Economists Salary
In Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY, economists earn $99,200 at the median, or about $47.69 an hour. The range runs from $65K at the entry level to $128K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 99.57), that's roughly $99,628 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,702/month, or 27.3% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $99K get you in Albany-Schenectady-Troy?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Albany-Schenectady-Troy’s Regional Price Parity (99.57). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About economists
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What this looks like in Albany-Schenectady-Troy
Pay for economists in Albany-Schenectady-Troy runs about 20% below the U.S. median of $125K. Rent runs $1,702/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 27.9% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 99.57) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for economists in metros near Albany-Schenectady-Troy, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City | $176K | $156K |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton | $108K | $100K |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington | $140K | $136K |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle | $80K | $81K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY
Entry-level economists (10th percentile) start around $65K. Mid-career wages sit at $99K. Top earners bring in $128K or more, a $63K spread from bottom to top.
Economists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Economists salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $168K | +34% | 3,000 |
| New Jersey | $168K | +34% | 280 |
| Delaware | $159K | +28% | 70 |
| Maryland | $145K | +16% | 1,130 |
| Kansas | $139K | +11% | 80 |
| Virginia | $138K | +10% | 950 |
| New York | $137K | +10% | 910 |
| North Carolina | $136K | +9% | 290 |
| Idaho | $131K | +5% | 130 |
| Alabama | $130K | +4% | 40 |
| Georgia | $123K | -2% | 260 |
| Oregon | $122K | -2% | 320 |
| Texas | $121K | -3% | 560 |
| Colorado | $121K | -3% | 240 |
| Ohio | $120K | -4% | 140 |
| California | $119K | -4% | 860 |
| Tennessee | $118K | -6% | 80 |
| Missouri | $117K | -6% | 280 |
| Pennsylvania | $115K | -8% | 560 |
| Alaska | $111K | -11% | 80 |
| Washington | $109K | -12% | 450 |
| Massachusetts | $106K | -15% | 1,030 |
| Michigan | $106K | -15% | 320 |
| Minnesota | $105K | -16% | 500 |
| Florida | $102K | -18% | 500 |
| Connecticut | $101K | -19% | 210 |
| Iowa | $96K | -23% | 70 |
| Arkansas | $92K | -27% | 50 |
| Maine | $91K | -27% | 70 |
| Nevada | $91K | -27% | 70 |
| Oklahoma | $90K | -28% | 80 |
| Montana | $89K | -28% | 90 |
| New Hampshire | $86K | -31% | 50 |
| Wisconsin | $84K | -33% | 280 |
| Hawaii | $83K | -33% | 50 |
| Indiana | $81K | -35% | 80 |
| Arizona | $80K | -36% | 340 |
| Nebraska | $76K | -39% | 90 |
| Louisiana | $73K | -41% | 140 |
| Kentucky | $71K | -43% | 100 |
Showing 1–10 of 40 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track economists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Albany-Schenectady-Troy numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a economist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Albany-Schenectady-Troy?
Yes — at the median salary of $99K, rent takes 27.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,702/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for economists in Albany-Schenectady-Troy?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new economists typically earn — is $65K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,899/month. At HUD’s $1,702/month FMR, rent would take 44% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is economist a high-paying job in Albany-Schenectady-Troy?
Local pay runs 20% below the national median — $99K here vs. $125K nationally.
How does Albany-Schenectady-Troy compare to the national average for economists?
Albany-Schenectady-Troy pays $99K median vs. the U.S. average of $125K — that’s -20%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 99.57), the purchasing-power equivalent is $100K — below the national median.
How much do economists make in Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY?
The median is $99,200 a year, that works out to about $48 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $64,990, and experienced economists can clear $127,820. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $99K enough to live in Albany-Schenectady-Troy?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,106/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,702/month, which eats 27.9% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a economists salary go in Albany-Schenectady-Troy?
Albany-Schenectady-Troy has a Regional Price Parity of 99.57 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median economists salary is worth about $99,628 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do economists get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.