Financial Advisor Pay

Radford vs Roanoke: Financial Advisor Salary (2026)

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

Radford, VA
$82,540
$39.68/hr
Roanoke, VA
$94,716
$45.53/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricRadford, VARoanoke, VA
Median Salary$82,540$94,716
Hourly Rate$39.68$45.53
Entry Level (P10)$47,873$52,797
25th Percentile$60,766$71,236
75th Percentile$105,651$160,001
Top Earner (P90)$127,937$398,521
Total Employed6150
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Radford ($82,540) and Roanoke ($94,716) financial advisor salaries.RadfordRoanokeMedian Salary$82,540$94,716Entry Level (P10)$47,873$52,797Top Earner (P90)$127,937$398,521US Median $108,537

Verdict

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

The salary gap between Radford and Roanoke is $12,176 (14.75%). Roanoke's median is -12.73% 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,Roanoke spans $345,724. Roanoke 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
Roanoke
P10 (Entry)$52,797
P25$71,236
Median$94,716
P75$160,001
P90 (Top)$398,521

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Roanoke ($101,173 effective) pays 26.50% more than Radford ($79,981 effective).

Radford
Nominal: $82,540
CoL Index: 103.2
Adjusted: $79,981
Roanoke
Nominal: $94,716
CoL Index: 93.618
Adjusted: $101,173

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 Roanoke if…

  • Higher median salary ($94,716/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($398,521)
  • Larger job market (150 employed)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $101,173)
  • 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 2.8% growth in Roanoke over the same period.

Radford, VA

+-31.4%

$116,470 (2024) → $79,903 (2025)

Roanoke, VA

+2.8%

$89,180 (2019) → $91,690 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays financial advisors more: Radford or Roanoke?

Roanoke has a higher median financial advisor salary at $94,716/year, compared to Radford at $82,540/year — a difference of $12,176 (14.75%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Radford and Roanoke?

Radford financial advisors earn $39.68/hr while Roanoke hygienists earn $45.53/hr (2026 est.).

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

Consider more than just salary when comparing Radford and Roanoke. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Radford = $79,981, Roanoke = $101,173), job availability (6 vs 150 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

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

Entry-level (10th percentile) financial advisors earn $47,873 in Radford and $52,797 in Roanoke. The Roanoke 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