RateOrchard
State comparison · 2025

Personal Financial Advisors salary: California vs South Dakota

Occupation

Personal Financial Advisors in California earn a median of $130,330. In South Dakota, $128,720. After cost-of-living, the gap is 19% — not 1.3%.

Nominal pay gap
+1.3%
California vs South Dakota
COL-adjusted gap
-19%
After BEA Regional Price Parities

California

Personal Financial Advisors

Median
$130,330
p25
$83,860
p75
$195,420
p10
$67,690
p90
$393,860
COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
110.7
Hiring velocity (180d)
-86%
See full breakdown for California

South Dakota

Personal Financial Advisors

Median
$128,720
p25
$101,200
p75
$204,320
p10
$77,280
p90
$337,140
COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
88.6
See full breakdown for South Dakota

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Cost-of-living adjustment from BEA Regional Price Parities (overall index). Hiring velocity from DOL OFLC public disclosure data, recent 180 days vs prior. See methodology.