Economists Salary
In Kansas City, MO-KS, economists earn $128,520 at the median, or about $61.79 an hour. The range runs from $84K at the entry level to $210K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.54), which stretches that salary to about $138,880 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,358/month, or 17.4% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $129K get you in Kansas City?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Kansas City’s Regional Price Parity (92.54). 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 Kansas City
Economists pay in Kansas City tracks closely to the national median, $129K locally vs. $125K nationwide, a 3% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,358/month, 17.5% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.54 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for economists in metros near Kansas City, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| St. Louis | $133K | $139K |
| Lincoln | $70K | $77K |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $96K | $105K |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway | $85K | $95K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Kansas City, MO-KS
Entry-level economists (10th percentile) start around $84K. Mid-career wages sit at $129K. Top earners bring in $210K 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 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 Kansas City numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a economist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Kansas City?
Yes — at the median salary of $129K, rent takes 17.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,358/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for economists in Kansas City?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new economists typically earn — is $84K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,049/month. At HUD’s $1,358/month FMR, rent would take 27% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is economist a high-paying job in Kansas City?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $129K locally vs. $125K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does Kansas City compare to the national average for economists?
Kansas City pays $129K median vs. the U.S. average of $125K — that’s +3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.54), the purchasing-power equivalent is $139K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do economists make in Kansas City, MO-KS?
The median is $128,520 a year, that works out to about $62 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $84,150, and experienced economists can clear $209,570. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $129K enough to live in Kansas City?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,770/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,358/month, which eats 17.5% 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 Kansas City?
Kansas City has a Regional Price Parity of 92.54 (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 $138,880 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.