Financial Advisor Salary in Waterloo, IA: $93,507 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time financial advisor in Waterloo, IA earns a median $93,507/year (≈ $44.96/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 13-2052). Once you factor in Waterloo's price level (13% below national, BEA RPP 87.1), that paycheck buys what $107,409 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 1.6% below the Iowa state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, financial advisors in Waterloo, Iowa, are projected to earn a median annual salary of $93,507, which is notably lower than the national median of $108,537. Salary ranges illustrate the breadth of compensation in this field, from $44,378 at the 10th percentile to a striking $296,016 at the 90th percentile. This data, sourced from 2025 BLS OEWS surveys and projected to 2026, highlights the structural divide between wirehouses and Registered Investment Advisors (RIAs) in the area. Advisors operating under an AUM (assets under management) model at RIAs tend to earn higher compensation, reflecting the industry's shift towards fee-only fiduciary practices amidst a contracting wirehouse environment. As a result, the financial advisor salary in Waterloo is shaped by both industry trends and client demographics.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $44,378 | $21.33 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $62,961 | $30.27 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $93,507 | $44.96 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $196,384 | $94.42 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $296,016 | $142.32 |
Median Salary Position
13.85% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Waterloo
In Waterloo, IA, the financial advisor salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $251,638 (2026 est.). At $93,507, the local median is 13.85% below the national median of $108,537.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Waterloo: You'd be in the entry-level range
How Waterloo Financial Advisor Pay Compares
Waterloo median: $93,507/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Waterloo Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Iowa Average | $95,028 | -1.60% less |
| National Average | $108,537 | -13.85% less |
Financial Advisors in Waterloo, IA earn a median of $93,507 per year (2026 est.), which is 13.85% lower than the national median of $108,537 and 1.60% below the Iowa state average of $95,028.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Waterloo has a cost of living 12.94% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Waterloo, IA has a cost-of-living index of 87.057 (below the national average of 100). A financial advisor earning $93,507 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $107,409 in an average-cost city — an effective 14.87% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$62,040
2025 BLS Actual
$90,520
2026 Current Est.
$93,507
2019–2027 Growth
+55.7%
Salary Trajectory for Financial Advisors in Waterloo (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.30% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $62,040 | Actual |
| 2020 | $64,690 | Actual |
| 2021 | $80,380 | Actual |
| 2022 | $100,990 | Actual |
| 2023 | $75,510 | Actual |
| 2024 | $75,550 | Actual |
| 2025 | $90,520 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $93,507 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $96,593 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Waterloo metropolitan area, the median financial advisor salary grew 45.9% from $62,040 (2019) to $90,520 (2025). At a 3.30% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $96,593 by 2027 — a total increase of $34,553 (55.69%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Waterloo metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 3.30% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $44,378 – $62,961 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $62,961 – $93,507 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $93,507 – $196,384 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $196,384 – $296,016 |
CFP, FA salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual financial advisor compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Financial Advisor Job Market in Waterloo
The job market for financial advisors in Waterloo boasts about 120 professionals currently employed in this sector. With a cost-of-living index at 87.057, the local economic environment allows for a more favorable purchasing power compared to national averages. Top-paying employers are likely to be wirehouses and independent broker-dealers, with firms like Morgan Stanley and LPL Financial likely offering competitive packages. The spread in pay can be attributed to factors such as AUM size, the fee structures employed, and the concentration of high-net-worth clients. Earning potential also ramps up significantly for those possessing advanced credentials such as CFP or CFA. Consequently, financial advisors looking to maximize their pay in Waterloo should consider client acquisition strategies, enhancing their credentials, and aligning with firms that prioritize fiduciary principles, which may yield greater long-term returns.
More salary data for Waterloo, IA:
Frequently Asked Questions
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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.
Methodology & Data Source
Salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $90,520 for financial advisorsin the Waterloo metropolitan area. A 3.30% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.30%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for financial advisors (SOC 13-2052).
Compiled and verified by Jordan Lee, CFP, a licensed financial advisor with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov