Financial Advisor Pay

Financial Advisor Salary in Washington: $114,187 (2026)

Quick Answer:Across Washington's 50 metropolitan areas, the average median financial advisor pay sits at $114,187/year heading into 2026 — a figure projected from 2025 BLS OEWS wage data for SOC 13-2052. Because Washington sits at BEA RPP 107.4 (7% above the U.S. baseline), that statewide median translates to roughly $106,319 in nationally-comparable purchasing power. Highest-paying metros: Vancouver ($123,621), Bellevue ($115,662), Seattle ($114,540).

Financial Advisor Salary in Washington - 2025 BLS Data Infographic
Washington financial advisor salary overview (2026)
$114,187
Avg Median Salary
$54.90
Avg Hourly Rate
5,272
Metro Employed
50
Cities

The landscape for financial advisor salaries in Washington is promising as of 2026, with an average median salary of $114,188, slightly above the national median of $108,537, marking a 5.2% increase. Vancouver leads the state with the highest salary at $127,700, while Lacey has the lowest at $78,827, which reflects a significant salary gap of $48,873. This disparity can often be attributed to factors such as the cost of living, demand for financial services, and the concentration of high-net-worth clients in urban areas. Washington's state licensing requirements and scope of practice laws are critical elements that influence income potential. Advisors must hold a valid state license and comply with specific regulatory standards, which can affect their service offerings and client engagement strategies. The forecasted annual growth rate for financial advisor positions in Washington is 3.30%, indicating stable demand for financial planning services amidst a shifting economic landscape. The strong job market is underscored by a total employment figure of 5,272 financial advisors in the state, highlighting robust opportunities for new entrants. Cities like Bellevue at $119,479 and Seattle at $118,320 continue to reflect the diverse earning potential within the state. With ongoing demand, career prospects in this field remain favorable across Washington.

Washington Financial Advisor Salary Range

Entry Level (10th %ile)
$60,376
avg across 50 cities
Median
$114,187
state average
Top Earners (90th %ile)
$392,169
avg across 50 cities

Overall salary range in Washington: $45,720 (lowest entry-level) to $449,396 (highest top earner)

Washington vs National Average

Washington
$114,187
National Median
$108,537

Washington financial advisors earn 5.21% more than the national median (+$5,650/year difference).

Washington Financial Advisor Salary Distribution (2026)

Vertical bar chart showing Washington financial advisor salary percentiles: 10th percentile $60,376, 25th $79,247, Median $114,187, 75th $176,410, 90th $392,169. US national median is $108,537.$109.8K$219.6K$329.4K$439.2K$60.4K10thEntry Level$79.2K25thEarly Career$114.2KMedianMid Career$176.4K75thExperienced$392.2K90thTop EarnerUS Median $108.5K

Financial Advisor salaries in Washington range from $60,376 (entry-level, 10th percentile) to $392,169 (top earners, 90th percentile), with a median of $114,187. The Washington median is $5,650 above the US national median of $108,537. The average hourly rate is $54.90/hr. Approximately 5,272 financial advisors are employed across 50 cities.

2019 BLS Actual

$103,330

2025 BLS Actual

$110,540

2026 Current Est.

$114,187

2019–2027 Growth

+14.2%

Salary Trajectory for Financial Advisors in Washington (20192027)

2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.30% projection.

BLS Actual Estimated Projected
Salary trajectory chart for financial advisors in Washington. Baseline $103,330 in 2025, projected to $117,956 by 2027.$79.4K$90.6K$101.9K$113.1K$124.4K2019202020212022202320242025202620272025 BLS$103.3K$107.0K$114.3K$99.2K$85.8K$110.8K$110.5K$114.2K$118.0K
YearAnnual SalaryStatus
2019$103,330Actual
2020$106,999Actual
2021$114,285Actual
2022$99,201Actual
2023$85,790Actual
2024$110,845Actual
2025$110,540Actual
2026(current)$114,187Estimated
2027$117,956Projected

Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Washington metropolitan area, the median financial advisor salary grew 7.0% from $103,330 (2019) to $110,540 (2025). At a 3.30% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $117,956 by 2027 — a total increase of $14,626 (14.15%) from 2019.

Note: Historical values (20192025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Washington metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 20262026 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.

Top 5 Highest Paying Cities in Washington

#1
Vancouver
37 employed · $61.39/hr
$127,700
+11.83% vs avg
#2
Bellevue
26 employed · $57.45/hr
$119,479
+4.63% vs avg
#3
Seattle
3,940 employed · $56.89/hr
$118,320
+3.62% vs avg
#4
Tacoma
56 employed · $55.94/hr
$116,346
+1.89% vs avg
#5
Richland
15 employed · $51.67/hr
$107,477
-5.88% vs avg

Lowest Paying Cities in Washington

CityMedian Salary
Lacey$78,827
Olympia$79,479
Tumwater$80,207
Yakima$82,382
Tukwila$96,089

Best Value Cities for Financial Advisors in Washington

When adjusted for local cost of living, these Washington cities offer the most purchasing power for financial advisors.

