Financial Planner | Salary & Job Information

Becoming a Financial Planner via Online Education?

At the very least, online education can help you lay a foundation and/or open up alternate career paths. Kaplan University, one of the highest ranking online schools, is a US school (accredited) offering finance courses to train individuals to become top-notch financial managers, finance analysts, financial planners, corporate finance consultants, corporate finance analysts, finance professionals, etc. Currently, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics there are 495,180 people employed as financial managers alone in America, and their average annual salary is $113,730. Budget analysts make on average $69,240 per year and there are about 60,970 of them employed today. Colleges and universities like Kaplan University that provide online education are successfully launching workers into this field.

Typical Work Locations for a Financial Planner
  • in an office
  • in a corporate suite
  • in a finance office
  • in a tax office
  • in a government office
  • for the IRS
  • meeting with clients in a coffee shop
  • going over papers in a warehouse
  • in meetings
  • traveling to meet with clients
Potential Advantages and Benefits of Working as a Financial Planner
  • have dental insurance
  • have vision insurance
  • have a flex spending account plan
  • have life and insurance
  • have business travel accident insurance
  • have retirement and savings
  • have 12 paid holidays
  • have tuition reimbursement
  • have parental leave
  • have take out benefits
Potential Drawbacks
  • work by yourself sometimes
  • be responsible for large sums of money
  • deal with frustrated clients
  • have a great knowledge of finances
  • sometimes work late
  • have to meet all deadlines and appointments
  • keep up with daily changes of finances
  • deal with lack of creativity in workplace
  • set own goals to enjoy job
  • work with math a lot
Related Professions to Consider
  • Investment Banker
  • Consultant
  • Analyst
  • Tax Representative
  • Estate Planner
  • Stock Broker
  • Insurance Salesman
  • Mortgage Broker
  • Pension planner
  • Banker
Possible Interview Questions When Applying to be a Financial Planner
  • What skills and qualifications will you bring to our organization?
  • Please tell us about your approach to financial planning?
  • Please elaborate some services that you offer?
  • Why do you want to work with our organization?
  • What do you think it takes to be successful in an organization like this?
  • What is your business plan including prospects and how you will grow that business?
  • Describe how you networked to achieve an important goal and what were the results.?
  • Describe a situation where you had to perform under pressure and what were the results?
  • What will it take to attain your goals and what steps have you taken toward attaining them?
  • At what point did you choose this career?
Common Collaborating Professions
  • Financial advisor
  • Financial Trainer
  • Finance Manager
  • Finance analyst
  • Finance Minister
  • Chated Account
  • Finance director
  • Accountant
  • Finance Supervisor
  • Finance Leader
Financial Planner Training books Financial Planner (More) Popular books Potential Companies to Work For Common College Majors
  • accounting
  • advertising
  • business
  • communications
  • construction management
  • finance
  • financial management
  • financial planning
  • hospitality management
  • human resources

Financial Planner Salary Information

Category: Financial managers

Total # Employed in the US 495,180
Average Hourly Wage: $54.68/hr
Hourly Wage Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$26.33 $35.35 $48.65 $66.35 $0.0
Average Yearly Salary $113,730
Yearly Salary Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$54,760 $73,530 $101,190 $138,010 $0
Employment Demographics
% OF WORKERS WITH
< High School Diploma High School Diploma Some College Associate Degree Bachelor Degree Master Degree Doctoral Degree
1.0% 12.4% 19.5% 7.9% 40.0% 17.1% 2.1%
Financial managers — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
STATEAverage Hourly WageAverage Annual Salary
Oklahoma $71.19/hr $148,070
District of Columbia $63.37/hr $131,810
North Dakota $62.74/hr $130,500
Colorado $61.59/hr $128,100
Missouri $58.83/hr $122,370
Florida $58.2/hr $121,050
Nebraska $56.28/hr $117,050
Connecticut $55.91/hr $116,300
Kansas $54.93/hr $114,250
Wyoming $54.39/hr $113,120
Virginia $54.24/hr $112,810
Hawaii $53.83/hr $111,970
South Carolina $53.1/hr $110,440
Delaware $52.86/hr $109,950
Oregon $52.46/hr $109,120
Idaho $51.87/hr $107,880
Puerto Rico $51.68/hr $107,500
New Hampshire $51.47/hr $107,060
New Mexico $50.83/hr $105,730
Mississippi $50.51/hr $105,050
Tennessee $50.51/hr $105,060
West Virginia $49.48/hr $102,920
Utah $49.24/hr $102,410
Kentucky $48.63/hr $101,150
Montana $48.18/hr $100,210
Alabama $47.94/hr $99,710
North Carolina $47.93/hr $99,690
Guam $46.23/hr $96,150
New York $45.91/hr $95,490
Arkansas $45.27/hr $94,160
Louisiana $45.26/hr $94,130
Washington $44.77/hr $93,120
Indiana $42.47/hr $88,340
Alaska $42.2/hr $87,770
Ohio $42.04/hr $87,440
Pennsylvania $41.38/hr $86,060
Maine $41.27/hr $85,830
South Dakota $39.55/hr $82,260
Maryland $39.24/hr $81,620
Wisconsin $39.15/hr $81,430
Michigan $38.7/hr $80,490
Massachusetts $38.57/hr $80,220
California $38.25/hr $79,550
Nevada $37.29/hr $77,570
Iowa $35.5/hr $73,850
New Jersey $35.04/hr $72,890


