Personal Financial Advisor salary in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
Personal Financial Advisors in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area earn a median of $122,170 a year ($58.74 an hour), based on BLS data for 80 workers.
Pay ranges from $56,990 for the lowest-paid 10% to $271,790 for the top 10%. That is 16% higher than the national median of $105,070. Pay here is 6% lower than the California statewide median of $130,330. There are 0.79 personal financial advisors per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.46). The average (mean) salary is $145,190, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for personal financial advisors in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $56,990 | $27.40 |
| 25th percentile | $75,170 | $36.14 |
| Median | $122,170 | $58.74 |
| 75th percentile | $160,070 | $76.96 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $271,790 | $130.67 |
| Average (mean) | $145,190 | $69.80 |
Half of personal financial advisors earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $10,180.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,090.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,698.85 |
| Weekly | $2,349.42 |
| Hourly | $58.74 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $122,170 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Personal Financial Advisor salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $160,610 | 7,130 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $136,820 | 1,530 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $130,330 | 3,010 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $127,950 | 1,260 |
| Napa, CA | $127,240 | 100 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $124,490 | 13,980 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $124,380 | 210 |
| Visalia, CA | $123,920 | 80 |
| Vallejo, CA | $120,470 | 70 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $111,580 | 80 |
| Modesto, CA | $105,080 | 110 |
| Salinas, CA | $104,430 | 110 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $103,680 | 190 |
| Fresno, CA | $100,240 | 200 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $98,260 | 390 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $96,100 | 830 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $95,840 | 110 |
| Redding, CA | $93,680 | 50 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $91,340 | 120 |
| Chico, CA | $88,600 | 60 |
Highest-paying states for personal financial advisors
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New York | $166,400 |
| New Jersey | $158,570 |
| California | $130,330 |
| Connecticut | $129,720 |
| South Dakota | $128,720 |
| Massachusetts | $125,670 |
| Delaware | $125,050 |
| Oregon | $122,830 |
| Illinois | $120,130 |
| Wisconsin | $119,430 |
See Personal Financial Advisor pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Accountants and Auditors | $84,920 | $40.83 |
| Financial and Investment Analysts | $99,820 | $47.99 |
| Loan Officer | $78,940 | $37.95 |
| Tax Preparer | $71,800 | $34.52 |
| Financial Specialists, All Other | $62,720 | $30.16 |
| Financial Risk Specialist | $101,280 | $48.69 |
| Business Operations Specialists, All Other | $84,010 | $40.39 |
| Human Resources Specialist | $84,690 | $40.72 |
| Management Analyst | $105,480 | $50.71 |
| Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists | $78,880 | $37.92 |
| Project Management Specialist | $106,780 | $51.34 |
| Training and Development Specialists | $77,400 | $37.21 |
| Buyers and Purchasing Agents | $77,250 | $37.14 |
| Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists | $79,480 | $38.21 |
More: Business and Financial Operations Occupations · all salaries in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 13-2052. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a personal financial advisor make in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
The median salary for personal financial advisors in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area is $122,170 a year, or $58.74 an hour. Pay ranges from $56,990 for the lowest-paid 10% to $271,790 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid personal financial advisors make in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
The top 10% of personal financial advisors in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area earn at least $271,790 a year. The top 25% earn $160,070 or more.
What is the starting pay for personal financial advisors in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $56,990 a year, and a quarter of personal financial advisors earn $75,170 or less.
How many personal financial advisors work in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
About 80 personal financial advisors are employed in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.