Financial Advisor Pay

Salisbury vs Winston: Financial Advisor Salary (2026)

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

Salisbury, NC
$102,568
$49.32/hr
Winston, NC
$103,878
$49.95/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricSalisbury, NCWinston, NC
Median Salary$102,568$103,878
Hourly Rate$49.32$49.95
Entry Level (P10)$59,489$46,919
25th Percentile$73,849$72,300
75th Percentile$131,286$180,351
Top Earner (P90)$158,980$512,781
Total Employed6590
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Salisbury ($102,568) and Winston ($103,878) financial advisor salaries.SalisburyWinstonMedian Salary$102,568$103,878Entry Level (P10)$59,489$46,919Top Earner (P90)$158,980$512,781US Median $108,537

Verdict

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

The salary gap between Salisbury and Winston is $1,310 (1.28%). Winston's median is -4.29% compared to the US national median of $108,537.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Salisbury spans $99,491,Winston spans $465,862. Winston has a wider pay range, suggesting more variation in pay between entry-level and experienced financial advisors.

Salisbury
P10 (Entry)$59,489
P25$73,849
Median$102,568
P75$131,286
P90 (Top)$158,980
Winston
P10 (Entry)$46,919
P25$72,300
Median$103,878
P75$180,351
P90 (Top)$512,781

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Winston ($112,858 effective) pays 2.99% more than Salisbury ($109,581 effective).

Salisbury
Nominal: $102,568
CoL Index: 93.6
Adjusted: $109,581
Winston
Nominal: $103,878
CoL Index: 92.043
Adjusted: $112,858

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

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Salisbury if…

  • You prefer the North Carolina area and lifestyle

Choose Winston if…

  • Higher median salary ($103,878/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($512,781)
  • Larger job market (590 employed)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $112,858)
  • You prefer the North Carolina area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, financial advisor salaries in Salisbury grew 2.8% from 2024 to 2025, compared to 37.8% growth in Winston over the same period.

Salisbury, NC

+2.8%

$96,579 (2024) → $99,291 (2025)

Winston, NC

+37.8%

$72,960 (2019) → $100,560 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays financial advisors more: Salisbury or Winston?

Winston has a higher median financial advisor salary at $103,878/year, compared to Salisbury at $102,568/year — a difference of $1,310 (1.28%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Salisbury and Winston?

Salisbury financial advisors earn $49.32/hr while Winston hygienists earn $49.95/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Salisbury to Winston as a financial advisor?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Salisbury and Winston. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Salisbury = $109,581, Winston = $112,858), job availability (6 vs 590 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level financial advisors earn in Salisbury vs Winston?

Entry-level (10th percentile) financial advisors earn $59,489 in Salisbury and $46,919 in Winston. The Salisbury 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