CityNominal SalaryCoL IndexAdjusted Salary
Vancouver$127,700107.4$118,901
Bellevue$119,479107.4$111,247
Tacoma$116,346107.4$108,330
Seattle$118,320111.133$106,467
Kennewick$105,283100.079$105,200

Adjusted salary = nominal salary × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average. Lower index = lower cost of living.

Salary by Experience Level in Washington

Experience LevelEstimated Annual
Entry Level (0-2 years)$60,376
Mid Career (3-7 years)$114,187
Experienced (7+ years)$392,169

Estimates based on BLS percentile data averaged across Washington metro areas. Individual pay varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.

All 50 Cities in Washington

#CityMedian Salary
1Vancouver$127,700
2Bellevue$119,479
3Seattle$118,320
4Tacoma$116,346
5Richland$107,477
6Bremerton$106,967
7Bellingham$106,823
8Renton$106,672
9Everett$105,638
10Kennewick$105,283
11Marysville$104,847
12Spokane Valley$104,603
13Shoreline$104,271
14Redmond$103,859
15Kent$103,773
16Kirkland$103,604
17Burien$103,473
18Federal Way$103,017
19Des Moines$102,995
20Auburn$102,756
21Lakewood$102,714
22Issaquah$102,656
23Spokane$102,629
24Sammamish$101,982
25University Place$101,947
26SeaTac$101,866
27Pasco$101,430
28Longview$101,382
29Mount Vernon$101,123
30Edmonds$100,809
31Lake Stevens$100,543
32Lynnwood$100,478
33Moses Lake$100,285
34Bothell$100,212
35Pullman$99,768
36Puyallup$99,543
37Wenatchee$99,333
38Ellensburg$99,169
39Maple Valley$98,897
40Walla Walla$98,679
41Camas$98,647
42Oak Harbor$98,231
43Kenmore$97,598
44Covington$97,590
45Mountlake Terrace$96,237
46Tukwila$96,089
47Yakima$82,382
48Tumwater$80,207
49Olympia$79,479
50Lacey$78,827

More Washington Salary Data

Hourly Rates

Explore financial advisor hourly pay in Washington cities.

Entry Level

Starting salaries for new financial advisors.

Senior / Experienced

Top earner salaries for experienced financial advisors.

Compare Cities in Washington

View all comparisons →

Explore More Financial Advisor Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do financial advisors make in Washington in 2026?

The average median financial advisor salary in Washington is $114,187/year across 50 metro areas, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Salaries range from $78,827 in Lacey to $127,700 in Vancouver. This makes Washington one of the higher-paying states, at 5.21% above the national median of $108,537. The state employs approximately 5,272 financial advisors.

What is the highest paying city for financial advisors in Washington?

Vancouver offers the highest financial advisor salary in Washington at $127,700/year ($61.39/hr), based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). The top 3 highest-paying cities are Vancouver ($127,700), Bellevue ($119,479), Seattle ($118,320). Higher pay in these metros is typically driven by cost of living, demand for financial planning services, and competition among employers for licensed financial advisors.

How does Washington financial advisor pay compare to the national average?

Washington's average financial advisor salary of $114,187 is 5.21% above the national median of $108,537 in 2026. The state employs approximately 5,272 financial advisors across 50 metropolitan areas. When comparing salaries, consider cost-of-living differences — a lower nominal salary in an affordable area may provide better purchasing power than a higher salary in an expensive metro.

What is the entry-level financial advisor salary in Washington?

Entry-level financial advisors (10th percentile) in Washington earn approximately $60,376/year on average, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Starting salaries range from $45,720 in lower-paying areas to $74,066 in the highest-paying metros. New graduates should expect salaries at the lower end and can typically reach the area median within 3–5 years of clinical experience.

How many financial advisors are employed in Washington?

Washington employs approximately 5,272 financial advisors across 50 metropolitan areas, based on the latest BLS data. This makes Washington one of the larger employers of financial advisors nationally. Demand continues to grow as the financial planning field expands and the population ages.

Which Washington city offers the best value for financial advisors?

When adjusted for cost of living, Vancouver offers the highest purchasing power for financial advisors in Washington, with an adjusted salary of $118,901 (nominal: $127,700, CoL index: 107.4). This means your dollar goes 7% less far compared to the national average, making it important to negotiate higher base pay.
JL

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.

Clinically reviewed by Sophia Martinez, CFAData verified by Ethan Wang, ChFC

Methodology & Data Source

Statewide 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. A 3.30% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to each metro area's reported salary to estimate current 2026 financial advisor compensation across Washington. State averages are employment-weighted across 50 metro areas — larger metro areas with more financial advisorscontribute proportionally more to the average, producing figures that better reflect typical compensation. Individual pay varies by city, employer, certifications, and experience.

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

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