Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
A Finance Aid Advisor plays a pivotal role in assisting students with their financial aid applications, helping them secure funding for their education. The average salary for a Finance Aid Advisor is $37,791 annually, which translates to approximately $18 per hour. This salary can vary significantly based on experience, location, and the specific institution.
Entry-level advisors can expect to earn less, while those with several years of experience often see increases in their salaries. Many advisors also enjoy benefits such as health insurance and retirement plans, enhancing their overall compensation packages.
Geographic location plays a crucial role in salary variations. States with a higher cost of living, like California and New York, tend to offer higher salaries for finance aid advisors. Conversely, states with a lower cost of living may offer salaries closer to the average.
Finance Aid Advisors can advance their careers by gaining additional certifications or specializing in specific areas of financial aid. This not only increases earning potential but also enhances job satisfaction as they develop expertise in helping students navigate financial challenges.
Let Zippi find your next finance aid advisor job
Let Zippi find your next finance aid advisor job
The highest-paying states for finance aid advisors are New York, Connecticut, and Delaware. The lowest average finance aid advisor salary states are South Dakota, Oklahoma, and Washington.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $49,123 | $23.62 |
| 2 | Connecticut | $46,573 | $22.39 |
| 3 | New Jersey | $46,327 | $22.27 |
| 4 | Delaware | $46,525 | $22.37 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $46,111 | $22.17 |
| 6 | Missouri | $41,906 | $20.15 |
| 7 | New Hampshire | $44,732 | $21.51 |
| 8 | California | $44,652 | $21.47 |
| 9 | Utah | $40,702 | $19.57 |
| 10 | North Dakota | $41,374 | $19.89 |
| 11 | Mississippi | $42,839 | $20.60 |
| 12 | Massachusetts | $41,674 | $20.04 |
| 13 | Vermont | $43,227 | $20.78 |
| 14 | Alaska | $43,983 | $21.15 |
| 15 | Ohio | $39,070 | $18.78 |
| 16 | Florida | $38,816 | $18.66 |
| 17 | Nebraska | $41,311 | $19.86 |
| 18 | Nevada | $41,373 | $19.89 |
| 19 | Michigan | $36,051 | $17.33 |
| 20 | West Virginia | $39,382 | $18.93 |
| 21 | District of Columbia | $45,808 | $22.02 |
| 22 | Illinois | $36,249 | $17.43 |
| 23 | Pennsylvania | $39,051 | $18.77 |
| 24 | Tennessee | $34,566 | $16.62 |
| 25 | South Carolina | $38,208 | $18.37 |
| 26 | Colorado | $38,442 | $18.48 |
| 27 | Kentucky | $37,672 | $18.11 |
| 28 | North Carolina | $35,614 | $17.12 |
| 29 | Alabama | $35,593 | $17.11 |
| 30 | Minnesota | $34,904 | $16.78 |
| 31 | Wisconsin | $33,193 | $15.96 |
| 32 | Oregon | $34,059 | $16.37 |
| 33 | New Mexico | $34,551 | $16.61 |
| 34 | Hawaii | $35,213 | $16.93 |
| 35 | Georgia | $34,512 | $16.59 |
| 36 | Iowa | $35,416 | $17.03 |
| 37 | Virginia | $34,648 | $16.66 |
| 38 | Kansas | $35,085 | $16.87 |
| 39 | Indiana | $33,282 | $16.00 |
| 40 | Wyoming | $32,574 | $15.66 |
| 41 | Maryland | $34,981 | $16.82 |
| 42 | Texas | $32,124 | $15.44 |
| 43 | Arizona | $32,020 | $15.39 |
| 44 | Washington | $30,265 | $14.55 |
| 45 | Maine | $32,752 | $15.75 |
| 46 | Louisiana | $32,243 | $15.50 |
| 47 | Idaho | $30,162 | $14.50 |
| 48 | South Dakota | $30,832 | $14.82 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $30,070 | $14.46 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $30,562 | $14.69 |
| 51 | Montana | $29,925 | $14.39 |
The highest-paying cities for finance aid advisors are New York, NY, Toms River, NJ, and Fairbanks, AK.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $49,313 | $23.71 |
| 2 | Toms River, NJ | $46,460 | $22.34 |
| 3 | Fairbanks, AK | $45,144 | $21.70 |
| 4 | Santa Barbara, CA | $44,997 | $21.63 |
| 5 | Salt Lake City, UT | $40,652 | $19.54 |
| 6 | Miami, FL | $38,893 | $18.70 |
| 7 | Colorado Springs, CO | $38,552 | $18.53 |
| 8 | Hamilton, OH | $38,184 | $18.36 |
| 9 | Anderson, SC | $37,903 | $18.22 |
| 10 | Chicago, IL | $36,368 | $17.48 |
| 11 | Mount Pleasant, MI | $35,757 | $17.19 |