Category: Budget analysts

Total # Employed in the US 60,970
Average Hourly Wage: $33.29/hr
Hourly Wage Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$20.95 $25.7 $32.05 $39.96 $48.5
Average Yearly Salary $69,240
Yearly Salary Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$43,570 $53,460 $66,660 $83,110 $100,880
Employment Demographics
% OF WORKERS WITH
< High School Diploma High School Diploma Some College Associate Degree Bachelor Degree Master Degree Doctoral Degree
0.7% 7.2% 16.3% 7.5% 42.4% 24.4% 1.6%
Budget analysts — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
STATEAverage Hourly WageAverage Annual Salary
Florida $39.67/hr $82,510
Colorado $36.7/hr $76,340
Delaware $35.58/hr $74,010
Mississippi $35.45/hr $73,740
Virginia $35.11/hr $73,020
Missouri $34.6/hr $71,960
North Dakota $34.27/hr $71,270
New York $34.19/hr $71,110
Kansas $34.07/hr $70,860
Connecticut $33.33/hr $69,320
Alabama $33.07/hr $68,780
South Carolina $32.87/hr $68,360
Indiana $32.79/hr $68,210
Iowa $32.73/hr $68,080
North Carolina $32.69/hr $67,990
Nebraska $32.44/hr $67,470
Idaho $32.18/hr $66,940
Montana $32.05/hr $66,670
Alaska $32.04/hr $66,640
Wyoming $31.78/hr $66,110
Ohio $31.78/hr $66,110
Utah $31.54/hr $65,600
Guam $31.45/hr $65,410
Oklahoma $31.1/hr $64,690
New Hampshire $30.93/hr $64,320
Oregon $30.83/hr $64,140
Kentucky $30.73/hr $63,930
Arkansas $30.55/hr $63,540
Tennessee $30.35/hr $63,120
Hawaii $30.18/hr $62,770
District of Columbia $29.61/hr $61,590
Pennsylvania $29.36/hr $61,070
Wisconsin $29.24/hr $60,830
Michigan $29.21/hr $60,750
Louisiana $28.92/hr $60,150
Puerto Rico $28.73/hr $59,770
Maine $28.63/hr $59,550
Washington $28.36/hr $58,980
New Mexico $28.07/hr $58,390
Nevada $27.95/hr $58,140
California $27.49/hr $57,180
Massachusetts $26.71/hr $55,560
South Dakota $26.3/hr $54,700
New Jersey $26.27/hr $54,640
Maryland $26.21/hr $54,510
West Virginia $25.19/hr $52,400


Category: Financial analysts

Total # Employed in the US 235,240
Average Hourly Wage: $40.98/hr
Hourly Wage Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$21.19 $26.75 $35.42 $47.56 $67.0
Average Yearly Salary $85,240
Yearly Salary Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$44,080 $55,640 $73,670 $98,920 $139,350
Employment Demographics
% OF WORKERS WITH
< High School Diploma High School Diploma Some College Associate Degree Bachelor Degree Master Degree Doctoral Degree
0.9% 4.4% 10.1% 2.7% 44.6% 31.0% 6.2%
Financial analysts — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
STATEAverage Hourly WageAverage Annual Salary
Oklahoma $51.75/hr $107,650
Colorado $46.61/hr $96,960
Delaware $45.69/hr $95,040
Missouri $45.08/hr $93,760
Tennessee $43.83/hr $91,170
Florida $42.91/hr $89,260
Connecticut $40.68/hr $84,620
Kansas $40.59/hr $84,420
Michigan $39.96/hr $83,120
District of Columbia $39.17/hr $81,480
Mississippi $39.15/hr $81,420
Wyoming $38.4/hr $79,860
North Dakota $38.24/hr $79,540
Indiana $37.6/hr $78,210
Montana $37.35/hr $77,680
Utah $37.19/hr $77,360
Maine $37.09/hr $77,160
Idaho $36.88/hr $76,710
Alaska $36.63/hr $76,190
Puerto Rico $36.24/hr $75,370
Nebraska $36.23/hr $75,360
Oregon $36.17/hr $75,230
Ohio $35.74/hr $74,340
New Hampshire $35.34/hr $73,520
South Carolina $35.19/hr $73,200
Massachusetts $33.62/hr $69,940
Wisconsin $33.55/hr $69,790
Kentucky $33.03/hr $68,690
Hawaii $32.79/hr $68,210
North Carolina $32.5/hr $67,590
Arkansas $32.13/hr $66,820
Nevada $31.89/hr $66,340
Louisiana $31.46/hr $65,430
Maryland $31.24/hr $64,980
Virginia $30.94/hr $64,350
Alabama $30.55/hr $63,540
Iowa $30.29/hr $63,000
New York $30.14/hr $62,680
Guam $30.01/hr $62,420
New Jersey $29.97/hr $62,340
South Dakota $29.93/hr $62,260
Washington $29.6/hr $61,570
California $29.07/hr $60,470
Pennsylvania $29.05/hr $60,420
New Mexico $28.12/hr $58,490
West Virginia $26.36/hr $54,830


