Financial Advisor Salary in Chapel Hill, NC: $65,935 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time financial advisor in Chapel Hill, NC earns a median $65,935/year (≈ $31.70/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 13-2052). Once you factor in Chapel Hill's price level (6% below national, BEA RPP 93.6), that paycheck buys what $70,443 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 36.8% below the North Carolina state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In Chapel Hill, North Carolina, financial advisors can anticipate a median annual salary of $65,935 in 2026, a figure significantly lower than the national median of $108,537. The local salary range spans from $38,243 at the 10th percentile to $102,200 for the top 90th percentile, reflecting the structural divide in the financial advisory landscape. Employees from wirehouses might earn different compensation packages compared to those in Registered Investment Advisors (RIAs), who typically follow an assets under management (AUM) model that influences earnings. These estimates are derived from 2025 BLS data, adjusted for local cost factors, illustrating the competitive nature of financial advisor pay in Chapel Hill's unique job market.
About the Chapel Hill Market
Salary estimated from North Carolina average ($105,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $38,243 | $18.39 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $47,474 | $22.82 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $65,935 | $31.70 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $84,397 | $40.58 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $102,200 | $49.13 |
Median Salary Position
39.25% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Chapel Hill
In Chapel Hill, NC, the financial advisor salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $63,957 (2026 est.). At $65,935, the local median is 39.25% below the national median of $108,537.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Chapel Hill: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Chapel Hill Financial Advisor Pay Compares
Chapel Hill median: $65,935/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Chapel Hill Pays |
|---|---|---|
| North Carolina Average | $104,328 | -36.80% less |
| National Average | $108,537 | -39.25% less |
Financial Advisors in Chapel Hill, NC earn a median of $65,935 per year (2026 est.), which is 39.25% lower than the national median of $108,537 and 36.80% below the North Carolina state average of $104,328.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Chapel Hill has a cost of living 6.40% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Chapel Hill, NC has a cost-of-living index of 93.6 (below the national average of 100). A financial advisor earning $65,935 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $70,443 in an average-cost city — an effective 6.84% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$53,368
2025 BLS Actual
$63,829
2026 Current Est.
$65,935
2019–2027 Growth
+27.6%
Salary Trajectory for Financial Advisors in Chapel Hill (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.30% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $53,368 | Actual |
| 2020 | $54,267 | Actual |
| 2021 | $57,207 | Actual |
| 2022 | $57,948 | Actual |
| 2023 | $60,494 | Actual |
| 2024 | $98,111 | Actual |
| 2025 | $63,829 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $65,935 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $68,111 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Chapel Hill metropolitan area, the median financial advisor salary grew 19.6% from $53,368 (2019) to $63,829 (2025). At a 3.30% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $68,111 by 2027 — a total increase of $14,743 (27.63%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Chapel Hill 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) | $38,243 – $47,474 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $47,474 – $65,935 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $65,935 – $84,397 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $84,397 – $102,200 |
CFP, FA salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual financial advisor compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Financial Advisor Job Market in Chapel Hill
Examining the local job market reveals that only nine financial advisors operate in the Chapel Hill area, which underscores a limited but specialized employment landscape. The cost-of-living index stands at 93.6, indicating that daily expenses are below the national average, thereby enhancing take-home purchasing power for those in the profession. Among the major employers, wirehouses such as Morgan Stanley and Merrill Lynch generally offer higher pay due to their commission-based structures, while RIAs might utilize a fee-only approach that rewards practices with larger client portfolios and credentialed advisors, like CFP or CFA holders. Factors such as AUM book size, client concentration, and potential transition packages from wirehouses can create wide variations in earnings. Advisors aiming to maximize their income in Chapel Hill should consider building a robust client base while pursuing additional certifications to enhance their marketability and potential compensation.
More salary data for Chapel Hill, 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 $63,829 for financial advisorsin the Chapel Hill 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
Salary data for Chapel Hill is estimated from official BLS state-level occupational wage data (2025), adjusted for regional cost-of-living differences using BEA RPP (Regional Price Parities).
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