Financial Advisor Salary in Missoula, MT: $78,746 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time financial advisor in Missoula, MT earns a median $78,746/year (≈ $37.86/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 13-2052). Once you factor in Missoula's price level (4% below national, BEA RPP 96.4), that paycheck buys what $81,649 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 21.8% below the Montana state average.
Official BLS data · View source
Financial advisors in Missoula, Montana, can expect a median annual salary of $78,746 in 2026, which is significantly lower than the national median of $108,537. The projected salary range for financial advisors in this area runs from $39,244 at the 10th percentile to $218,387 at the 90th percentile. These figures, derived from 2025 BLS OEWS data, suggest a diverse earning potential largely influenced by the structural divide between wirehouses and Registered Investment Advisors (RIAs). Advisors affiliated with wirehouses often use a commission-based model, whereas RIAs primarily operate on an assets under management (AUM) basis, which can markedly affect compensation. Given Missoula’s unique market dynamics, understanding the pay structure is key for this workforce.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $39,244 | $18.86 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $56,825 | $27.32 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $78,746 | $37.86 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $151,768 | $72.97 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $218,387 | $104.99 |
Median Salary Position
27.45% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Missoula
In Missoula, MT, the financial advisor salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $179,143 (2026 est.). At $78,746, the local median is 27.45% below the national median of $108,537.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Missoula: You'd be in the entry-level range
How Missoula Financial Advisor Pay Compares
Missoula median: $78,746/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Missoula Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Montana Average | $100,698 | -21.80% less |
| National Average | $108,537 | -27.45% less |
Financial Advisors in Missoula, MT earn a median of $78,746 per year (2026 est.), which is 27.45% lower than the national median of $108,537 and 21.80% below the Montana state average of $100,698.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Missoula has a cost of living 3.56% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Missoula, MT has a cost-of-living index of 96.445 (below the national average of 100). A financial advisor earning $78,746 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $81,649 in an average-cost city — an effective 3.69% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$63,737
2025 BLS Actual
$76,230
2026 Current Est.
$78,746
2019–2027 Growth
+27.6%
Salary Trajectory for Financial Advisors in Missoula (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.30% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $63,737 | Actual |
| 2020 | $64,810 | Actual |
| 2021 | $101,140 | Actual |
| 2022 | $80,060 | Actual |
| 2023 | $83,770 | Actual |
| 2024 | $87,210 | Actual |
| 2025 | $76,230 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $78,746 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $81,344 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Missoula metropolitan area, the median financial advisor salary grew 19.6% from $63,737 (2019) to $76,230 (2025). At a 3.30% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $81,344 by 2027 — a total increase of $17,607 (27.62%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Missoula 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) | $39,244 – $56,825 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $56,825 – $78,746 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $78,746 – $151,768 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $151,768 – $218,387 |
CFP, FA salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual financial advisor compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Financial Advisor Job Market in Missoula
The job market for financial advisors in Missoula consists of around 100 professionals, indicating a competitive yet stable environment in which to build a career. The cost of living index in Missoula is 96.445, which is below the national average, suggesting that the local salaries might afford a decent quality of life despite being lower than national figures. Among local employers, wirehouses such as Morgan Stanley and Merrill Lynch typically offer the highest compensation packages due to their larger AUM but may require financial advisors to navigate complex commission structures and corporate employment models. To maximize earnings in Missoula, advisors can focus on building a strong client base, pursuing credentials like CFP or CFA which prestigious RIAs value, and exploring fee-only advisory roles that could enhance income stability and growth potential. Understanding these nuances can offer locals clarity on how to position themselves advantageously within the financial advisor pay landscape in Missoula MT.
More salary data for Missoula, MT:
Frequently Asked Questions
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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 $76,230 for financial advisorsin the Missoula 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, 5-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