How the national numbers differ
1Financial Advisor / Planner has the edge on median pay
Financial Advisor / Planner is at $105,070, compared with $52,830 for Real Estate Agent.
Typical preparation differs.
Financial Advisor / Planner: Bachelor's degree; More than 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing Real Estate Agent: High school diploma or equivalent; More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing Preparation categories do not establish admission difficulty, calendar time, tuition, time without earnings, or licensing difficulty.
Real Estate Agent has the edge on annual openings
Real Estate Agent is at 32,600 annual openings, compared with 17,100 annual openings for Financial Advisor / Planner.
Real Estate Agent has the edge on projected growth
Real Estate Agent is at 1.7% projected growth, compared with 1.4% projected growth for Financial Advisor / Planner.
61.3/ 100Financial Advisor / Planner
vs
53.5/ 100Real Estate Agent
Each available metric is ranked from 0 to 100 against the careers on ChooseField. The weighted average uses this profile: pay 30%, growth 25%, openings 30%, preparation level 15%. Missing values are not scored as zero; their weights are redistributed across available metrics. Occupation size has zero weight: employment is not accessible vacancies. Preparation categories do not measure admission difficulty or years without earnings. The score summarizes national measures; local opportunities and personal fit still need separate consideration.
Detailed evidence
Financial Advisor / Planner vs Real Estate Agent
| Dimension | Financial Advisor / Planner | Real Estate Agent |
|---|
| Median pay (2025) | $105,070 | $52,830 |
|---|
| Pay percentile | 85.9 percentile | 38.3 percentile |
|---|
| Projected growth (2025–2035) | 1.4% | 1.7% |
|---|
| Annual openings (2025–2035) | 17,100 | 32,600 |
|---|
| 2025 employment | 299,400 | 427,000 |
|---|
| How you qualify | Bachelor's degree; More than 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing | High school diploma or equivalent; More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing |
| O*NET preparation group | Job Zone 4 | Job Zone 3 |
| Related work experience | No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary. | No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary. |
| On-the-job training | More than 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing. | More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing. |
The table reports national benchmarks and reviewed work descriptions. It does not rate personal suitability, job security, or physical safety.
