Salary data is based on the Yuma, AZ metropolitan area and applied to Yuma using local cost-of-living adjustments.

Credit Counselors Salaries in Yuma, AZ

Average Base Pay

$52,341/yr

3% below national average

Monthly

$4,362

Hourly

$25

Cost Index

Credit Counselors in Yuma, AZ earn an average of $52,341 per year, with most salaries falling between $41,873 and $62,809 depending on experience, employer, and specialization. At 3% below the national average, Yuma offers a more modest rate for this role, in part reflecting a local cost of living index of 91. For professionals evaluating a move or negotiating an offer, the headline salary is only part of the picture—what matters most is how far that income actually goes once taxes, rent, and daily expenses are factored in. The sections below break that down in full for Yuma.

Salary Range

The chart below shows the full compensation spectrum for this role, from entry-level to senior positions. The highlighted center bars represent the 25th–75th percentile band where most professionals are paid.

$39K
Low

$52K
Median

$65K
High

25th percentile: $44K75th percentile: $60K

About Credit Counselors

Financial Advisors help individuals and families plan for financial goals including retirement, education funding, wealth accumulation, and estate preservation. They assess clients' financial situations, develop comprehensive plans, recommend investment strategies, and provide ongoing guidance as circumstances change. Advisors manage client relationships, building trust through consistent communication, sound advice, and transparency about fees and conflicts of interest. The advisory model varies: fee-only advisors charge flat or hourly fees and avoid product commissions, while broker-dealer-affiliated advisors may earn commissions on product sales. Fiduciary advisors are legally required to act in the client's best interest—a standard that is increasingly expected across the profession. Financial advisors must understand investments across asset classes, tax-advantaged account structures, insurance products, estate planning tools, and retirement distribution strategies. They collaborate with clients' attorneys and accountants to coordinate tax and estate plans. Licensure requirements depend on services offered: securities advice requires Series 65 or 66 licensure; securities sales require Series 7. The CFP (Certified Financial Planner) designation is the most recognized professional credential.

What Credit Counselors Do

Assess clients' financial situations through data gathering and goal-setting interviews
Develop comprehensive financial plans covering investments, taxes, insurance, and estate planning
Recommend asset allocation strategies aligned with client goals and risk tolerance
Monitor client portfolios and rebalance as market conditions or goals change
Educate clients on investment options, tax implications, and financial planning concepts
Coordinate with attorneys and CPAs to implement estate and tax strategies
Prospect and build a client base through referrals and networking
Maintain compliance with regulatory requirements and fiduciary standards

Key Skills & Qualifications

Investment analysis and portfolio construction
Retirement planning and distribution strategy
Tax planning fundamentals and account structure knowledge
Estate planning concepts including trusts and beneficiary designations
Client relationship management and interpersonal communication
Financial planning software such as eMoney or MoneyGuidePro
CFP certification and Series 65/66 or Series 7 licensure
Business development and client acquisition skills

Career Path

Financial Planning Associate
Financial Advisor
Senior Financial Advisor
Branch Manager / Wealth Manager
Partner / RIA Principal

Credit Counselors Market in Yuma, AZ

Salary Competitiveness

Yuma salaries for Credit Counselors track closely with the national median, diverging by less than 4%. This alignment suggests a competitive but balanced local market—employers are broadly in step with national pay scales, which can make benchmark comparisons more reliable when negotiating.

Cost of Living Impact

Yuma sits close to the national cost average. Monthly essential expenses represent about 74% of take-home pay for this role—a midrange ratio that allows for modest savings and discretionary spending, provided housing costs remain stable.

Effective Purchasing Power

Despite a competitive gross salary, a Credit Counselors earning $52,341 in Yuma operates in a tight purchasing-power band once taxes and local cost of living are applied. Careful planning around housing, transportation, and discretionary spending is essential to avoid running negative disposable income month to month.

vs. National Avg

-3%

Cost Pressure

74%

Purchasing Power

Tight

Take-Home Pay Calculator

Enter any gross salary to see how federal and state taxes affect your actual take-home pay, broken down by year, month, and week. Results use an estimated effective tax rate of 27% based on this location and income level.

Annual Salary

Take-home (73%)Taxes (27%)

Annual Net

$38,209

Monthly

$3,184

Weekly

$735

Eff. Tax Rate

27%

A gross salary of $52,341 for a Credit Counselors in Yuma translates to roughly $3,184 in monthly take-home pay after estimated federal and state taxes. Set against monthly living costs of $2,358—covering housing, food, transportation, utilities, and healthcare—that leaves approximately $826 per month in disposable income. That margin, not the gross number, is what determines whether you can comfortably cover rent, build savings, and afford discretionary spending in Yuma's current market.

How far does this salary go in Yuma?

Cost of Living in Yuma

Estimated monthly expenses for a single person in Yuma, benchmarked against US regional price indices for housing, food, transportation, utilities, and healthcare.

Cost Index

Below Avg — US average is 100. Based on a single person (1-bed apartment).

🏠Housing / Rent$1,356/mo

🍔Food & Groceries$452/mo

🚗Transportation$122/mo

💡Utilities$159/mo

🏥Healthcare$269/mo

Monthly$2,358

Annual$28,296

Disposable Income$826

Financial Reality Check

This section compares estimated monthly take-home pay against typical living costs in Yuma to show your real disposable income—the amount remaining after essential bills are paid each month.

Monthly Take-Home

$3,184

Living Costs

$2,358

Disposable

$826

Cost Index

Lifestyle

Tight

With a monthly take-home of $3,184, your estimated living costs in Yuma are $2,358 ($28,296/yr). This leaves $826 per month in disposable income, indicating a tight standard of living. Yuma's cost of living is 9% below the national average.

Overall, a Credit Counselors earning $52,341 in Yuma falls into a tight lifestyle tier and will need to budget carefully—essential costs consume a significant share of take-home pay, leaving limited room for savings or emergencies. With a cost index of 91, Yuma is 9% more affordable than the national average, which extends your purchasing power. Regardless of tier, prioritizing retirement contributions, an emergency fund of three to six months' expenses, and incremental debt reduction will yield the greatest long-term financial stability—especially as living costs in Yuma continue to evolve.