Financial services offers some of the strongest earning potential of any career field, but compensation varies significantly depending on your licenses, your role, and where you work. The data below comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, published May 2024. Updated May 2025 figures are expected from the BLS on May 15, 2026, and this page will be refreshed when the new data becomes available.
Salary Overview by Career Path
Each career path in financial services requires different licenses and offers different earning potential. The table below shows the national median salary for the six most common roles.
| Career Path | Typical Licenses | National Median Salary | BLS Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Insurance Sales Agent | State Insurance License | $60,370 | 41-3021 |
| Securities Agent (Series 6) | SIE + Series 6 + Series 63 | $78,140 | 41-3031 |
| Securities Agent (Series 7) | SIE + Series 7 + Series 63 | $78,140 | 41-3031 |
| Personal Financial Advisor | SIE + Series 7 + Series 66 | $102,140 | 13-2052 |
| Investment Adviser Representative | Series 65 | $102,140 | 13-2052 |
| Financial Analyst | Degree + Optional CFA or Series 7 | $99,890 | 13-2051 |
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Salary Data by State
The tables below provide a complete state-by-state breakdown for the three primary BLS occupation categories in financial services. Use this data to compare earning potential across states and career paths.
Financial Advisor Salary by State
Personal financial advisors typically hold the SIE, Series 7, and Series 66 licenses. Salaries range from $65,150 in Mississippi to $167,970 in New York. The table below shows median annual wages for all reporting states.
| State | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| New York | $167,970 |
| Idaho | $136,440 |
| California | $128,650 |
| Delaware | $128,170 |
| New Jersey | $123,690 |
| South Dakota | $123,380 |
| Maryland | $122,510 |
| Wisconsin | $115,680 |
| Washington | $112,020 |
| Connecticut | $107,030 |
| Illinois | $104,310 |
| Pennsylvania | $103,290 |
| Indiana | $101,670 |
| Massachusetts | $101,320 |
| Rhode Island | $100,880 |
| District of Columbia | $100,840 |
| Kansas | $100,810 |
| Virginia | $99,990 |
| North Dakota | $98,990 |
| South Carolina | $98,900 |
| Michigan | $98,830 |
| Georgia | $98,490 |
| Montana | $96,670 |
| Minnesota | $94,420 |
| Tennessee | $89,390 |
| Florida | $88,040 |
| Colorado | $85,580 |
| Arizona | $85,150 |
| Missouri | $84,040 |
| New Hampshire | $82,530 |
| Texas | $82,180 |
| Ohio | $82,100 |
| Nevada | $81,940 |
| Iowa | $81,790 |
| Vermont | $81,360 |
| Oregon | $80,190 |
| Alabama | $79,600 |
| Kentucky | $79,100 |
| Louisiana | $78,150 |
| West Virginia | $77,790 |
| New Mexico | $77,710 |
| Hawaii | $75,680 |
| Arkansas | $75,150 |
| Nebraska | $74,040 |
| Oklahoma | $73,020 |
| Utah | $67,210 |
| Mississippi | $65,150 |
Securities Agent Salary by State
Securities agents need the SIE exam plus either the Series 7 (general securities) or Series 6 (investment company products), along with a Series 63 state law exam. They earn a national median of $78,140, with state-level compensation varying based on the concentration of broker-dealers and financial firms in each market.
| State | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| New York | $167,040 |
| Connecticut | $130,990 |
| South Dakota | $96,960 |
| New Jersey | $96,470 |
| Massachusetts | $82,490 |
| Illinois | $82,130 |
| Vermont | $80,260 |
| Delaware | $79,800 |
| Minnesota | $79,640 |
| California | $79,140 |
| Rhode Island | $78,560 |
| Nebraska | $78,250 |
| Washington | $77,900 |
| Alaska | $76,320 |
| Idaho | $76,090 |
| North Carolina | $75,850 |
| Indiana | $74,810 |
| Texas | $74,250 |
| Kansas | $73,470 |
| Michigan | $73,310 |
| District of Columbia | $69,220 |
| Montana | $68,230 |
| Virginia | $66,960 |
| Pennsylvania | $66,460 |
| Colorado | $65,820 |
| Oklahoma | $64,870 |
| Wisconsin | $64,250 |
| Maryland | $64,130 |
| Utah | $63,480 |
| Oregon | $63,030 |
| Missouri | $62,870 |
| New Hampshire | $62,510 |
| Maine | $62,330 |
| Ohio | $62,150 |
| Georgia | $61,620 |
| Nevada | $61,480 |
| Arizona | $61,240 |
| Tennessee | $60,740 |
| Iowa | $60,600 |
| Florida | $60,430 |
| New Mexico | $59,130 |
| Kentucky | $57,850 |
| South Carolina | $57,320 |
| Alabama | $57,300 |
| Arkansas | $56,420 |
| Louisiana | $51,150 |
| Hawaii | $49,190 |
| West Virginia | $48,530 |
| Mississippi | $45,860 |
Insurance Sales Agent Salary by State
Insurance sales agents are required to hold a state insurance license, which covers Life and Health or Property and Casualty products depending on your specialization. Compensation varies by state and is influenced by local market size, cost of living, and the types of insurance products sold in each region.
| State | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Minnesota | $78,650 |
| New Jersey | $78,080 |
| Massachusetts | $77,660 |
| Connecticut | $77,090 |
| New York | $75,860 |
| District of Columbia | $75,180 |
| Rhode Island | $74,360 |
| Wisconsin | $70,650 |
| Vermont | $70,390 |
| North Dakota | $65,850 |
| California | $64,990 |
| Hawaii | $63,950 |
| Iowa | $63,150 |
| Alabama | $63,060 |
| Pennsylvania | $62,230 |
| Indiana | $61,710 |
| South Dakota | $61,630 |
| New Hampshire | $61,190 |
| Colorado | $61,020 |
| Kansas | $60,920 |
| Oregon | $60,710 |
| Maine | $60,630 |
| Maryland | $60,120 |
| Ohio | $59,990 |
| Delaware | $59,910 |
| Florida | $59,790 |
| Missouri | $59,680 |
| Kentucky | $59,590 |
| Virginia | $59,570 |
| Arizona | $59,400 |
| Illinois | $59,340 |
| Michigan | $58,910 |
| Washington | $58,660 |
| Nebraska | $58,480 |
| Montana | $57,360 |
| North Carolina | $57,110 |
| Wyoming | $55,770 |
| Louisiana | $55,590 |
| Alaska | $54,720 |
| Utah | $52,440 |
| South Carolina | $51,550 |
| Arkansas | $51,280 |
| Georgia | $50,210 |
| Tennessee | $49,130 |
| Idaho | $48,140 |
| Mississippi | $47,550 |
| Texas | $47,530 |
| New Mexico | $46,990 |
| Oklahoma | $45,550 |
| Nevada | $44,990 |
| West Virginia | $44,080 |
Frequently Asked Questions
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Written By: Micah Wolf | Learning Group | Managing Editor
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