Financial Advisor Pay

Brea vs Sacramento: Financial Advisor Salary (2026)

Compare financial advisor salaries between Brea, CA and Sacramento, CA. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Brea, CA
$109,358
$52.58/hr
Sacramento, CA
$132,172
$63.55/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricBrea, CASacramento, CA
Median Salary$109,358$132,172
Hourly Rate$52.58$63.55
Entry Level (P10)$63,427$70,905
25th Percentile$78,737$96,751
75th Percentile$139,978$158,824
Top Earner (P90)$169,504$325,447
Total Employed101,260
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Brea ($109,358) and Sacramento ($132,172) financial advisor salaries.BreaSacramentoMedian Salary$109,358$132,172Entry Level (P10)$63,427$70,905Top Earner (P90)$169,504$325,447US Median $108,537

Verdict

Sacramento, CA offers better overall compensation for financial advisors, winning 4 out of 4 metrics compared to Brea.

The salary gap between Brea and Sacramento is $22,814 (20.86%). Sacramento's median is +21.78% compared to the US national median of $108,537.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Brea spans $106,077,Sacramento spans $254,542. Sacramento has a wider pay range, suggesting more variation in pay between entry-level and experienced financial advisors.

Brea
P10 (Entry)$63,427
P25$78,737
Median$109,358
P75$139,978
P90 (Top)$169,504
Sacramento
P10 (Entry)$70,905
P25$96,751
Median$132,172
P75$158,824
P90 (Top)$325,447

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Sacramento ($123,907 effective) pays 28.15% more than Brea ($96,691 effective).

Brea
Nominal: $109,358
CoL Index: 113.1
Adjusted: $96,691
Sacramento
Nominal: $132,172
CoL Index: 106.67
Adjusted: $123,907

Cost-of-living adjustment: salary × (100 / CoL index). Index of 100 = national average.

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Brea if…

  • You prefer the California area and lifestyle

Choose Sacramento if…

  • Higher median salary ($132,172/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($325,447)
  • Larger job market (1,260 employed)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $123,907)
  • You prefer the California area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, financial advisor salaries in Brea grew -29.5% from 2024 to 2025, compared to 45.2% growth in Sacramento over the same period.

Brea, CA

+-29.5%

$150,229 (2024) → $105,864 (2025)

Sacramento, CA

+45.2%

$88,140 (2019) → $127,950 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays financial advisors more: Brea or Sacramento?

Sacramento has a higher median financial advisor salary at $132,172/year, compared to Brea at $109,358/year — a difference of $22,814 (20.86%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Brea and Sacramento?

Brea financial advisors earn $52.58/hr while Sacramento hygienists earn $63.55/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Brea to Sacramento as a financial advisor?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Brea and Sacramento. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Brea = $96,691, Sacramento = $123,907), job availability (10 vs 1,260 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level financial advisors earn in Brea vs Sacramento?

Entry-level (10th percentile) financial advisors earn $63,427 in Brea and $70,905 in Sacramento. The Sacramento area offers higher starting salaries.

Related Comparisons

JL

Written by Jordan Lee, CFP

Career Analyst

Jordan has over 10 years of experience in financial planning. They specialize in retirement planning for individuals. They work at a financial services firm in New York City.

Clinically reviewed by Sophia Martinez, CFAData verified by Ethan Wang, ChFC

Methodology & Data Source

All salary figures are 2026 projections based on BLS OEWS May 2025 data. A 3.30% CAGR (derived from 6-year national BLS trends) was applied to estimate current compensation. Cost-of-living adjustments use BEA Regional Price Parity data. Actual salaries vary by employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS , released .

Compiled and verified by Jordan Lee, CFP, a licensed financial advisor with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov