California may be heavily in debt, but it's still the Golden State as far as financial planners are concerned. Planners in the Pacific states posted the highest total compensation (salary plus bonus or incentive) of any region in the United States, according to an online salary survey taken in April by the Financial Planning Association. Planners in New England take home the highest salaries, however, with $96,000. The poll also suggested paydays will grow in 2011. And that's the case whether you have facial hair, or wear heels and lipstick. Women who work as senior financial planners make about 96 percent of the compensation of their male counterparts, the report says, while American women working full-time nationally get 80 percent Strong demand for talented staff is one reason for the narrower gender gap, says Rebecca King, the FPA's research manager. (There are other exceptions. See below for more on that).
