Personal Financial Advisors Salary
The median pay for a personal financial advisors in Virginia is $102,640/year ($49.35/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $51K at the entry level to $421K for experienced workers. Note: the mean (average) wage is $163K, 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 94.79), which stretches that salary to about $108,281 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,646/month, or 25.4% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Virginia. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $103K get you in Virginia?
About personal financial advisors
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What this looks like in Virginia
Personal financial advisors pay in Virginia tracks closely to the national median, $103K locally vs. $105K nationwide, a 2% difference. Rent runs $1,646/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 26.3% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.79 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Virginia
Entry-level personal financial advisors (10th percentile) start around $51K. Mid-career wages sit at $103K. Top earners bring in $421K or more, a $370K spread from bottom to top.
Personal Financial Advisors salary by metro in Virginia
8 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft | $134K | +30% | 40 |
| Charlottesville | $127K | +24% | 200 |
| Richmond | $111K | +8% | 1,350 |
| Roanoke | $92K | -11% | 150 |
| Lynchburg | $90K | -13% | 120 |
| Harrisonburg | $89K | -13% | 50 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford | $79K | -23% | 30 |
| Winchester | $60K | -42% | 110 |
Compare to other states
Track personal financial advisors salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Virginia numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a personal financial advisor afford a 2BR apartment alone in Virginia?
Yes — at the median salary of $103K, rent takes 26.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,646/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for personal financial advisors in Virginia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new personal financial advisors typically earn — is $51K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,086/month. At HUD’s $1,646/month FMR, rent would take 53% 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 Virginia?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $103K locally vs. $105K nationally, a 2% difference.
How does Virginia compare to the national average for personal financial advisors?
Virginia pays $103K median vs. the U.S. average of $105K — that’s -2%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.79), the purchasing-power equivalent is $108K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do personal financial advisors make in Virginia?
The median is $102,640 a year, that works out to about $49 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $51,440, and experienced personal financial advisors can clear $420,980. The mean (average) is $163,180, reflecting that some workers earn substantially more. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $103K enough to live in Virginia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,267/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,646/month, which eats 26.3% 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 Virginia?
Virginia has a Regional Price Parity of 94.79 (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 $108,281 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.