Category: Loan counselors

Total # Employed in the US 30,360
Average Hourly Wage: $19.68/hr
Hourly Wage Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$12.8 $14.89 $17.94 $22.38 $29.43
Average Yearly Salary $40,930
Yearly Salary Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$26,630 $30,970 $37,320 $46,550 $61,210
Employment Demographics
% OF WORKERS WITH
< High School Diploma High School Diploma Some College Associate Degree Bachelor Degree Master Degree Doctoral Degree
1.1% 15.4% 25.5% 10.1% 39.5% 7.5% 0.9%
Loan counselors — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
STATEAverage Hourly WageAverage Annual Salary
Michigan $25.78/hr $53,610
Mississippi $23.16/hr $48,180
California $23.06/hr $47,960
Oklahoma $22.49/hr $46,770
Kansas $22.4/hr $46,600
Connecticut $22.09/hr $45,940
Indiana $22.08/hr $45,920
Missouri $22.05/hr $45,860
Delaware $21.76/hr $45,260
Montana $21.63/hr $44,980
Nevada $21.61/hr $44,950
North Carolina $21.47/hr $44,650
Idaho $21.07/hr $43,820
North Dakota $20.79/hr $43,250
Colorado $20.73/hr $43,110
Hawaii $20.63/hr $42,910
New Jersey $20.61/hr $42,860
Massachusetts $20.49/hr $42,610
New Mexico $20.49/hr $42,620
New York $20.39/hr $42,410
Pennsylvania $20.21/hr $42,030
Virginia $20.19/hr $42,000
Guam $20.11/hr $41,820
Utah $19.71/hr $41,000
Tennessee $19.43/hr $40,410
New Hampshire $19.27/hr $40,090
Nebraska $19.19/hr $39,910
South Carolina $19.09/hr $39,720
Kentucky $19.01/hr $39,550
Washington $18.99/hr $39,490
District of Columbia $18.94/hr $39,390
Wisconsin $18.75/hr $39,000
Maryland $18.5/hr $38,470
Puerto Rico $18.44/hr $38,350
Arkansas $18.37/hr $38,210
Alaska $18.27/hr $38,000
Wyoming $17.92/hr $37,270
Iowa $17.45/hr $36,300
Louisiana $17.25/hr $35,870
Oregon $16.39/hr $34,090
Alabama $16.12/hr $33,530
South Dakota $15.36/hr $31,960
Maine $15.35/hr $31,940


Category: Financial specialists, all other

Total # Employed in the US 153,720
Average Hourly Wage: $31.16/hr
Hourly Wage Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$16.87 $21.18 $28.05 $37.63 $49.31
Average Yearly Salary $64,810
Yearly Salary Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$35,100 $44,050 $58,350 $78,280 $102,560
Employment Demographics
% OF WORKERS WITH
< High School Diploma High School Diploma Some College Associate Degree Bachelor Degree Master Degree Doctoral Degree
2.2% 15.8% 21.1% 10.0% 34.1% 13.9% 2.9%
Financial specialists, all other — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
STATEAverage Hourly WageAverage Annual Salary
Florida $43.46/hr $90,410
Delaware $38.77/hr $80,650
Missouri $34.91/hr $72,610
Kansas $34.77/hr $72,320
Oklahoma $33.78/hr $70,260
Colorado $32.56/hr $67,730
Connecticut $32.46/hr $67,510
Nevada $32.26/hr $67,100
Indiana $31.91/hr $66,370
Maine $31.89/hr $66,330
West Virginia $31.67/hr $65,880
North Dakota $31.64/hr $65,810
South Carolina $31.45/hr $65,410
Oregon $31.17/hr $64,830
Mississippi $31.03/hr $64,530
Utah $31.02/hr $64,510
Alabama $30.91/hr $64,280
North Carolina $30.82/hr $64,100
Montana $29.98/hr $62,350
New Hampshire $29.64/hr $61,660
South Dakota $29.61/hr $61,590
Wisconsin $29.45/hr $61,260
Guam $29.28/hr $60,900
New Mexico $29.15/hr $60,640
Wyoming $29.13/hr $60,590
Washington $29.11/hr $60,540
Nebraska $28.86/hr $60,030
Alaska $28.72/hr $59,740
Tennessee $28.51/hr $59,300
Kentucky $28.3/hr $58,870
Hawaii $28.26/hr $58,790
Puerto Rico $28.21/hr $58,670
Ohio $27.99/hr $58,220
New York $26.99/hr $56,130
Iowa $26.77/hr $55,680
Idaho $26.69/hr $55,510
Virginia $26.36/hr $54,820
Michigan $25.94/hr $53,940
Arkansas $24.76/hr $51,490
Maryland $24.68/hr $51,340
New Jersey $24.47/hr $50,890
Louisiana $24.21/hr $50,350
California $22.93/hr $47,680
Pennsylvania $22.56/hr $46,920


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