Financial Advisor Salary in Columbus, OH: $84,293 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time financial advisor in Columbus, OH earns a median $84,293/year (≈ $40.52/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 13-2052). Once you factor in Columbus's price level (5% below national, BEA RPP 95.5), that paycheck buys what $88,294 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 1.6% below the Ohio state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, financial advisors in Columbus, Ohio, are projected to earn a median annual salary of $84,293, which is notably lower than the national median of $108,537. The salary range for this occupation spans from $49,439 at the 10th percentile to $222,353 at the 90th percentile. These insights are derived from official reports based on 2025 BLS OEWS data, projected to 2026. With over 1,900 financial advisors employed in Columbus, the market reflects a robust demand for professionals, particularly as the industry trend shifts toward fee-only fiduciary practices, which tend to favor those with the CFP credential and reward advisors based on assets under management (AUM).
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $49,439 | $23.77 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $66,701 | $32.06 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $84,293 | $40.52 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $144,651 | $69.54 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $222,353 | $106.91 |
Median Salary Position
22.34% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Columbus
In Columbus, OH, the financial advisor salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $172,914 (2026 est.). At $84,293, the local median is 22.34% below the national median of $108,537.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Columbus: You'd be in the entry-level range
How Columbus Financial Advisor Pay Compares
Columbus median: $84,293/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Columbus Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Ohio Average | $85,663 | -1.60% less |
| National Average | $108,537 | -22.34% less |
Financial Advisors in Columbus, OH earn a median of $84,293 per year (2026 est.), which is 22.34% lower than the national median of $108,537 and 1.60% below the Ohio state average of $85,663.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Columbus has a cost of living 4.53% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Columbus, OH has a cost-of-living index of 95.469 (below the national average of 100). A financial advisor earning $84,293 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $88,294 in an average-cost city — an effective 4.75% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$78,880
2025 BLS Actual
$81,600
2026 Current Est.
$84,293
2019–2027 Growth
+10.4%
Salary Trajectory for Financial Advisors in Columbus (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.30% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $78,880 | Actual |
| 2020 | $72,380 | Actual |
| 2021 | $82,580 | Actual |
| 2022 | $76,660 | Actual |
| 2023 | $79,650 | Actual |
| 2024 | $77,890 | Actual |
| 2025 | $81,600 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $84,293 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $87,074 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Columbus metropolitan area, the median financial advisor salary grew 3.4% from $78,880 (2019) to $81,600 (2025). At a 3.30% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $87,074 by 2027 — a total increase of $8,194 (10.39%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Columbus 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) | $49,439 – $66,701 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $66,701 – $84,293 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $84,293 – $144,651 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $144,651 – $222,353 |
CFP, FA salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual financial advisor compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Financial Advisor Job Market in Columbus
The local job market presents unique opportunities and challenges for financial advisors in Columbus. A cost-of-living index of 95.469 indicates that while salaries may be lower than the national average, the purchasing power remains relatively strong for residents. Top compensation in the area often comes from wirehouses like Morgan Stanley and Merrill Lynch, which offer higher salary packages than independent broker-dealers and RIAs. The significant pay disparity can be attributed to variables such as client wealth concentration, the advisor's fee structure, and additional compensation models associated with high-net-worth clients. To maximize potential earnings, advisors may benefit from focusing on expanding their client base in higher asset tiers and securing fiduciary roles that emphasize ongoing fee-based compensation rather than one-time commissions. Understanding these dynamics is key for those pursuing a successful career in this field.
More salary data for Columbus, OH:
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 $81,600 for financial advisorsin the Columbus 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