Financial Advisor Salary in Houston, TX: $102,195 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time financial advisor in Houston, TX earns a median $102,195/year (≈ $49.13/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 13-2052). Once you factor in Houston's price level (1% below national, BEA RPP 98.6), that paycheck buys what $103,616 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 17.9% above the Texas state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In Houston, TX, the financial advisor salary landscape reveals a median annual earnings figure of $102,195 for 2026, representing a slight dip of 5.84% when compared to the national median of $108,537. The salary range is notably broad, spanning from $50,741 at the 10th percentile to an impressive $334,682 at the 90th percentile, reflecting the dualistic structure of the financial advisory profession where wirehouse and Registered Investment Advisors (RIAs) operate under differing compensation models. Official statistics derived from 2025 BLS OEWS data, projected to 2026, paint a picture of a market influenced by factors like assets under management (AUM) fees prevalent in RIAs contrasted with the commission-based earnings often seen in traditional wirehouses. As such, the evolving preferences of clients towards fiduciary services contribute to shaping advisor earnings in Houston’s competitive financial market.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $50,741 | $24.40 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $74,655 | $35.89 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $102,195 | $49.13 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $167,646 | $80.59 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $334,682 | $160.90 |
Median Salary Position
5.84% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Houston
In Houston, TX, the financial advisor salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $283,941 (2026 est.). At $102,195, the local median is 5.84% below the national median of $108,537.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Houston: You'd be in the entry-level range
How Houston Financial Advisor Pay Compares
Houston median: $102,195/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Houston Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Texas Average | $86,679 | +17.90% more |
| National Average | $108,537 | -5.84% less |
Financial Advisors in Houston, TX earn a median of $102,195 per year (2026 est.), which is 5.84% lower than the national median of $108,537 and 17.90% above the Texas state average of $86,679.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Houston has a cost of living 1.37% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Houston, TX has a cost-of-living index of 98.629 (below the national average of 100). A financial advisor earning $102,195 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $103,616 in an average-cost city — an effective 1.39% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$78,960
2025 BLS Actual
$98,930
2026 Current Est.
$102,195
2019–2027 Growth
+33.7%
Salary Trajectory for Financial Advisors in Houston (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.30% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $78,960 | Actual |
| 2020 | $76,390 | Actual |
| 2021 | $83,610 | Actual |
| 2022 | $72,880 | Actual |
| 2023 | $81,080 | Actual |
| 2024 | $81,280 | Actual |
| 2025 | $98,930 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $102,195 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $105,567 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Houston metropolitan area, the median financial advisor salary grew 25.3% from $78,960 (2019) to $98,930 (2025). At a 3.30% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $105,567 by 2027 — a total increase of $26,607 (33.70%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Houston 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) | $50,741 – $74,655 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $74,655 – $102,195 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $102,195 – $167,646 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $167,646 – $334,682 |
CFP, FA salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual financial advisor compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Financial Advisor Job Market in Houston
The local job market supports approximately 4,130 financial advisors, indicating a robust demand in the Houston area despite a cost of living index of 98.629, which suggests greater purchasing power than many other metropolitan regions. The employment landscape includes a mix of wirehouses, independent broker-dealers, RIAs, and bank wealth management firms, each with distinct pay structures. Notably, wirehouse firms such as Morgan Stanley and Merrill Lynch often lead in compensation, benefiting from larger AUM books and established client rosters. The divergence in salaries can often be attributed to factors like client demographics, advisory fee structures, and the credentials held by advisors, including Certified Financial Planner (CFP) or Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA). Advisors aiming to maximize their earnings in Houston might consider securing a robust client base, transitioning to the RIA model, or enhancing their credentials to leverage higher fees associated with fiduciary services.
More salary data for Houston, TX:
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 $98,930 for financial advisorsin the Houston 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