Financial Advisor Pay

Indianapolis vs Richmond: Financial Advisor Salary (2026)

Compare financial advisor salaries between Indianapolis, IN and Richmond, IN. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Indianapolis, IN
$106,027
$50.98/hr
Richmond, IN
$78,817
$37.89/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricIndianapolis, INRichmond, IN
Median Salary$106,027$78,817
Hourly Rate$50.98$37.89
Entry Level (P10)$46,630$45,713
25th Percentile$64,521$57,505
75th Percentile$175,920$100,886
Top Earner (P90)$440,244$122,166
Total Employed2,4007
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Indianapolis ($106,027) and Richmond ($78,817) financial advisor salaries.IndianapolisRichmondMedian Salary$106,027$78,817Entry Level (P10)$46,630$45,713Top Earner (P90)$440,244$122,166US Median $108,537

Verdict

Indianapolis, IN offers better overall compensation for financial advisors, winning 4 out of 4 metrics compared to Richmond.

The salary gap between Indianapolis and Richmond is $27,210 (34.52%). Indianapolis's median is -2.31% compared to the US national median of $108,537.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Indianapolis spans $393,614,Richmond spans $76,453. Indianapolis has a wider pay range, meaning more potential for high earners but also more variation.

Indianapolis
P10 (Entry)$46,630
P25$64,521
Median$106,027
P75$175,920
P90 (Top)$440,244
Richmond
P10 (Entry)$45,713
P25$57,505
Median$78,817
P75$100,886
P90 (Top)$122,166

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Indianapolis ($110,796 effective) pays 28.34% more than Richmond ($86,327 effective).

Indianapolis
Nominal: $106,027
CoL Index: 95.696
Adjusted: $110,796
Richmond
Nominal: $78,817
CoL Index: 91.3
Adjusted: $86,327

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

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Indianapolis if…

  • Higher median salary ($106,027/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($440,244)
  • Larger job market (2,400 employed)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $110,796)
  • You prefer the Indiana area and lifestyle

Choose Richmond if…

  • You prefer the Indiana area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, financial advisor salaries in Indianapolis grew -0.9% from 2019 to 2025, compared to -2.4% growth in Richmond over the same period.

Indianapolis, IN

+-0.9%

$103,600 (2019) → $102,640 (2025)

Richmond, IN

+-2.4%

$78,186 (2024) → $76,299 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays financial advisors more: Indianapolis or Richmond?

Indianapolis has a higher median financial advisor salary at $106,027/year, compared to Richmond at $78,817/year — a difference of $27,210 (34.52%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Indianapolis and Richmond?

Indianapolis financial advisors earn $50.98/hr while Richmond hygienists earn $37.89/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Indianapolis to Richmond as a financial advisor?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Indianapolis and Richmond. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Indianapolis = $110,796, Richmond = $86,327), job availability (2,400 vs 7 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level financial advisors earn in Indianapolis vs Richmond?

Entry-level (10th percentile) financial advisors earn $46,630 in Indianapolis and $45,713 in Richmond. The Indianapolis 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