Retirement Plan Consultant Salary in the United States

How much does a Retirement Plan Consultant make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Retirement Plan Consultant in the United States is $62,396 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $30.

However, a Retirement Plan Consultant's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $82,053
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $55,863 to $72,685
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $49,916

Key Factors That Influence Retirement Plan Consultant Salaries

A Retirement Plan Consultant's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Retirement Plan Consultant Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Retirement Plan Consultant's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $59,556
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $59,745
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $61,639
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $65,422
  • Expert (over 8 years): $66,935
Levels Salary
Entry Level Retirement Plan Consultant$59,556
Intermediate Level Retirement Plan Consultant$59,745
Senior Level Retirement Plan Consultant$61,639
Specialist Level Retirement Plan Consultant$65,422
Expert Level Retirement Plan Consultant$66,935

Top Paying Cities for Retirement Plan Consultants

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $78,700
  • San Francisco: $77,838
  • Oakland: $76,198

What Skills Can Increase a Retirement Plan Consultant's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Planning (Mentioned in 8.19% Job Postings): An act or process of making or carrying out plans. Establishment of goals, policies, and procedures for a social or economic unit city planning business planning.
  • Microsoft Excel (Mentioned in 2.22% Job Postings): Microsoft Excel is a spreadsheet developed by Microsoft for Windows, macOS, Android and iOS. It features calculation or computation capabilities, graphing tools, pivot tables, and a macro programming language called Visual Basic for Applications.
  • Workday (Mentioned in 1.74% Job Postings): A cloud-based human resource management software system that unifies a wide range of HR functionality into a single system.
Skills Demand Percentage
Planning 8.19%
Microsoft Excel 2.22%
Workday 1.74%

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Retirement Plan Consultant's salary.

  • Consulting: Can increase your salary by up to 21%.
  • Leadership: Can increase your salary by up to 19%.
  • Loan Review: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Consulting $75,499
21%
Leadership $74,251
19%
Loan Review $68,011
9%

Retirement Plan Consultant Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Retirement Plan Consultant roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Insurance, offers compensation 20% above the average. Conversely, Retirement Plan Consultant positions in Business Services typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Retirement Plan Consultant as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Retirement Plan Consultant

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Insurance$74,875$36.020%

How Education impacts a Retirement Plan Consultant's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Retirement Plan Consultants enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Retirement Plan Consultant with a Bachelor's Degree is between $61,813 and $68,170).

Retirement Plan Consultant Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Retirement Plan Consultant
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.6%
High School 15.2%
Associates 8.0%
Bachelors 64.8%
Masters 10.4%
Doctorate 0.0%

Retirement Plan Consultant Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Retirement Plan Consultant's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$55,863
Average $62,396/year
$72,685
$4,655
Average $5,200/month
$6,057
$1,074
Average $1,200/week
$1,398
$27
Average $30/hour
$35
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $72,685 $6,057 $1,398 $35
Average $62,396 $5,200 $1,200 $30
25th Percentile $55,863 $4,655 $1,074 $27

Most common benefits for Retirement Plan Consultant

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Retirement Plan Consultant

Here are companies hiring for Retirement Plan Consultant and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Retirement Plan Consultant

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Retirement Plan Consultant?

The Insurance industry offers the highest average compensation for Retirement Plan Consultant roles, with salaries approximately 20% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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