Money · 1 of 5

What financial planners make

Median

$105,070

Starting out

$50,190

Top tenth

$357,020

The national median is $105,070 a year and the bottom tenth start near $50,190. The top figure is unusually high, $357,020, because many advisors own their practice and are paid a share of the money they manage rather than a salary. That top number belongs to business owners with decades of clients, not to employees.