Financial Advisor · Salary Comparison · 2026
Financial Advisor Salary: Raleigh, NC vs New York, NY
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Financial Advisors in Raleigh, NC and New York, NY, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ New York, NY
$90,000 vs $121,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Raleigh, NC
$87,379 vs $64,706
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Raleigh, NC
$77,105 vs $55,693
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Raleigh, NC | New York, NY | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $90,000 | $121,000▲ | -$31,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $69,300 | $93,170▲ | -$23,870 |
| 75th Percentile | $115,200 | $154,880▲ | -$39,680 |
| 90th Percentile | $144,000 | $193,600▲ | -$49,600 |
| Cost of Living Index | 103 | 187 | -84 |
| State Income Tax | 4.5%▲ | 6.85% | -2.3499999999999996% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $87,379▲ | $64,706 | +$22,673 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $79,418 | $104,145▲ | -$24,727 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $77,105▲ | $55,693 | +$21,412 |
| Total Employment | 17,600 | 54,400 | -36,800 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Raleigh, NC minus New York, NY.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, New York, NY pays $31,000 more (median: $90,000 vs $121,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 103 vs 187), Raleigh, NC provides better purchasing power ($87,379 vs $64,706 equivalent). Raleigh, NC has the lower state tax rate (4.5% vs 6.85%).
Data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS · 2026 · Cost-of-living indices from composite metro area data. Take-home estimates approximate only — consult a tax professional for accurate figures.