Financial Advisor Pay

Cleveland vs Youngstown: Financial Advisor Salary (2026)

Compare financial advisor salaries between Cleveland, OH and Youngstown, OH. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Cleveland, OH
$83,807
$40.30/hr
Youngstown, OH
$99,158
$47.67/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricCleveland, OHYoungstown, OH
Median Salary$83,807$99,158
Hourly Rate$40.30$47.67
Entry Level (P10)$49,253$55,142
25th Percentile$62,724$64,346
75th Percentile$164,495$164,123
Top Earner (P90)$231,144$266,297
Total Employed1,640220
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Cleveland ($83,807) and Youngstown ($99,158) financial advisor salaries.ClevelandYoungstownMedian Salary$83,807$99,158Entry Level (P10)$49,253$55,142Top Earner (P90)$231,144$266,297US Median $108,537

Verdict

Youngstown, OH offers better overall compensation for financial advisors, winning 3 out of 4 metrics compared to Cleveland.

The salary gap between Cleveland and Youngstown is $15,351 (18.32%). Youngstown's median is -8.64% compared to the US national median of $108,537.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Cleveland spans $181,891,Youngstown spans $211,155. Youngstown has a wider pay range, suggesting more variation in pay between entry-level and experienced financial advisors.

Cleveland
P10 (Entry)$49,253
P25$62,724
Median$83,807
P75$164,495
P90 (Top)$231,144
Youngstown
P10 (Entry)$55,142
P25$64,346
Median$99,158
P75$164,123
P90 (Top)$266,297

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Youngstown ($113,461 effective) pays 27.16% more than Cleveland ($89,229 effective).

Cleveland
Nominal: $83,807
CoL Index: 93.923
Adjusted: $89,229
Youngstown
Nominal: $99,158
CoL Index: 87.394
Adjusted: $113,461

Cost-of-living adjustment: salary × (100 / CoL index). Index of 100 = national average.

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Cleveland if…

  • Larger job market (1,640 employed)
  • You prefer the Ohio area and lifestyle

Choose Youngstown if…

  • Higher median salary ($99,158/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($266,297)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $113,461)
  • You prefer the Ohio area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, financial advisor salaries in Cleveland grew 32.0% from 2019 to 2025, compared to 15.0% growth in Youngstown over the same period.

Cleveland, OH

+32.0%

$61,480 (2019) → $81,130 (2025)

Youngstown, OH

+15.0%

$83,490 (2019) → $95,990 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays financial advisors more: Cleveland or Youngstown?

Youngstown has a higher median financial advisor salary at $99,158/year, compared to Cleveland at $83,807/year — a difference of $15,351 (18.32%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Cleveland and Youngstown?

Cleveland financial advisors earn $40.30/hr while Youngstown hygienists earn $47.67/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Cleveland to Youngstown as a financial advisor?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Cleveland and Youngstown. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Cleveland = $89,229, Youngstown = $113,461), job availability (1,640 vs 220 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level financial advisors earn in Cleveland vs Youngstown?

Entry-level (10th percentile) financial advisors earn $49,253 in Cleveland and $55,142 in Youngstown. The Youngstown area offers higher starting salaries.

Related Comparisons

JL

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.

Clinically reviewed by Sophia Martinez, CFAData verified by Ethan Wang, ChFC

Methodology & Data Source

All salary figures are 2026 projections based on BLS OEWS May 2025 data. A 3.30% CAGR (derived from 6-year national BLS trends) was applied to estimate current compensation. Cost-of-living adjustments use BEA Regional Price Parity data. Actual salaries vary by employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS , released .

Compiled and verified by Jordan Lee, CFP, a licensed financial advisor with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov