How adviser salaries stack up to other jobs

It’s only natural to wonder how much you could be making if you had dedicated your life to another profession, such as information technology, engineering or medicine.
Scroll down our listicle to find out! You can see how most financial advice industry roles pay compared to other careers and how long it’s taking in different professions to rake in six-figure salaries.
We compared data from the recent InvestmentNews 2017 Adviser Compensation & Staffing Study, which collected compensation information from more than 350 firms for over 4,300 positions, against data gathered from Salary.com to evaluate how adviser compensation compares to other seasoned professionals in the workforce today.
(More: Advice firms in a tricky financial position)
Here is how they stacked up.
For more details on the 30 unique positions, visit investmentnews.com/dashboard.

1. Service Adviser vs. Software Developer

Service Adviser

Median Total Compensation: $97,255
Years of Experience: 9
Title Description: Manages existing client relationships, in some cases with a more experienced adviser. The position may be responsible for formulating and implementing advice but may also rely on technical specialists to develop recommendations within an individual specialist’s area of expertise.

Senior Software Developer

Median Total Compensation: $95,125
Years of Experience: 5–6
Title Description: Consults with clients and other project team members to design, build and manage websites. Develops installation programs for websites.
2. Senior Portfolio Manager vs. Electrical Engineer

Senior Portfolio Manager

Median Total Compensation: $150,000
Years of Experience: 12
Title Description: Actively manages a client portfolio using individual securities or a combination of securities and third-party managers. In some cases, participates in or develops investment strategy. This position is an internal manager, rather than a client relationship manager.

Electrical Engineer

Median Total Compensation: $136,825
Years of Experience: 10–14
Title Description: Responsible for the design, development, and testing of electrical equipment, components, or systems. Applies mathematical and engineering principles and methods to electrical system designs.
3. Lead advisers vs. Information Security Director

Lead advisers

Median Total Compensation: $163,190
Years of Experience: 17
Title Description: Primary managers of the client relationship and are the most experienced advisers in the firm. The position has responsibility for managing existing client relationships, and formulating and implementing advice, but may rely on investment specialists or service advisers to develop recommendations within an individual specialist’s area of expertise.

Information Security Director

Median Total Compensation: $165,934
Years of Experience: 10–14
Title Description: Establishes and administers the overall strategies and procedures for the information security function. Develops and implements information security and disaster recovery programs in accordance with organizational information security standards.
4. COO vs. Psychiatrist

Chief Operating Officer

Median Total Compensation: $200,000
Years of Experience: 20
Title Description: Has primary responsibility for the firm’s operations. In some cases, develops new business, manages relationships, provides advice or services clients.

Psychiatrist

Median Total Compensation: $215,290
Years of Experience: 10–14
Title Description: Evaluates patients for mental, emotional or behavioral disorders. Diagnoses disorders, including nature and extent, and determines the appropriate course of treatment for the patient. Prescribes medication when necessary.
5. Practicing Partners vs. Patent Attorneys

Practicing Partner

Median Total Compensation: $247,000
Years of Experience: 20
Title Description: Has broad responsibilities in the areas of new business development, client relationships, service and management. With the CEO/partners, makes leadership, planning and executive management decisions to achieve the firm’s strategic objectives.

Patent Attorney

Median Total Compensation: $233,560
Years of Experience: 10–15
Title Description: Plans and directs all aspects of an organization’s patent related legal issues. Provides patent expertise to other departments where needed.
6. CEOs vs. Surgeons

Chief Executive Officer

Median Total Compensation: $299,920
Years of Experience: 27
Title Description: Serves as the head of the firm and makes leadership, planning and broad executive management decisions to achieve the firm’s strategic objectives. Develops new business, manages relationships, provides advice and, in some cases, services clients.

Surgeon

Median Total Compensation: $371,248
Years of Experience: 10–14
Title Description: Performs surgery to prevent and correct injuries, deformities, diseases or improve patient function, appearance or quality of life.
Sources: InvestmentNews 2017 Adviser Compensation & Staffing Study and Salary.com
Web production by Ellie Zhu