Financial Advisor Salary in Asheville, NC: $105,521 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time financial advisor in Asheville, NC earns a median $105,521/year (≈ $50.73/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 13-2052). Once you factor in Asheville's price level (3% below national, BEA RPP 96.5), that paycheck buys what $109,341 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 1.1% above the North Carolina state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, financial advisors in Asheville, North Carolina, are projected to earn a median annual salary of $105,521, slightly below the national median of $108,537. The salary range for this profession in the region spans from $46,764 at the 10th percentile to as high as $249,862 at the 90th percentile, reflecting a diverse landscape of compensation based on experience and client base. This data, derived from official Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) surveys, highlights the evolving nature of financial advisor compensation, particularly as the market trends toward fee-only fiduciary models. As more advisors pursue Certified Financial Planner (CFP) credentials to command premium salaries, Asheville's financial advisory sector is becoming increasingly competitive, presenting opportunities for growth in an economy driven by a mix of wirehouses and independent firms.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $46,764 | $22.48 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $60,503 | $29.09 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $105,521 | $50.73 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $141,748 | $68.15 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $249,862 | $120.13 |
Median Salary Position
2.78% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Asheville
In Asheville, NC, the financial advisor salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $203,098 (2026 est.). At $105,521, the local median is 2.78% below the national median of $108,537.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Asheville: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Asheville Financial Advisor Pay Compares
Asheville median: $105,521/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Asheville Pays |
|---|---|---|
| North Carolina Average | $104,373 | +1.10% more |
| National Average | $108,537 | -2.78% less |
Financial Advisors in Asheville, NC earn a median of $105,521 per year (2026 est.), which is 2.78% lower than the national median of $108,537 and 1.10% above the North Carolina state average of $104,373.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Asheville has a cost of living 3.49% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Asheville, NC has a cost-of-living index of 96.506 (below the national average of 100). A financial advisor earning $105,521 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $109,341 in an average-cost city — an effective 3.62% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$78,330
2025 BLS Actual
$102,150
2026 Current Est.
$105,521
2019–2027 Growth
+39.2%
Salary Trajectory for Financial Advisors in Asheville (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.30% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $78,330 | Actual |
| 2020 | $80,040 | Actual |
| 2021 | $79,110 | Actual |
| 2022 | $86,950 | Actual |
| 2023 | $99,820 | Actual |
| 2024 | $117,730 | Actual |
| 2025 | $102,150 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $105,521 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $109,003 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Asheville metropolitan area, the median financial advisor salary grew 30.4% from $78,330 (2019) to $102,150 (2025). At a 3.30% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $109,003 by 2027 — a total increase of $30,673 (39.16%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Asheville 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) | $46,764 – $60,503 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $60,503 – $105,521 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $105,521 – $141,748 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $141,748 – $249,862 |
CFP, FA salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual financial advisor compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Financial Advisor Job Market in Asheville
Focusing on Asheville’s job market reveals a stable base of 230 employed financial advisors, which provides a robust context for those considering a career in the field. The cost of living in the area, reflected in a CoL index of 96.506, offers a favorable environment for take-home purchasing power, making the compensation figures attractive in comparison to other regions. Notably, organizations where advisors find top pay include industry leaders like Merrill Lynch and UBS, as well as fee-only fiduciaries. The wide range in salaries is driven by various factors, including the advisor's assets under management (AUM) and the type of fee model they employ, with fiduciaries typically charging around 1% of AUM whereas wirehouses often operate on a commission basis. To maximize earnings in Asheville, aspiring advisors should consider obtaining credentials such as the CFP or CFA, building a strong client base of high-net-worth individuals, and exploring independent advisory models that can offer attractive compensation packages.
More salary data for Asheville, NC:
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 $102,150 for financial advisorsin the Asheville 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