Economists Salary
In Amherst Town-Northampton, MA, economists earn $94,030 at the median, or about $45.21 an hour. The range runs from $66K at the entry level to $155K for experienced workers.
So what does $94K get you in Amherst Town-Northampton?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Amherst Town-Northampton’s Regional Price Parity (100.2). 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 Amherst Town-Northampton
Pay for economists in Amherst Town-Northampton runs about 25% below the U.S. median of $125K. Rent runs $2,004/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 34.4% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 100.2) 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 Amherst Town-Northampton, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton | $108K | , |
| Worcester | $100K | , |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City | $176K | , |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford | $97K | , |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Amherst Town-Northampton, MA
Entry-level economists (10th percentile) start around $66K. Mid-career wages sit at $94K. Top earners bring in $155K or more, a $88K 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
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 Amherst Town-Northampton numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a economist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Amherst Town-Northampton?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $94K, rent takes 34.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,004/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,700/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for economists in Amherst Town-Northampton?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new economists typically earn — is $66K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,976/month. At HUD’s $2,004/month FMR, rent would take 50% 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 Amherst Town-Northampton?
Local pay runs 25% below the national median — $94K here vs. $125K nationally.
How does Amherst Town-Northampton compare to the national average for economists?
Amherst Town-Northampton pays $94K median vs. the U.S. average of $125K — that’s -25%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 100.2), the purchasing-power equivalent is $94K — below the national median.
How much do economists make in Amherst Town-Northampton, MA?
The median is $94,030 a year, that works out to about $45 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $66,270, and experienced economists can clear $154,560. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $94K enough to live in Amherst Town-Northampton?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,820/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,004/month, which eats 34.4% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a economists salary go in Amherst Town-Northampton?
Amherst Town-Northampton has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median economists salary is worth about $93,842 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.