Personal Financial Advisor salary in Columbia, SC
Personal Financial Advisors in the Columbia, SC metro area earn a median of $94,130 a year ($45.26 an hour), based on BLS data for 430 workers.
Pay ranges from $45,370 for the lowest-paid 10% to $327,880 for the top 10%. That is 10% lower than the national median of $105,070. Pay here is 2% lower than the South Carolina statewide median of $96,330. There are 1.1 personal financial advisors per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.63). The average (mean) salary is $132,830, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for personal financial advisors in Columbia, SC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $45,370 | $21.81 |
| 25th percentile | $52,870 | $25.42 |
| Median | $94,130 | $45.26 |
| 75th percentile | $177,360 | $85.27 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $327,880 | $157.64 |
| Average (mean) | $132,830 | $63.86 |
Half of personal financial advisors earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $7,844.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,922.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,620.38 |
| Weekly | $1,810.19 |
| Hourly | $45.26 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Personal Financial Advisor salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $125,700 | n/a |
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | $100,510 | 80 |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $99,860 | 80 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $99,440 | 4,850 |
| Spartanburg, SC | $99,330 | 130 |
| Florence, SC | $98,230 | 50 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $97,090 | 420 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $93,230 | 190 |
Highest-paying states for personal financial advisors
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New York | $166,400 |
| New Jersey | $158,570 |
| California | $130,330 |
| Connecticut | $129,720 |
| South Dakota | $128,720 |
| Massachusetts | $125,670 |
| Delaware | $125,050 |
| Oregon | $122,830 |
| Illinois | $120,130 |
| Wisconsin | $119,430 |
See Personal Financial Advisor pay in every state or the South Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Columbia, SC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Accountants and Auditors | $69,210 | $33.27 |
| Loan Officer | $64,660 | $31.09 |
| Financial and Investment Analysts | $87,630 | $42.13 |
| Insurance Underwriter | $75,290 | $36.20 |
| Financial Specialists, All Other | $65,170 | $31.33 |
| Tax Preparer | $36,150 | $17.38 |
| Budget Analyst | $82,980 | $39.89 |
| Property Appraisers and Assessors | $59,110 | $28.42 |
| Credit Analyst | $81,740 | $39.30 |
| Financial Risk Specialist | $94,620 | $45.49 |
| Financial Examiner | $90,260 | $43.40 |
| Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents | $73,210 | $35.20 |
| Management Analyst | $93,250 | $44.83 |
| Project Management Specialist | $85,260 | $40.99 |
More: Business and Financial Operations Occupations · all salaries in Columbia, SC
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 13-2052. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a personal financial advisor make in Columbia, SC?
The median salary for personal financial advisors in the Columbia, SC metro area is $94,130 a year, or $45.26 an hour. Pay ranges from $45,370 for the lowest-paid 10% to $327,880 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid personal financial advisors make in Columbia, SC?
The top 10% of personal financial advisors in the Columbia, SC metro area earn at least $327,880 a year. The top 25% earn $177,360 or more.
What is the starting pay for personal financial advisors in Columbia, SC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $45,370 a year, and a quarter of personal financial advisors earn $52,870 or less.
How many personal financial advisors work in Columbia, SC?
About 430 personal financial advisors are employed in the Columbia, SC metro area, not counting the self-employed.