Personal Financial Advisors Salary
The median pay for a personal financial advisors in North Carolina is $96,880/year ($46.58/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $49K at the entry level to $287K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.66), which stretches that salary to about $104,554 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,284/month, or 20.6% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across North Carolina. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $97K get you in North Carolina?
About personal financial advisors
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What this looks like in North Carolina
Personal financial advisors pay in North Carolina tracks closely to the national median, $97K locally vs. $105K nationwide, a 8% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,284/month, 21.3% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.66 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, North Carolina
Entry-level personal financial advisors (10th percentile) start around $49K. Mid-career wages sit at $97K. Top earners bring in $287K or more, a $239K spread from bottom to top.
Personal Financial Advisors salary by metro in North Carolina
13 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greensboro-High Point | $126K | +30% | 580 |
| Raleigh-Cary | $105K | +8% | 2,340 |
| Fayetteville | $103K | +6% | 90 |
| Wilmington | $103K | +6% | 390 |
| Asheville | $102K | +5% | 230 |
| Greenville | $101K | +5% | 60 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines | $101K | +4% | 70 |
| Winston-Salem | $101K | +4% | 590 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | $99K | +3% | 4,850 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton | $98K | +1% | 120 |
| Rocky Mount | $97K | +0% | 60 |
| Burlington | $79K | -18% | 40 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill | $63K | -35% | 1,510 |
Showing 1–10 of 13 metros
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when North Carolina numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a personal financial advisor afford a 2BR apartment alone in North Carolina?
Yes — at the median salary of $97K, rent takes 21.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,284/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for personal financial advisors in North Carolina?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new personal financial advisors typically earn — is $49K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,927/month. At HUD’s $1,284/month FMR, rent would take 44% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is personal financial advisor a high-paying job in North Carolina?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $97K locally vs. $105K nationally, a 8% difference.
How does North Carolina compare to the national average for personal financial advisors?
North Carolina pays $97K median vs. the U.S. average of $105K — that’s -8%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.66), the purchasing-power equivalent is $105K — below the national median.
How much do personal financial advisors make in North Carolina?
The median is $96,880 a year, that works out to about $47 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $48,790, and experienced personal financial advisors can clear $287,290. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $97K enough to live in North Carolina?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,015/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,284/month, which eats 21.3% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a personal financial advisors salary go in North Carolina?
North Carolina has a Regional Price Parity of 92.66 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median personal financial advisors salary is worth about $104,554 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do personal financial advisors get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.