Economists Salary
In Delaware, economists earn $159,120 at the median, or about $76.5 an hour. The range runs from $75K at the entry level to $214K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97.51), that's roughly $163,183 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,448/month, or 15.4% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Delaware. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $159K get you in Delaware?
About economists
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What this looks like in Delaware
Delaware sits well above the national pay line for economists, local pay runs about 28% higher than the U.S. median of $125K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,448/month, 15.8% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 97.51) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Combined with manageable housing costs, Delaware offers a genuinely strong financial position for economistss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Delaware
Entry-level economists (10th percentile) start around $75K. Mid-career wages sit at $159K. Top earners bring in $214K or more, a $139K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track economists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Delaware numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a economist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Delaware?
Yes — at the median salary of $159K, rent takes 15.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,448/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for economists in Delaware?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new economists typically earn — is $75K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,481/month. At HUD’s $1,448/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 Delaware?
Local pay is 28% above the national median — $159K here vs. $125K nationally.
How does Delaware compare to the national average for economists?
Delaware pays $159K median vs. the U.S. average of $125K — that’s +28%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97.51), the purchasing-power equivalent is $163K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do economists make in Delaware?
The median is $159,120 a year, that works out to about $77 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $74,690, and experienced economists can clear $214,000. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $159K enough to live in Delaware?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $9,188/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,448/month, which eats 15.8% 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 Delaware?
Delaware has a Regional Price Parity of 97.51 (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 $163,183 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.