Financial Advisor Pay

Greenville vs Raleigh: Financial Advisor Salary (2026)

Compare financial advisor salaries between Greenville, NC and Raleigh, NC. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Greenville, NC
$104,633
$50.31/hr
Raleigh, NC
$108,238
$52.03/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricGreenville, NCRaleigh, NC
Median Salary$104,633$108,238
Hourly Rate$50.31$52.03
Entry Level (P10)$54,026$51,402
25th Percentile$60,420$76,928
75th Percentile$137,596$229,026
Top Earner (P90)$328,556$576,672
Total Employed602,340
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Greenville ($104,633) and Raleigh ($108,238) financial advisor salaries.GreenvilleRaleighMedian Salary$104,633$108,238Entry Level (P10)$54,026$51,402Top Earner (P90)$328,556$576,672US Median $108,537

Verdict

Raleigh, NC offers better overall compensation for financial advisors, winning 4 out of 4 metrics compared to Greenville.

The salary gap between Greenville and Raleigh is $3,605 (3.45%). Raleigh's median is -0.28% compared to the US national median of $108,537.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Greenville spans $274,530,Raleigh spans $525,270. Raleigh has a wider pay range, suggesting more variation in pay between entry-level and experienced financial advisors.

Greenville
P10 (Entry)$54,026
P25$60,420
Median$104,633
P75$137,596
P90 (Top)$328,556
Raleigh
P10 (Entry)$51,402
P25$76,928
Median$108,238
P75$229,026
P90 (Top)$576,672

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Greenville ($118,360 effective) pays 7.34% more than Raleigh ($110,270 effective).

Greenville
Nominal: $104,633
CoL Index: 88.402
Adjusted: $118,360
Raleigh
Nominal: $108,238
CoL Index: 98.157
Adjusted: $110,270

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

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Greenville if…

  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $118,360)
  • You prefer the North Carolina area and lifestyle

Choose Raleigh if…

  • Higher median salary ($108,238/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($576,672)
  • Larger job market (2,340 employed)
  • You prefer the North Carolina area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, financial advisor salaries in Greenville grew 80.6% from 2019 to 2025, compared to 19.8% growth in Raleigh over the same period.

Greenville, NC

+80.6%

$56,100 (2019) → $101,290 (2025)

Raleigh, NC

+19.8%

$87,490 (2019) → $104,780 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays financial advisors more: Greenville or Raleigh?

Raleigh has a higher median financial advisor salary at $108,238/year, compared to Greenville at $104,633/year — a difference of $3,605 (3.45%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Greenville and Raleigh?

Greenville financial advisors earn $50.31/hr while Raleigh hygienists earn $52.03/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Greenville to Raleigh as a financial advisor?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Greenville and Raleigh. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Greenville = $118,360, Raleigh = $110,270), job availability (60 vs 2,340 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level financial advisors earn in Greenville vs Raleigh?

Entry-level (10th percentile) financial advisors earn $54,026 in Greenville and $51,402 in Raleigh. The Greenville 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