Financial Advisor Pay

Radford vs Richmond: Financial Advisor Salary (2026)

Compare financial advisor salaries between Radford, VA and Richmond, VA. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Radford, VA
$82,540
$39.68/hr
Richmond, VA
$114,570
$55.08/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricRadford, VARichmond, VA
Median Salary$82,540$114,570
Hourly Rate$39.68$55.08
Entry Level (P10)$47,873$57,951
25th Percentile$60,766$83,559
75th Percentile$105,651$186,570
Top Earner (P90)$127,937$389,441
Total Employed61,350
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Radford ($82,540) and Richmond ($114,570) financial advisor salaries.RadfordRichmondMedian Salary$82,540$114,570Entry Level (P10)$47,873$57,951Top Earner (P90)$127,937$389,441US Median $108,537

Verdict

Richmond, VA offers better overall compensation for financial advisors, winning 4 out of 4 metrics compared to Radford.

The salary gap between Radford and Richmond is $32,030 (38.81%). Richmond's median is +5.56% compared to the US national median of $108,537.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Radford spans $80,064,Richmond spans $331,490. Richmond has a wider pay range, suggesting more variation in pay between entry-level and experienced financial advisors.

Radford
P10 (Entry)$47,873
P25$60,766
Median$82,540
P75$105,651
P90 (Top)$127,937
Richmond
P10 (Entry)$57,951
P25$83,559
Median$114,570
P75$186,570
P90 (Top)$389,441

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Richmond ($117,078 effective) pays 46.38% more than Radford ($79,981 effective).

Radford
Nominal: $82,540
CoL Index: 103.2
Adjusted: $79,981
Richmond
Nominal: $114,570
CoL Index: 97.858
Adjusted: $117,078

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

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Radford if…

  • You prefer the Virginia area and lifestyle

Choose Richmond if…

  • Higher median salary ($114,570/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($389,441)
  • Larger job market (1,350 employed)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $117,078)
  • You prefer the Virginia area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, financial advisor salaries in Radford grew -31.4% from 2024 to 2025, compared to 14.2% growth in Richmond over the same period.

Radford, VA

+-31.4%

$116,470 (2024) → $79,903 (2025)

Richmond, VA

+14.2%

$97,150 (2019) → $110,910 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays financial advisors more: Radford or Richmond?

Richmond has a higher median financial advisor salary at $114,570/year, compared to Radford at $82,540/year — a difference of $32,030 (38.81%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Radford and Richmond?

Radford financial advisors earn $39.68/hr while Richmond hygienists earn $55.08/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Radford to Richmond as a financial advisor?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Radford and Richmond. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Radford = $79,981, Richmond = $117,078), job availability (6 vs 1,350 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level financial advisors earn in Radford vs Richmond?

Entry-level (10th percentile) financial advisors earn $47,873 in Radford and $57,951 in Richmond. The Richmond area offers higher starting salaries.
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