Financial Advisor Pay

Charlottesville vs Radford: Financial Advisor Salary (2026)

Compare financial advisor salaries between Charlottesville, VA and Radford, VA. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Charlottesville, VA
$131,129
$63.04/hr
Radford, VA
$82,540
$39.68/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricCharlottesville, VARadford, VA
Median Salary$131,129$82,540
Hourly Rate$63.04$39.68
Entry Level (P10)$57,497$47,873
25th Percentile$82,764$60,766
75th Percentile$222,519$105,651
Top Earner (P90)$438,323$127,937
Total Employed2006
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Charlottesville ($131,129) and Radford ($82,540) financial advisor salaries.CharlottesvilleRadfordMedian Salary$131,129$82,540Entry Level (P10)$57,497$47,873Top Earner (P90)$438,323$127,937US Median $108,537

Verdict

Charlottesville, VA offers better overall compensation for financial advisors, winning 4 out of 4 metrics compared to Radford.

The salary gap between Charlottesville and Radford is $48,589 (58.87%). Charlottesville's median is +20.82% compared to the US national median of $108,537.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Charlottesville spans $380,826,Radford spans $80,064. Charlottesville has a wider pay range, meaning more potential for high earners but also more variation.

Charlottesville
P10 (Entry)$57,497
P25$82,764
Median$131,129
P75$222,519
P90 (Top)$438,323
Radford
P10 (Entry)$47,873
P25$60,766
Median$82,540
P75$105,651
P90 (Top)$127,937

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Charlottesville ($132,258 effective) pays 65.36% more than Radford ($79,981 effective).

Charlottesville
Nominal: $131,129
CoL Index: 99.146
Adjusted: $132,258
Radford
Nominal: $82,540
CoL Index: 103.2
Adjusted: $79,981

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

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Charlottesville if…

  • Higher median salary ($131,129/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($438,323)
  • Larger job market (200 employed)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $132,258)
  • You prefer the Virginia area and lifestyle

Choose Radford if…

  • You prefer the Virginia area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, financial advisor salaries in Charlottesville grew 14.5% from 2019 to 2025, compared to -31.4% growth in Radford over the same period.

Charlottesville, VA

+14.5%

$110,910 (2019) → $126,940 (2025)

Radford, VA

+-31.4%

$116,470 (2024) → $79,903 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays financial advisors more: Charlottesville or Radford?

Charlottesville has a higher median financial advisor salary at $131,129/year, compared to Radford at $82,540/year — a difference of $48,589 (58.87%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Charlottesville and Radford?

Charlottesville financial advisors earn $63.04/hr while Radford hygienists earn $39.68/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Charlottesville to Radford as a financial advisor?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Charlottesville and Radford. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Charlottesville = $132,258, Radford = $79,981), job availability (200 vs 6 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level financial advisors earn in Charlottesville vs Radford?

Entry-level (10th percentile) financial advisors earn $57,497 in Charlottesville and $47,873 in Radford. The Charlottesville area offers higher starting salaries.
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