Financial Advisor Salary in Bellingham, WA: $106,823 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time financial advisor in Bellingham, WA earns a median $106,823/year (≈ $51.36/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 13-2052). Once you factor in Bellingham's price level (3% above national, BEA RPP 103.3), that paycheck buys what $103,376 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 2.8% above the Washington state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, financial advisors in Bellingham, Washington are projected to earn a median annual salary of $106,823. This figure is slightly below the national median of $108,537, reflecting the local market dynamics influenced by the structural divide between wirehouse firms and Registered Investment Advisors (RIAs). Here, advisors can expect to make between $62,021 at the lower end and $284,653 at the higher end, according to the official Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) OEWS data. The shift toward the AUM (assets under management) compensation model, particularly among RIAs, often benefits those managing larger client portfolios, providing a distinct salary range impacted by the types of firms advisors choose to represent.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $62,021 | $29.82 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $74,758 | $35.94 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $106,823 | $51.36 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $172,170 | $82.77 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $284,653 | $136.85 |
Median Salary Position
1.58% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Bellingham
In Bellingham, WA, the financial advisor salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $222,632 (2026 est.). At $106,823, the local median is 1.58% below the national median of $108,537.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Bellingham: You'd be in the entry-level range
How Bellingham Financial Advisor Pay Compares
Bellingham median: $106,823/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Bellingham Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Washington Average | $103,913 | +2.80% more |
| National Average | $108,537 | -1.58% less |
Financial Advisors in Bellingham, WA earn a median of $106,823 per year (2026 est.), which is 1.58% lower than the national median of $108,537 and 2.80% above the Washington state average of $103,913.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Bellingham has a cost of living 3.33% above the national average.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Bellingham, WA has a cost-of-living index of 103.334 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $106,823 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $103,376 — a 3.23% reduction.
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2019 BLS Actual
$82,830
2025 BLS Actual
$103,410
2026 Current Est.
$106,823
2019–2027 Growth
+33.2%
Salary Trajectory for Financial Advisors in Bellingham (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.30% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $82,830 | Actual |
| 2020 | $85,100 | Actual |
| 2021 | $101,190 | Actual |
| 2022 | $98,810 | Actual |
| 2023 | $98,340 | Actual |
| 2024 | $104,000 | Actual |
| 2025 | $103,410 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $106,823 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $110,348 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Bellingham metropolitan area, the median financial advisor salary grew 24.8% from $82,830 (2019) to $103,410 (2025). At a 3.30% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $110,348 by 2027 — a total increase of $27,518 (33.22%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Bellingham 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) | $62,021 – $74,758 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $74,758 – $106,823 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $106,823 – $172,170 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $172,170 – $284,653 |
CFP, FA salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual financial advisor compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Financial Advisor Job Market in Bellingham
The financial advisory job market in Bellingham employs around 170 professionals, making it a competitive environment. The cost of living, indexed at 103.334, slightly above the national average, contributes to the actual purchasing power of these salaries. Among local employers, wirehouses such as Morgan Stanley and Edward Jones tend to command higher compensation packages, driven by commission-based earnings. In contrast, advisors at RIAs may see variable compensation tied to their AUM model, which rewards larger portfolios with management fees around 1%. Growth opportunities in this market rest on factors like obtaining CFP or CFA credentials, building a strong client base, and transitioning from wirehouses to independent firms, which often offer more lucrative equity arrangements. For those looking to maximize their financial advisor pay in Bellingham, strategically targeting high-net-worth clients and harnessing the fiduciary fee structure could prove advantageous.
More salary data for Bellingham, WA:
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 $103,410 for financial advisorsin the Bellingham 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