Personal Financial Advisors pay range in Columbia
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $45,370 a year or less, while the top 10% make $327,880 or more. The middle half of personal financial advisors in Columbia earn between $52,870 and $177,360.
- $45K10th
- $53K25th
- $94KMedian
- $177K75th
- $328K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $132,830 | $11,069 | $63.86 |
| Median | $94,130 | $7,844 | $45.25 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $52,870 | $4,406 | $25.42 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $177,360 | $14,780 | $85.27 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Personal Financial Advisors pay in Columbia vs. South Carolina and the U.S.
Personal financial advisors in Columbia earn about the same as the South Carolina average ($132,810) and 15% less than the U.S. average ($156,670). At the median the gap is -10% against the U.S. median of $105,070.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | $132,830 | $94,130 | $45,370 | $327,880 | 430 |
| South Carolina | $132,810 | $96,330 | $45,420 | $250,180 | 2,400 |
| United States | $156,670 | $105,070 | $50,190 | $357,020 | 266,800 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Personal Financial Advisors salary after taxes in Columbia
On the average salary of $132,830, a single filer in Columbia takes home about $96,101 a year, or $8,008 a month and $3,696 every two weeks. Taxes take 28% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Columbia a good place for personal financial advisors? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Columbia area are 6% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 93.7), so the average $132,830 buys what about $141,818 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Columbia ($46,430). A typical home costs $256,154, or 1.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Personal Financial Advisors salary in other South Carolina cities
Columbia ranks 5th of 7 South Carolina metro areas for this job; Florence pays the most ($159,060).
- Florence$159,060
- Myrtle Beach$158,830
- Hilton Head Island$144,890
- Spartanburg$144,610
- Columbia$132,830
- Greenville$131,240
- Charleston$130,680
Highest-paying cities for personal financial advisors
Staunton, VA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($258,100).
- Staunton, VA$258,100
- Naples, FL$227,090
- New York, NY$217,170
- Macon, GA$214,380
- San Francisco, CA$214,350
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Personal Financial Advisors salary in Columbia: questions
How much do personal financial advisors make an hour in Columbia?
$63.86 an hour on average, and $45.26 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level personal financial advisors salary in Columbia?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $45,370 a year and the 25th percentile is $52,870, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the personal financial advisors take-home pay in Columbia?
About $96,101 a year ($8,008 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $132,830.
Do personal financial advisors earn more in Columbia than elsewhere?
The average here is 15% less than the U.S. average for this job ($156,670).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 13-2052; area Columbia, SC (17900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 7.5%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.63, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.63).
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.