Economists Salary
In Ann Arbor, MI, economists earn $128,960 at the median, or about $62 an hour. The range runs from $87K at the entry level to $175K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 100.88), that's roughly $127,835 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,656/month, or 21.2% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $129K get you in Ann Arbor?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Ann Arbor’s Regional Price Parity (100.88). 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 Ann Arbor
Economists pay in Ann Arbor tracks closely to the national median, $129K locally vs. $125K nationwide, a 3% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,656/month, 21.3% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 100.88) 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 Ann Arbor, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn | $106K | $106K |
| Lansing-East Lansing | $88K | $93K |
| Madison | $89K | $91K |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha | $77K | $79K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Ann Arbor, MI
Entry-level economists (10th percentile) start around $87K. Mid-career wages sit at $129K. Top earners bring in $175K 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 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 Ann Arbor numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a economist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Ann Arbor?
Yes — at the median salary of $129K, rent takes 21.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,656/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for economists in Ann Arbor?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new economists typically earn — is $87K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,197/month. At HUD’s $1,656/month FMR, rent would take 32% 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 Ann Arbor?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $129K locally vs. $125K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does Ann Arbor compare to the national average for economists?
Ann Arbor pays $129K median vs. the U.S. average of $125K — that’s +3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 100.88), the purchasing-power equivalent is $128K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do economists make in Ann Arbor, MI?
The median is $128,960 a year, that works out to about $62 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $86,610, and experienced economists can clear $174,910. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $129K enough to live in Ann Arbor?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,785/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,656/month, which eats 21.3% 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 Ann Arbor?
Ann Arbor has a Regional Price Parity of 100.88 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median economists salary is worth about $127,835 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.