Mid-Level

Sales Advisor

The financial sales professional โ€” helping clients buy and sell securities while providing market guidance.

Career Level
Junior
Mid
Senior
Director
VP
Executive
Work Personality
E
C
S
I
A
R
Enterprisingleading, persuading
Conventionalorganizing, detail-oriented
Based on Holland Code framework
Job markets for Sales Advisors
Employment concentration ยท ~367 areas
Based on employment in related occupations
Mapped SOC categories:
BLS Occupational Employment Statistics
What it's like

What it's like to be a Sales Advisor

As a Sales Advisor in financial services, you help clients make investment decisions. You're buying and selling securities, explaining market conditions, recommending strategies, and building relationships with clients who trust you with their money. This is sales with significant advisory and fiduciary components.

Your day involves client meetings, market research, trade execution, and prospecting. You might start reviewing overnight market movements, then call clients to discuss portfolio adjustments, meet with a prospect to discuss their financial goals, and execute trades based on client instructions. You need market knowledge, relationship skills, and sales ability.

The challenge is that you're selling in a highly regulated environment where compliance matters. You need to balance sales targets with fiduciary responsibilities. The best advisors genuinely help clients achieve their goals โ€” which builds trust that leads to assets under management growth and referrals.

AchievementAbove avg
Working ConditionsAbove avg
IndependenceAbove avg
RelationshipsModerate
RecognitionModerate
SupportModerate
O*NET Work Values survey
StrategyExecution
StructuredAdaptable
ManagingContributing
CollaborativeIndependent
Client segmentProduct scopeFirm typeCompensation modelRegulatory environment
Financial sales roles vary by firm type and client segment. Wirehouse advisors have extensive resources but less independence. Independent advisors have more flexibility but less support. Client segment matters โ€” high-net-worth advisory differs from mass-market. Compensation ranges from salary to pure commission to fee-based advisory models.
โœฆ Editorial โ€” written by Truest from industry research and career patterns
Career Paths

Where this role sits in the broader career landscape โ€” and where it can take you.

$239K$179K$119K$60K$0KLower paying387 metro areas, sorted by salary level
All experience levels1
This level's estimated range
INDUSTRIES PAYING ABOVE AVERAGE
1 BLS OEWS May 2024 covers all Sales Advisors (SOC 41-3031.00), not just this title ยท BEA RPP 2023
* Top salaries exceed this figure. BLS caps reported wages at ~$240K to protect individual privacy in high-earning roles.
Exploring the Sales Advisor career path? Truest helps you figure out if it's the right fit โ€” and plan your path forward.
Explore career tools
1
Financial planning
Moving from transactional to comprehensive planning increases value
2
Relationship management
Long-term client relationships drive sustainable success
3
Market knowledge
Credible investment guidance requires ongoing education
What's the compensation structure โ€” commission, fee-based, or salary?
What support exists for building a book of business?
What products am I able to sell?
How does compliance and supervision work?
What technology and research tools are provided?
โœฆ Editorial โ€” career progression and interview guidance based on industry patterns
The Broader Landscape

Roles like this one sit within a broader occupational category. The numbers below reflect that full landscape โ€” helpful for context, but your specific experience will depend on level, specialty, and where you work.

$47Kโ€“$215K
Salary Range
10th โ€“ 90th percentile
472K
U.S. Employment
+3.3%
10yr Growth
38K
Annual Openings

How this category is changing

$64K$61K$58K$55K$52K201920202021202220232024$52K$64K
BLS OEWS May 2024 ยท BLS Employment Projections 2024โ€“2034

Skills & Requirements

Critical ThinkingActive ListeningMonitoringJudgment and Decision MakingSpeakingPersuasionActive LearningReading ComprehensionWritingSocial Perceptiveness
O*NET OnLine ยท Bureau of Labor Statistics
41-3031.00

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Federal data: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (May 2024) ยท BLS Employment Projections ยท O*NET OnLine
Truest editorial: Fit check, role profile, things that vary, advancement analysis, lateral moves, interview questions.