Economists Salary
In Florida, economists earn $102,430 at the median, or about $49.24 an hour. The range runs from $66K at the entry level to $175K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.58), that's roughly $103,905 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,658/month, or 24.2% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Florida. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $102K actually covers in Florida, month by month
About economists
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Florida
Pay for economists in Florida runs about 18% below the U.S. median of $125K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,658/month, 24.7% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 98.58) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Lower pay, lower costs, Florida can be a reasonable trade-off for economists who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Florida
Entry-level economists (10th percentile) start around $66K. Mid-career wages sit at $102K. Top earners bring in $175K or more, a $109K spread from bottom to top.
Economists salary by metro in Florida
5 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville | $137K | +34% | 30 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach | $118K | +15% | 110 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater | $104K | +1% | 80 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford | $102K | +0% | N/A |
| Tallahassee | $70K | -31% | 50 |
Compare to other states
Track economists salary changes
BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Florida numbers change.
Related careers in Science
Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a economist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Florida?
Yes — at the median salary of $102K, rent takes 24.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,658/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for economists in Florida?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new economists typically earn — is $66K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,559/month. At HUD’s $1,658/month FMR, rent would take 36% 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 Florida?
Local pay runs 18% below the national median — $102K here vs. $125K nationally.
How does Florida compare to the national average for economists?
Florida pays $102K median vs. the U.S. average of $125K — that’s -18%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 98.58), the purchasing-power equivalent is $104K — below the national median.
How much do economists make in Florida?
The median is $102,430 a year, that works out to about $49 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $65,850, and experienced economists can clear $174,900. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $102K enough to live in Florida?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,704/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,658/month, which eats 24.7% 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 Florida?
Florida has a Regional Price Parity of 98.58 (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 $103,905 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.