Economists Salary
In Baton Rouge, LA, economists earn $74,580 at the median, or about $35.86 an hour. The range runs from $63K at the entry level to $153K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 90.78), which stretches that salary to about $82,155 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,204/month, or 24.6% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $75K get you in Baton Rouge?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Baton Rouge’s Regional Price Parity (90.78). 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
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Baton Rouge
Pay for economists in Baton Rouge runs about 40% below the U.S. median of $125K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,204/month, 24.8% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 90.78 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 9% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Baton Rouge can be a reasonable trade-off for economistss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for economists in metros near Baton Rouge, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| New Orleans-Metairie | $76K | $82K |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington | $122K | $119K |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos | $87K | $89K |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels | $107K | $113K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Baton Rouge, LA
Entry-level economists (10th percentile) start around $63K. Mid-career wages sit at $75K. Top earners bring in $153K or more, a $90K 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 Baton Rouge numbers change.
Related careers in Science
Frequently asked questions
Can a economist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Baton Rouge?
Yes — at the median salary of $75K, rent takes 24.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,204/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for economists in Baton Rouge?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new economists typically earn — is $63K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,776/month. At HUD’s $1,204/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 Baton Rouge?
Local pay runs 40% below the national median — $75K here vs. $125K nationally. Cost of living is 9% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Baton Rouge compare to the national average for economists?
Baton Rouge pays $75K median vs. the U.S. average of $125K — that’s -40%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 90.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $82K — below the national median.
How much do economists make in Baton Rouge, LA?
The median is $74,580 a year, that works out to about $36 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $62,930, and experienced economists can clear $153,020. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $75K enough to live in Baton Rouge?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,855/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,204/month, which eats 24.8% 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 Baton Rouge?
Baton Rouge has a Regional Price Parity of 90.78 (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 $82,155 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.