| 12 | Ottumwa, IA | $35,374 | $17.01 |
| 13 | Hobbs, NM | $35,122 | $16.89 |
| 14 | Manhattan, KS | $34,949 | $16.80 |
| 15 | Brooklyn Park, MN | $34,933 | $16.79 |
| 16 | Fredericksburg, VA | $34,801 | $16.73 |
| 17 | Portland, OR | $33,846 | $16.27 |
| 18 | Laredo, TX | $32,618 | $15.68 |
| 19 | Tulsa, OK | $30,572 | $14.70 |
| 20 | Lewiston, ID | $29,949 | $14.40 |
A finance aid advisor's salary ranges from $28,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $49,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $49,000 | $4,083 | $24 |
| 75th Percentile | $43,000 | $3,583 | $21 |
| Average | $37,791 | $3,149 | $18 |
| 25th Percentile | $32,000 | $2,667 | $15 |
| 10th Percentile | $28,000 | $2,333 | $13 |
The highest paying types of finance aid advisors are savings counselor, finance service advisor, and loan counselor.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Finance Aid Coordinator | $38,925 | $3,244 | $18.71 | 98,992 |
| Finance Aid Officer | $38,163 | $3,180 | $18.35 | 146,154 |
| Finance Aid Counselor | $37,672 | $3,139 | $18.11 | 118,072 |
| Finance Service Advisor | $50,706 | $4,225 | $24.38 | 118,612 |
Top companies hiring finance aid advisors now:
Finance aid advisor salaries at Oakland University and Strategic Education are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average finance aid advisor salary at companies like University of California, Berkeley and University of Colorado Boulder are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oakland University | $53,733 | $25.83 |
| 2 | Strategic Education | $50,179 | $24.12 |
| 3 | University of California-Berkeley | $48,507 | $23.32 |
| 4 | University of Colorado Boulder | $45,033 | $21.65 |
| 5 | Post University, Inc. | $44,479 | $21.38 |
| 6 | COLLEGE OF SOUTHERN MARYLAND | $43,574 | $20.95 |
| 7 | Univ Of Colorado-Colorado Spgs | $43,270 | $20.80 |
| 8 | The City University of New York | $42,845 | $20.60 |
| 9 | University of Houston | $41,388 | $19.90 |
| 10 | University at Albany | $41,275 | $19.84 |
| 11 | North Hennepin Community College | $41,251 | $19.83 |
| 12 | Bryant & Stratton College | $41,165 | $19.79 |
| 13 | Mt. Hood Community College | $41,054 | $19.74 |
| 14 | University of Alaska | $40,822 | $19.63 |
| 15 | International Rescue Committee | $40,744 | $19.59 |
| 16 | University at Buffalo | $40,510 | $19.48 |
| 17 | Concorde Career Colleges | $40,323 | $19.39 |
| 18 | Kankakee Community College | $40,221 | $19.34 |
| 19 | University of the Southwest | $40,212 | $19.33 |
| 20 | Cincinnati State | $40,054 | $19.26 |
The average finance aid advisor salary has risen by $6,335 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average finance aid advisor earned $31,456 annually, but today, they earn $37,791 a year. That works out to a 4% change in pay for finance aid advisors over the last decade.
Compare finance aid advisor salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare finance aid advisor salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $37,800 | $18.17 | +0.5% |
| 2024 | $37,600 | $18.08 | +1.7% |
| 2023 | $37,000 | $17.78 | +1.0% |
| 2022 | $36,600 | $17.59 | +0.7% |
| 2021 | $36,300 | $17.46 | +1.2% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas A&M University | Financial Aid Advisor III | Dallas, TX | 06/30/2025 | $57,000 |
| Minnesota Limited | Lead Financial Aid Advisor | North Mankato, MN | 06/29/2025 | $58,102 |
| Minnesota State | Lead Financial Aid Advisor | North Mankato, MN | 06/29/2025 | $58,102 |
| University of Colorado | Financial Aid Advisor | Denver, CO | 06/29/2025 | $47,966 |
| Flathead Valley Community College | Financial Aid Advisor | Kalispell, MT | 06/29/2025 | $40,000 |
| West Coast University | Financial Aid Advisor | Los Angeles, CA | 06/28/2025 | $59,542 |
| Rmcad | New Start Financial Aid Advisor | Lakewood, CO | 06/28/2025 | $45,079 |
| Minnesota Limited | Financial Aid Advisor-Scholarships-Mnscu Academic Professional 3 | Austin, TX | 06/27/2025 | $58,130 |
| Merced Community College | *Financial Aid Advisor | Merced, CA | 06/27/2025 | $53,748 |
| Staffmark Group | Financial Aid Advisor | Lisle, IL | 06/26/2025 | $45,914 |
Search for finance aid advisor jobs