Personal Financial Advisors Salary
The median pay for a personal financial advisors in South Carolina is $96,330/year ($46.31/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $45K at the entry level to $250K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.17), which stretches that salary to about $103,392 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,263/month, or 20.7% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across South Carolina. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $96K get you in South Carolina?
About personal financial advisors
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What this looks like in South Carolina
Personal financial advisors pay in South Carolina tracks closely to the national median, $96K locally vs. $105K nationwide, a 8% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,263/month, 21.2% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.17 (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, South Carolina
Entry-level personal financial advisors (10th percentile) start around $45K. Mid-career wages sit at $96K. Top earners bring in $250K or more, a $205K spread from bottom to top.
Personal Financial Advisors salary by metro in South Carolina
7 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston-North Charleston | $126K | +30% | N/A |
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal | $101K | +4% | 80 |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach | $100K | +4% | 80 |
| Spartanburg | $99K | +3% | 130 |
| Florence | $98K | +2% | 50 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer | $97K | +1% | 420 |
| Columbia | $94K | -2% | 430 |
Compare to other states
Track personal financial advisors salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when South Carolina numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a personal financial advisor afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Carolina?
Yes — at the median salary of $96K, rent takes 21.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,263/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for personal financial advisors in South Carolina?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new personal financial advisors typically earn — is $45K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,725/month. At HUD’s $1,263/month FMR, rent would take 46% 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 South Carolina?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $96K locally vs. $105K nationally, a 8% difference.
How does South Carolina compare to the national average for personal financial advisors?
South Carolina pays $96K median vs. the U.S. average of $105K — that’s -8%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.17), the purchasing-power equivalent is $103K — below the national median.
How much do personal financial advisors make in South Carolina?
The median is $96,330 a year, that works out to about $46 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $45,420, and experienced personal financial advisors can clear $250,180. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $96K enough to live in South Carolina?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,968/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,263/month, which eats 21.2% 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 South Carolina?
South Carolina has a Regional Price Parity of 93.17 (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 $103,392 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.