%	$81,600	$134,640

Hot 2026 Skills

CFP designationtax planningestate planningfee-only RIA modelfinancial planning software (eMoney, RightCapital)behavioral finance

ATS Keywords

CFPfinancial planningretirement planninginvestment managementwealth managementfiduciarytax planningestate planningSeries 65client relationships

Top Employers

FidelityVanguardCharles SchwabEdward JonesMerrill LynchMorgan StanleyRIAs (independent)Northwestern Mutual

Certifications

Certified Financial Planner (CFP)ChFCCFASeries 7/65/66CPA/PFS

Year-Over-Year Trend

+410.0% vs 2025

2025 Median

$18,824

2026 Median

$96,000

Change

+$77,176

Finance sector growth driven by demand for CFP designation and tax planning.

How to Negotiate Your Financial Planner Salary

Walk-away anchor: $85,714 (offers below this are below market for experienced candidates).

Leverage Points

Bonus targets and historical payout percentages (ask for last 3 years actual)
Profit-share, carry, or AUM-linked compensation for senior roles
CFA, CPA, or Series licenses materially shift base compensation
Buyout of unvested deferred comp from your current employer

Beyond Base, Negotiate

Guaranteed first-year bonus (especially in IB, PE, hedge funds)Sign-on / make-whole for forfeited deferred compCarried interest or profit-share at PE/HF/VC firmsCFA / Series exam fees and study time off401(k) match and deferred comp plan

What To Say

"I'm walking away from $X in unvested deferred compensation if I leave now. Can we structure the offer with a sign-on that makes me whole, plus a guaranteed first-year bonus floor?"

Career Outlook

+13% Growth (2024-2034)

Financial planner roles projected to grow 13% through 2034. Aging baby boomers and growing wealth transfer driving strong demand for CFPs.

Education Path

Bachelor's degree + CFP certification

Financial Planner Salary FAQ

What is the average Financial Planner salary in the US in 2026?

The 2026 US national median Financial Planner salary is $96,000 per year. Entry-level (25th percentile) starts at $62,400, while experienced professionals (90th percentile) earn $158,400 or more. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, blended with 2026 market data from Levels.fyi, Glassdoor, and Robert Half.

Did Financial Planner salaries increase in 2026?

Yes — Financial Planner salaries grew approximately 410.0% year-over-year, from $18,824 in 2025 to $96,000 in 2026 (+$77,176). This reflects the Finance sector's 2025-2026 wage growth, driven by demand for CFP designation and tax planning.

Which US cities pay Financial Planners the most in 2026?

The 5 highest-paying US cities for Financial Planners: San Francisco, CA ($149K); Oakland, CA ($134K); New York, NY ($130K); Seattle, WA ($127K); Washington, DC ($125K). Note these higher salaries usually correspond to higher cost-of-living — see individual city pages for purchasing-power-adjusted figures.

Which US cities have the lowest Financial Planner salaries?

Lowest-paying metros for Financial Planners: Wichita ($82K), El Paso ($82K), Tulsa ($84K). However, these cities also have proportionally lower cost-of-living, so real purchasing power may exceed expensive metros.

What's the job outlook for Financial Planners?

Financial planner roles projected to grow 13% through 2034. Aging baby boomers and growing wealth transfer driving strong demand for CFPs. BLS projects 13% employment growth from 2024-2034 — much faster than average compared to all US occupations.

What skills are most valuable for Financial Planners in 2026?

The hottest 2026 skills are: CFP designation, tax planning, estate planning, fee-only RIA model, financial planning software (eMoney, RightCapital), behavioral finance. These appear in the highest-paying job listings, command 15-30% salary premiums, and are heavily weighted by ATS keyword filters. Adding them to your resume — naturally and in context — significantly improves your match rate.

What education is needed to become a Financial Planner?

Bachelor's degree + CFP certification. However, the 2026 market increasingly values demonstrable skills, portfolios, and certifications alongside (or in place of) traditional degrees — particularly in Finance. Top recognized credentials: Certified Financial Planner (CFP), ChFC, CFA.

How do I negotiate a higher Financial Planner salary?

I'm walking away from $X in unvested deferred compensation if I leave now. Can we structure the offer with a sign-on that makes me whole, plus a guaranteed first-year bonus floor? Key leverage points for Finance: Bonus targets and historical payout percentages (ask for last 3 years actual); Profit-share, carry, or AUM-linked compensation for senior roles; CFA, CPA, or Series licenses materially shift base compensation. Beyond base salary, negotiate: Guaranteed first-year bonus (especially in IB, PE, hedge funds), Sign-on / make-whole for forfeited deferred comp, Carried interest or profit-share at PE/HF/VC firms, CFA / Series exam fees and study time off.

Who are the top employers hiring Financial Planners?

Major US employers hiring Financial Planners include: Fidelity, Vanguard, Charles Schwab, Edward Jones, Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley, RIAs (independent), Northwestern Mutual. Most use ATS software (Workday, Greenhouse, Taleo, iCIMS) to screen resumes — meaning your resume must be ATS-optimized to even reach a human recruiter.

What does an entry-level Financial Planner make in their first year?

Entry-level (0–1 year) Financial Planners typically earn around $68,890. By year 2–3, salary climbs to $74,880. With 7–10 years of experience, Financial Planners earn $126,720 on average. Senior/lead roles (15+ years) reach $142,560 or more.

Methodology & Sources

National Financial Planner salary figures derive from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, blended with 2026 market data from Levels.fyi, Glassdoor, and Robert Half. Per-city figures apply each metro's cost-of-living multiplier (BEA Regional Price Parities). Year-over-year change (410.0%) reflects the Finance sector's wage growth per BLS Employment Cost Index trends. Last reviewed April 28, 2026.

Data Sources

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