Financial Advisor Salary in Iowa: $99,278 (2026)
Quick Answer:Across Iowa's 26 metropolitan areas, the average median financial advisor pay sits at $99,278/year heading into 2026 — a figure projected from 2025 BLS OEWS wage data for SOC 13-2052. Because Iowa sits at BEA RPP 90.4 (10% below the U.S. baseline), that statewide median translates to roughly $109,821 in nationally-comparable purchasing power. Highest-paying metros: Davenport ($124,540), Sioux City ($98,200), Des Moines ($94,270).
In Iowa, financial advisor salaries are projected to have an average median of $99,279 in 2026, which is about 8.5% lower than the national median of $108,537. The highest-paying city in the state is Davenport, where advisors can earn $128,650. In contrast, Fort Dodge offers the lowest salaries at $87,193. This significant $41,457 gap is primarily driven by local economic conditions, client demographics, and competition levels in each area. Factors unique to Iowa, such as state licensing requirements and specific scope of practice laws, can influence earnings as well. There is a steady demand for financial advisors in the state, with a projected annual growth rate of 3.30%, according to 2025 BLS data. Major cities like Sioux City average $101,441, while Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, and West Des Moines range from $96,123 to $97,381. Overall, the job market for financial advisors in Iowa remains stable, supporting opportunities for growth and career development in this sector.
Iowa Financial Advisor Salary Range
Overall salary range in Iowa: $43,954 (lowest entry-level) to $602,869 (highest top earner)
Iowa vs National Average
Iowa financial advisors earn 8.53% less than the national median ($-9,259/year difference).
Iowa Financial Advisor Salary Distribution (2026)
Financial Advisor salaries in Iowa range from $54,469 (entry-level, 10th percentile) to $273,626 (top earners, 90th percentile), with a median of $99,278. The Iowa median is $9,259 below the US national median of $108,537. The average hourly rate is $47.73/hr. Approximately 1,656 financial advisors are employed across 26 cities.
2019 BLS Actual
$69,357
2025 BLS Actual
$96,107
2026 Current Est.
$99,278
2019–2027 Growth
+47.9%
Salary Trajectory for Financial Advisors in Iowa (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.30% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $69,357 | Actual |
| 2020 | $75,193 | Actual |
| 2021 | $79,612 | Actual |
| 2022 | $84,280 | Actual |
| 2023 | $81,765 | Actual |
| 2024 | $85,783 | Actual |
| 2025 | $96,107 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $99,278 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $102,554 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Iowa metropolitan area, the median financial advisor salary grew 38.6% from $69,357 (2019) to $96,107 (2025). At a 3.30% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $102,554 by 2027 — a total increase of $33,197 (47.86%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Iowa 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.
Top 5 Highest Paying Cities in Iowa
Lowest Paying Cities in Iowa
| City | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Fort Dodge | $87,193 |
| Johnston | $88,166 |
| Ottumwa | $88,379 |
| Muscatine | $88,715 |
| Clinton | $89,137 |
Best Value Cities for Financial Advisors in Iowa
When adjusted for local cost of living, these Iowa cities offer the most purchasing power for financial advisors.
| City | Nominal Salary | CoL Index | Adjusted Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Davenport | $128,650 | 89.079 | $144,422 |
| Sioux City | $101,441 | 86.454 | $117,335 |
| Cedar Rapids | $96,400 | 88.963 | $108,360 |
| Waterloo | $93,507 | 87.057 | $107,409 |
| West Des Moines | $96,123 | 90.4 | $106,331 |
Adjusted salary = nominal salary × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average. Lower index = lower cost of living.
Salary by Experience Level in Iowa
| Experience Level | Estimated Annual |
|---|---|
| Entry Level (0-2 years) | $54,469 |
| Mid Career (3-7 years) | $99,278 |
| Experienced (7+ years) | $273,626 |
Estimates based on BLS percentile data averaged across Iowa metro areas. Individual pay varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
All 26 Cities in Iowa
| # | City | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Davenport | $128,650 |
| 2 | Sioux City | $101,441 |
| 3 | Des Moines | $97,381 |
| 4 | Cedar Rapids | $96,400 |
| 5 | West Des Moines | $96,123 |
| 6 | Cedar Falls | $95,501 |
| 7 | Ames | $93,579 |
| 8 | Waterloo | $93,507 |
| 9 | Marion | $93,404 |
| 10 | Iowa City | $92,825 |
| 11 | Dubuque | $92,660 |
| 12 | Ankeny | $92,313 |
| 13 | Council Bluffs | $91,733 |
| 14 | Burlington | $91,208 |
| 15 | Waukee | $90,879 |
| 16 | Urbandale | $90,757 |
| 17 | Bettendorf | $90,750 |
| 18 | Marshalltown | $90,470 |
| 19 | Coralville | $90,351 |
| 20 | Mason City | $89,932 |
| 21 | North Liberty | $89,580 |
| 22 | Clinton | $89,137 |
| 23 | Muscatine | $88,715 |
| 24 | Ottumwa | $88,379 |
| 25 | Johnston | $88,166 |
| 26 | Fort Dodge | $87,193 |
More Iowa Salary Data
Senior / Experienced
Top earner salaries for experienced financial advisors.
Explore More Financial Advisor Salary Data
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do financial advisors make in Iowa in 2026?
What is the highest paying city for financial advisors in Iowa?
How does Iowa financial advisor pay compare to the national average?
What is the entry-level financial advisor salary in Iowa?
How many financial advisors are employed in Iowa?
Which Iowa city offers the best value for financial advisors?
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
Statewide 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. A 3.30% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to each metro area's reported salary to estimate current 2026 financial advisor compensation across Iowa. State averages are employment-weighted across 26 metro areas — larger metro areas with more financial advisorscontribute proportionally more to the average, producing figures that better reflect typical compensation. Individual pay varies by city, employer, certifications, and experience.
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