Financial Advisor Pay

Abilene vs Houston: Financial Advisor Salary (2026)

Compare financial advisor salaries between Abilene, TX and Houston, TX. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Abilene, TX
$86,638
$41.65/hr
Houston, TX
$102,195
$49.13/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricAbilene, TXHouston, TX
Median Salary$86,638$102,195
Hourly Rate$41.65$49.13
Entry Level (P10)$41,351$50,741
25th Percentile$46,340$74,655
75th Percentile$177,170$167,646
Top Earner (P90)$423,179$334,682
Total Employed504,130
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Abilene ($86,638) and Houston ($102,195) financial advisor salaries.AbileneHoustonMedian Salary$86,638$102,195Entry Level (P10)$41,351$50,741Top Earner (P90)$423,179$334,682US Median $108,537

Verdict

Houston, TX offers better overall compensation for financial advisors, winning 3 out of 4 metrics compared to Abilene.

The salary gap between Abilene and Houston is $15,557 (17.96%). Houston's median is -5.84% compared to the US national median of $108,537.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Abilene spans $381,828,Houston spans $283,941. Abilene has a wider pay range, meaning more potential for high earners but also more variation.

Abilene
P10 (Entry)$41,351
P25$46,340
Median$86,638
P75$177,170
P90 (Top)$423,179
Houston
P10 (Entry)$50,741
P25$74,655
Median$102,195
P75$167,646
P90 (Top)$334,682

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Houston ($103,616 effective) pays 8.07% more than Abilene ($95,877 effective).

Abilene
Nominal: $86,638
CoL Index: 90.364
Adjusted: $95,877
Houston
Nominal: $102,195
CoL Index: 98.629
Adjusted: $103,616

Cost-of-living adjustment: salary × (100 / CoL index). Index of 100 = national average.

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Abilene if…

  • Better top-earner potential ($423,179)
  • You prefer the Texas area and lifestyle

Choose Houston if…

  • Higher median salary ($102,195/year)
  • Larger job market (4,130 employed)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $103,616)
  • You prefer the Texas area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, financial advisor salaries in Abilene grew 10.0% from 2019 to 2025, compared to 25.3% growth in Houston over the same period.

Abilene, TX

+10.0%

$76,260 (2019) → $83,870 (2025)

Houston, TX

+25.3%

$78,960 (2019) → $98,930 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays financial advisors more: Abilene or Houston?

Houston has a higher median financial advisor salary at $102,195/year, compared to Abilene at $86,638/year — a difference of $15,557 (17.96%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Abilene and Houston?

Abilene financial advisors earn $41.65/hr while Houston hygienists earn $49.13/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Abilene to Houston as a financial advisor?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Abilene and Houston. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Abilene = $95,877, Houston = $103,616), job availability (50 vs 4,130 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level financial advisors earn in Abilene vs Houston?

Entry-level (10th percentile) financial advisors earn $41,351 in Abilene and $50,741 in Houston. The Houston area offers higher starting salaries.

Related Comparisons

JL

Written by Jordan Lee, CFP

Career Analyst

Jordan has over 10 years of experience in financial planning. They specialize in retirement planning for individuals. They work at a financial services firm in New York City.

Clinically reviewed by Sophia Martinez, CFAData verified by Ethan Wang, ChFC

Methodology & Data Source

All salary figures are 2026 projections based on BLS OEWS May 2025 data. A 3.30% CAGR (derived from 6-year national BLS trends) was applied to estimate current compensation. Cost-of-living adjustments use BEA Regional Price Parity data. Actual salaries vary by employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS , released .

Compiled and verified by Jordan Lee, CFP, a licensed financial advisor with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov