Financial Advisor Salary in Salisbury, NC: $102,568 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time financial advisor in Salisbury, NC earns a median $102,568/year (≈ $49.32/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 13-2052). Once you factor in Salisbury's price level (6% below national, BEA RPP 93.6), that paycheck buys what $109,581 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 1.7% below the North Carolina state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In Salisbury, North Carolina, the projected median annual salary for financial advisors in 2026 stands at $102,568, reflecting an attractive compensation landscape within the local market. This figure is derived from BLS estimates based on 2025 data, and while it falls 5.50% below the national median of $108,537, it still positions local advisors competitively in a city with only 6 professionals currently employed in this role. Salaries can vary widely; the range spans from $59,489 at the lower decile to $158,980 at the higher end, indicating diversity in compensation based on experience, client base, and fee structures. As financial planning trends evolve toward fee-only fiduciary models, the market dynamics in Salisbury are likely to shift, offering new opportunities for growth and continued professional development.
About the Salisbury Market
Salary estimated from North Carolina average ($105,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $59,489 | $28.60 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $73,849 | $35.50 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $102,568 | $49.32 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $131,286 | $63.12 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $158,980 | $76.43 |
Median Salary Position
5.5% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Salisbury
In Salisbury, NC, the financial advisor salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $99,491 (2026 est.). At $102,568, the local median is 5.5% below the national median of $108,537.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Salisbury: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Salisbury Financial Advisor Pay Compares
Salisbury median: $102,568/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Salisbury Pays |
|---|---|---|
| North Carolina Average | $104,341 | -1.70% less |
| National Average | $108,537 | -5.50% less |
Financial Advisors in Salisbury, NC earn a median of $102,568 per year (2026 est.), which is 5.50% lower than the national median of $108,537 and 1.70% below the North Carolina state average of $104,341.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Salisbury 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.
Salisbury, NC has a cost-of-living index of 93.6 (below the national average of 100). A financial advisor earning $102,568 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $109,581 in an average-cost city — an effective 6.84% 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
$83,018
2025 BLS Actual
$99,291
2026 Current Est.
$102,568
2019–2027 Growth
+27.6%
Salary Trajectory for Financial Advisors in Salisbury (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.30% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $83,018 | Actual |
| 2020 | $84,417 | Actual |
| 2021 | $88,991 | Actual |
| 2022 | $90,143 | Actual |
| 2023 | $94,103 | Actual |
| 2024 | $96,579 | Actual |
| 2025 | $99,291 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $102,568 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $105,952 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Salisbury metropolitan area, the median financial advisor salary grew 19.6% from $83,018 (2019) to $99,291 (2025). At a 3.30% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $105,952 by 2027 — a total increase of $22,934 (27.63%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Salisbury 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) | $59,489 – $73,849 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $73,849 – $102,568 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $102,568 – $131,286 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $131,286 – $158,980 |
CFP, FA salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual financial advisor compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Financial Advisor Job Market in Salisbury
The landscape for financial advisor pay in Salisbury, NC, is influenced by the region's cost of living, which is indexed at 93.6—indicating that the affordable living expenses enhance purchasing power compared to many urban centers. This economic environment allows financial advisors to maximize their salaries effectively. Wirehouses such as Morgan Stanley and Wells Fargo Advisors generally offer competitive salaries, yet independent broker-dealers and fiduciary RIAs attract many advisors due to their flexible fee structures. The disparity in earnings among advisors is often driven by factors such as the size of the assets under management (AUM), the fee model employed, and the concentration of high-net-worth clients. For those looking to maximize their earning potential in Salisbury, focusing on AUM through strategic relationship building and pursuing CPF or CFA credentials may provide significant advantages in the competitive local market.
More salary data for Salisbury, NC:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do financial advisors make in Salisbury, NC in 2026?
Is Salisbury, NC a good place to work as a financial advisor?
Can financial advisors make $100K in Salisbury?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted financial advisor salary in Salisbury?
How much does a financial advisor make per hour in Salisbury?
Related Pages
Compare Salaries
Career Resources
Nearby Cities in North Carolina
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 $99,291 for financial advisorsin the Salisbury 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 Salisbury 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