Financial Advisor Pay

Oak Harbor vs Seattle: Financial Advisor Salary (2026)

Compare financial advisor salaries between Oak Harbor, WA and Seattle, WA. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Oak Harbor, WA
$98,231
$47.23/hr
Seattle, WA
$118,320
$56.89/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricOak Harbor, WASeattle, WA
Median Salary$98,231$118,320
Hourly Rate$47.23$56.89
Entry Level (P10)$56,974$59,769
25th Percentile$70,726$80,998
75th Percentile$125,736$185,413
Top Earner (P90)$152,258$449,396
Total Employed53,940
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Oak Harbor ($98,231) and Seattle ($118,320) financial advisor salaries.Oak HarborSeattleMedian Salary$98,231$118,320Entry Level (P10)$56,974$59,769Top Earner (P90)$152,258$449,396US Median $108,537

Verdict

Seattle, WA offers better overall compensation for financial advisors, winning 4 out of 4 metrics compared to Oak Harbor.

The salary gap between Oak Harbor and Seattle is $20,089 (20.45%). Seattle's median is +9.01% compared to the US national median of $108,537.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Oak Harbor spans $95,284,Seattle spans $389,627. Seattle has a wider pay range, suggesting more variation in pay between entry-level and experienced financial advisors.

Oak Harbor
P10 (Entry)$56,974
P25$70,726
Median$98,231
P75$125,736
P90 (Top)$152,258
Seattle
P10 (Entry)$59,769
P25$80,998
Median$118,320
P75$185,413
P90 (Top)$449,396

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Seattle ($106,467 effective) pays 16.40% more than Oak Harbor ($91,463 effective).

Oak Harbor
Nominal: $98,231
CoL Index: 107.4
Adjusted: $91,463
Seattle
Nominal: $118,320
CoL Index: 111.133
Adjusted: $106,467

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

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Oak Harbor if…

  • You prefer the Washington area and lifestyle

Choose Seattle if…

  • Higher median salary ($118,320/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($449,396)
  • Larger job market (3,940 employed)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $106,467)
  • You prefer the Washington area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, financial advisor salaries in Oak Harbor grew -20.6% from 2024 to 2025, compared to 7.1% growth in Seattle over the same period.

Oak Harbor, WA

+-20.6%

$119,752 (2024) → $95,093 (2025)

Seattle, WA

+7.1%

$106,950 (2019) → $114,540 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays financial advisors more: Oak Harbor or Seattle?

Seattle has a higher median financial advisor salary at $118,320/year, compared to Oak Harbor at $98,231/year — a difference of $20,089 (20.45%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Oak Harbor and Seattle?

Oak Harbor financial advisors earn $47.23/hr while Seattle hygienists earn $56.89/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Oak Harbor to Seattle as a financial advisor?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Oak Harbor and Seattle. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Oak Harbor = $91,463, Seattle = $106,467), job availability (5 vs 3,940 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level financial advisors earn in Oak Harbor vs Seattle?

Entry-level (10th percentile) financial advisors earn $56,974 in Oak Harbor and $59,769 in Seattle. The Seattle 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