Financial Advisor Salary in Hilton Head Island, SC: $103,827 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time financial advisor in Hilton Head Island, SC earns a median $103,827/year (≈ $49.91/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 13-2052). Once you factor in Hilton Head Island's price level (2% below national, BEA RPP 98.0), that paycheck buys what $105,928 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 1.2% above the South Carolina state average.
Official BLS data · View source
Financial advisors in Hilton Head Island, SC, can anticipate a median annual salary of $103,827 in 2026, which is slightly below the national median of $108,537 for the same year. The salary range for this role varies significantly, with the lower 10% earning around $45,121 and the upper 90% making as much as $218,232. This data reflects insights from official Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) surveys, illustrating how the financial advisory profession here is impacted by the ongoing division between wirehouse and Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) models. The compensation structures differ substantially, particularly with RIAs following an AUM-based fee model, which can affect earnings based on client assets managed, compared to the commission-driven approach typical of wirehouses.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $45,121 | $21.69 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $67,486 | $32.45 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $103,827 | $49.91 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $173,182 | $83.26 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $218,232 | $104.92 |
Median Salary Position
4.34% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Hilton Head Island
In Hilton Head Island, SC, the financial advisor salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $173,111 (2026 est.). At $103,827, the local median is 4.34% below the national median of $108,537.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Hilton Head Island: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Hilton Head Island Financial Advisor Pay Compares
Hilton Head Island median: $103,827/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Hilton Head Island Pays |
|---|---|---|
| South Carolina Average | $102,596 | +1.20% more |
| National Average | $108,537 | -4.34% less |
Financial Advisors in Hilton Head Island, SC earn a median of $103,827 per year (2026 est.), which is 4.34% lower than the national median of $108,537 and 1.20% above the South Carolina state average of $102,596.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Hilton Head Island has a cost of living 1.98% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Hilton Head Island, SC has a cost-of-living index of 98.017 (below the national average of 100). A financial advisor earning $103,827 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $105,928 in an average-cost city — an effective 2.02% 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
$67,230
2025 BLS Actual
$100,510
2026 Current Est.
$103,827
2019–2027 Growth
+59.5%
Salary Trajectory for Financial Advisors in Hilton Head Island (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.30% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $67,230 | Actual |
| 2020 | $103,220 | Actual |
| 2021 | $63,410 | Actual |
| 2022 | $70,840 | Actual |
| 2023 | $70,890 | Actual |
| 2024 | $95,950 | Actual |
| 2025 | $100,510 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $103,827 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $107,253 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Hilton Head Island metropolitan area, the median financial advisor salary grew 49.5% from $67,230 (2019) to $100,510 (2025). At a 3.30% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $107,253 by 2027 — a total increase of $40,023 (59.53%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Hilton Head Island 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) | $45,121 – $67,486 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $67,486 – $103,827 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $103,827 – $173,182 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $173,182 – $218,232 |
CFP, FA salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual financial advisor compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Financial Advisor Job Market in Hilton Head Island
Employment figures indicate that there are 80 financial advisors in Hilton Head Island, contributing to a robust local market for this profession despite its small size. The area's cost of living index stands at 98.017, which points to a lower-than-average living expense in the U.S., enhancing the purchasing power of these salaries. Among various employer types, wirehouses like Morgan Stanley, Merrill Lynch, and UBS tend to offer higher compensation due to their established client networks and resources, but RIAs and independent broker-dealers also provide competitive pay—especially for advisors with significant client bases. The salary variance is driven by factors such as assets under management, the fee structure, and the presence of high-net-worth clients. For those looking to maximize their financial advisor pay in Hilton Head Island, pursuing CFAs or CFP designations can render a strong advantage, as these credentials often command higher compensation levels and enable better client acquisition strategies.
More salary data for Hilton Head Island, SC:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do financial advisors make in Hilton Head Island, SC in 2026?
Is Hilton Head Island, SC a good place to work as a financial advisor?
Can financial advisors make $100K in Hilton Head Island?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted financial advisor salary in Hilton Head Island?
How much does a financial advisor make per hour in Hilton Head Island?
Related Pages
Compare Salaries
Career Resources
Nearby Cities in South 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 $100,510 for financial advisorsin the Hilton Head Island 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