Private Banking & Wealth Mgmt · Senior
Investment Counselor / Advisor Salary
Annual base compensation, national and by market, from 258 named sources. Every figure below says where it came from.
| Market | Multiplier | P25 | P50 | P75 | P90 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York City, NY | 1.40× | $135,000 | $195,000 | $280,000 | $590,000 |
| San Francisco, CA | 1.30× | $125,000 | $180,000 | $260,000 | $540,000 |
| Boston, MA | 1.25× | $120,000 | $175,000 | $250,000 | $520,000 |
| Palm Beach, FL | 1.25× | $120,000 | $175,000 | $250,000 | $520,000 |
| Miami, FL | 1.23× | $115,000 | $170,000 | $245,000 | $510,000 |
| Los Angeles, CA | 1.20× | $115,000 | $170,000 | $240,000 | $500,000 |
| Washington, DC | 1.20× | $115,000 | $170,000 | $240,000 | $500,000 |
| Seattle, WA | 1.15× | $110,000 | $160,000 | $230,000 | $480,000 |
| Chicago, IL | 1.05× | $100,000 | $145,000 | $210,000 | $440,000 |
| Dallas, TX | 1.00× | $95,000 | $140,000 | $200,000 | $420,000 |
What does an Investment Counselor / Advisor do?
The Investment Counselor / Advisor operates within private banks, wealth management firms, and trust companies, serving high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth clients with investment advisory, estate planning, and banking services. Classified at the Senior level, this position draws from a competitive candidate pool, though specialized qualifications and sector-specific experience remain key differentiators in hiring.
What drives Investment Counselor / Advisor compensation?
The median (P50) compensation for an Investment Counselor / Advisor is $140,000, with the 25th to 75th percentile range spanning $95,000 to $200,000. The 75% spread between P25 and P75 reflects significant pay variation driven by book size and client AUM, revenue generated, client segment (HNW vs. UHNW), product complexity, regulatory licensing, and the firm's compensation model (salary + bonus vs. revenue share).
Investment Counselor / Advisor career path
Professionals who move into Investment Counselor / Advisor roles most commonly come from institutional banking, financial advisory, trust and estate law, investment management, or family office operations. From this position, the typical trajectory leads toward managing director and market head positions, regional leadership, or transitioning to independent RIA or multi-family office platforms.
Hiring an Investment Counselor / Advisor?
A search playbook for this seat: compensation positioning against the band above, the sourcing map, and the interview framework.