Financial Advisor Pay

Louisville vs Owensboro: Financial Advisor Salary (2026)

Compare financial advisor salaries between Louisville, KY and Owensboro, KY. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Louisville, KY
$81,628
$39.24/hr
Owensboro, KY
$74,820
$35.97/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricLouisville, KYOwensboro, KY
Median Salary$81,628$74,820
Hourly Rate$39.24$35.97
Entry Level (P10)$47,344$42,208
25th Percentile$58,772$57,548
75th Percentile$104,484$123,960
Top Earner (P90)$126,523$237,549
Total Employed13250
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Louisville ($81,628) and Owensboro ($74,820) financial advisor salaries.LouisvilleOwensboroMedian Salary$81,628$74,820Entry Level (P10)$47,344$42,208Top Earner (P90)$126,523$237,549US Median $108,537

Verdict

Louisville, KY offers better overall compensation for financial advisors, winning 3 out of 4 metrics compared to Owensboro.

The salary gap between Louisville and Owensboro is $6,808 (9.10%). Louisville's median is -24.79% compared to the US national median of $108,537.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Louisville spans $79,179,Owensboro spans $195,341. Owensboro has a wider pay range, suggesting more variation in pay between entry-level and experienced financial advisors.

Louisville
P10 (Entry)$47,344
P25$58,772
Median$81,628
P75$104,484
P90 (Top)$126,523
Owensboro
P10 (Entry)$42,208
P25$57,548
Median$74,820
P75$123,960
P90 (Top)$237,549

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Louisville ($91,409 effective) pays 8.26% more than Owensboro ($84,437 effective).

Louisville
Nominal: $81,628
CoL Index: 89.3
Adjusted: $91,409
Owensboro
Nominal: $74,820
CoL Index: 88.61
Adjusted: $84,437

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

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Louisville if…

  • Higher median salary ($81,628/year)
  • Larger job market (132 employed)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $91,409)
  • You prefer the Kentucky area and lifestyle

Choose Owensboro if…

  • Better top-earner potential ($237,549)
  • You prefer the Kentucky area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, financial advisor salaries in Louisville grew -1.0% from 2024 to 2025, compared to 4.8% growth in Owensboro over the same period.

Louisville, KY

+-1.0%

$79,834 (2024) → $79,020 (2025)

Owensboro, KY

+4.8%

$69,120 (2020) → $72,430 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays financial advisors more: Louisville or Owensboro?

Louisville has a higher median financial advisor salary at $81,628/year, compared to Owensboro at $74,820/year — a difference of $6,808 (9.10%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Louisville and Owensboro?

Louisville financial advisors earn $39.24/hr while Owensboro hygienists earn $35.97/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Louisville to Owensboro as a financial advisor?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Louisville and Owensboro. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Louisville = $91,409, Owensboro = $84,437), job availability (132 vs 50 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level financial advisors earn in Louisville vs Owensboro?

Entry-level (10th percentile) financial advisors earn $47,344 in Louisville and $42,208 in Owensboro. The Louisville 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