Economists Salary in District of Columbia
In District of Columbia, economists earn $162,610 at the median — $78.18 an hour. Entry-level workers start around $84K. (BLS did not publish a top-end figure for this area.)
AffordMap analysis of BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (latest release, May 2024)
So what does $163K get you in District of Columbia?
About economists
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, District of Columbia
Entry-level economists (10th percentile) start around $84K. Mid-career wages sit at $163K.BLS did not publish 90th percentile data for this occupation in this area (sample size too small).
Economists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $163K | +41% | 3,010 |
| Virginia | $148K | +28% | 970 |
| New York | $142K | +23% | 870 |
| Maryland | $138K | +19% | 920 |
| Georgia | $127K | +10% | 340 |
| Ohio | $118K | +2% | 130 |
| Washington | $116K | +1% | 470 |
| Missouri | $116K | +0% | 210 |
| Kansas | $115K | -0% | 110 |
| Pennsylvania | $113K | -2% | 710 |
| Illinois | $113K | -2% | 590 |
| North Carolina | $112K | -3% | 250 |
| Oregon | $112K | -3% | 270 |
| Tennessee | $110K | -4% | N/A |
| Alaska | $109K | -6% | N/A |
Track economists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when District of Columbia numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do economists make in District of Columbia?
The median is $162,610 a year - that works out to about $78.18 an hour. The range is wide: entry-level workers start around $84,390. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $163K enough to live in District of Columbia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $9,243/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom in this state rents for about $2,246/month (median of metro areas), which eats 24.3% 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 District of Columbia?
District of Columbia 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 $162,610 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.