Personal Financial Advisors Salary
The median pay for a personal financial advisors in Tennessee is $84,160/year ($40.46/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $44K at the entry level to $406K for experienced workers. Note: the mean (average) wage is $153K, significantly higher than the median. This typically reflects a mix of employment settings including academic and private practice positions. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.78), which stretches that salary to about $93,740 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,215/month, or 21.6% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Tennessee. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $84K get you in Tennessee?
About personal financial advisors
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What this looks like in Tennessee
Pay for personal financial advisors in Tennessee runs about 20% below the U.S. median of $105K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,215/month, 21.6% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.78 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Tennessee can be a reasonable trade-off for personal financial advisorss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Tennessee
Entry-level personal financial advisors (10th percentile) start around $44K. Mid-career wages sit at $84K. Top earners bring in $406K or more, a $362K spread from bottom to top.
Personal Financial Advisors salary by metro in Tennessee
9 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis | $100K | +19% | 790 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $91K | +8% | 1,710 |
| Kingsport-Bristol | $90K | +6% | 60 |
| Knoxville | $80K | -5% | 420 |
| Johnson City | $77K | -9% | 90 |
| Chattanooga | $75K | -11% | 340 |
| Jackson | $60K | -28% | 50 |
| Clarksville | $59K | -30% | 50 |
| Cleveland | $44K | -48% | 30 |
Compare to other states
Track personal financial advisors salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Tennessee numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a personal financial advisor afford a 2BR apartment alone in Tennessee?
Yes — at the median salary of $84K, rent takes 21.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,215/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for personal financial advisors in Tennessee?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new personal financial advisors typically earn — is $44K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,650/month. At HUD’s $1,215/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 Tennessee?
Local pay runs 20% below the national median — $84K here vs. $105K nationally. Cost of living is 10% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Tennessee compare to the national average for personal financial advisors?
Tennessee pays $84K median vs. the U.S. average of $105K — that’s -20%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $94K — below the national median.
How much do personal financial advisors make in Tennessee?
The median is $84,160 a year, that works out to about $40 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $44,170, and experienced personal financial advisors can clear $406,200. The mean (average) is $153,140, reflecting that some workers earn substantially more. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $84K enough to live in Tennessee?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,633/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,215/month, which eats 21.6% 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 Tennessee?
Tennessee has a Regional Price Parity of 89.78 (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 $93,740 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.