Economists Salary
In Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI, economists earn $106,350 at the median, or about $51.13 an hour. The range runs from $68K at the entry level to $193K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 100.3), that's roughly $106,032 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,411/month, or 21% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $106K get you in Detroit-Warren-Dearborn?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Detroit-Warren-Dearborn’s Regional Price Parity (100.3). 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 Detroit-Warren-Dearborn
Pay for economists in Detroit-Warren-Dearborn runs about 15% below the U.S. median of $125K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,411/month, 21.5% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 100.3) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Lower pay, lower costs, Detroit-Warren-Dearborn 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 Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Ann Arbor | $129K | $128K |
| 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, Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
Entry-level economists (10th percentile) start around $68K. Mid-career wages sit at $106K. Top earners bring in $193K or more, a $125K 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 Detroit-Warren-Dearborn numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a economist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Detroit-Warren-Dearborn?
Yes — at the median salary of $106K, rent takes 21.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,411/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for economists in Detroit-Warren-Dearborn?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new economists typically earn — is $68K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,070/month. At HUD’s $1,411/month FMR, rent would take 35% 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 Detroit-Warren-Dearborn?
Local pay runs 15% below the national median — $106K here vs. $125K nationally.
How does Detroit-Warren-Dearborn compare to the national average for economists?
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn pays $106K median vs. the U.S. average of $125K — that’s -15%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 100.3), the purchasing-power equivalent is $106K — below the national median.
How much do economists make in Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI?
The median is $106,350 a year, that works out to about $51 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $67,830, and experienced economists can clear $193,280. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $106K enough to live in Detroit-Warren-Dearborn?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,557/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,411/month, which eats 21.5% 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 Detroit-Warren-Dearborn?
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn has a Regional Price Parity of 100.3 (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 $106,032 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.