Financial Advisor Salary in Columbus, GA: $106,213 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time financial advisor in Columbus, GA earns a median $106,213/year (≈ $51.07/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 13-2052). Once you factor in Columbus's price level (11% below national, BEA RPP 89.3), that paycheck buys what $118,945 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 4.8% above the Georgia state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, financial advisors in Columbus, Georgia, are projected to earn a median annual salary of $106,213, slightly below the national average of $108,537. This reflects a growing demand for qualified financial professionals, particularly those with the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designation, which is increasingly seen as the gold standard in the industry. The salary range for financial advisors in this market spans from $49,532 at the 10th percentile to an impressive $449,407 at the 90th percentile, underscoring the potential for lucrative earnings in this career path. This data, derived from official Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) surveys, highlights Columbus as a promising location for financial advisors, especially as fee-only firms gain traction over traditional commission-based models.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $49,532 | $23.81 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $66,391 | $31.92 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $106,213 | $51.07 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $210,246 | $101.08 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $449,407 | $216.06 |
Median Salary Position
2.14% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Columbus
In Columbus, GA, the financial advisor salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $399,875 (2026 est.). At $106,213, the local median is 2.14% below the national median of $108,537.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Columbus: You'd be in the entry-level range
How Columbus Financial Advisor Pay Compares
Columbus median: $106,213/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Columbus Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Georgia Average | $101,348 | +4.80% more |
| National Average | $108,537 | -2.14% less |
Financial Advisors in Columbus, GA earn a median of $106,213 per year (2026 est.), which is 2.14% lower than the national median of $108,537 and 4.80% above the Georgia state average of $101,348.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Columbus has a cost of living 10.70% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Columbus, GA has a cost-of-living index of 89.296 (below the national average of 100). A financial advisor earning $106,213 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $118,945 in an average-cost city — an effective 11.99% boost.
Compare Purchasing Power
Select a city to see how your salary compares after cost of living
Select a city above to compare purchasing power
2019 BLS Actual
$56,170
2025 BLS Actual
$102,820
2026 Current Est.
$106,213
2019–2027 Growth
+95.3%
Salary Trajectory for Financial Advisors in Columbus (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.30% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $56,170 | Actual |
| 2020 | $56,410 | Actual |
| 2021 | $70,350 | Actual |
| 2022 | $88,980 | Actual |
| 2023 | $80,400 | Actual |
| 2024 | $93,920 | Actual |
| 2025 | $102,820 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $106,213 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $109,718 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Columbus metropolitan area, the median financial advisor salary grew 83.1% from $56,170 (2019) to $102,820 (2025). At a 3.30% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $109,718 by 2027 — a total increase of $53,548 (95.33%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Columbus metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 3.30% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $49,532 – $66,391 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $66,391 – $106,213 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $106,213 – $210,246 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $210,246 – $449,407 |
CFP, FA salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual financial advisor compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Financial Advisor Job Market in Columbus
In Columbus, the job market remains robust, with approximately 150 financial advisors employed in the area. The cost-of-living index in Columbus stands at 89.296, indicating that living expenses are below the national average, thus enhancing the take-home purchasing power for financial planners. Notably, independent Registered Investment Advisors (RIAs) and those affiliated with firms like Edward Jones and Northwestern Mutual tend to offer some of the more competitive salaries within Columbus. Variations in financial advisor pay in Columbus GA are influenced by several factors, such as a firm's assets under management (AUM), fee structures, and client demographics. Financial advisors can maximize their earnings by focusing on building a high net worth client base and obtaining credentials like the CFP or CFA, which can command a premium in this evolving landscape.
More salary data for Columbus, GA:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do financial advisors make in Columbus, GA in 2026?
Is Columbus, GA a good place to work as a financial advisor?
Can financial advisors make $100K in Columbus?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted financial advisor salary in Columbus?
How much does a financial advisor make per hour in Columbus?
Related Pages
Compare Salaries
Career Resources
Nearby Cities in Georgia
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.
Methodology & Data Source
Salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $102,820 for financial advisorsin the Columbus metropolitan area. A 3.30% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.30%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for financial advisors (SOC 13-2052).
Compiled and verified by Jordan Lee, CFP, a licensed financial advisor with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov