Economists Salary in Lansing-East Lansing, MI
In Lansing-East Lansing, MI, economists earn $78,670 at the median — $37.82 an hour. The range runs from $62K at the entry level to $143K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.99), which stretches that salary to about $82,819 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,268/month, or 24.5% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $79K get you in Lansing-East Lansing?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Lansing-East Lansing’s Regional Price Parity (94.99). 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.
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Lansing-East Lansing, MI
Entry-level economists (10th percentile) start around $62K. Mid-career wages sit at $79K. Top earners bring in $143K or more, a $81K spread from bottom to top.
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 |
| Minnesota | $107K | -7% | 210 |
| Texas | $106K | -8% | 620 |
| Alabama | $103K | -10% | 40 |
| Connecticut | $103K | -11% | 200 |
| Massachusetts | $103K | -11% | 770 |
| New Jersey | $102K | -11% | 110 |
| California | $101K | -13% | 1,400 |
| Arizona | $96K | -17% | N/A |
| Montana | $96K | -17% | 70 |
| Indiana | $96K | -17% | 60 |
| Michigan | $95K | -18% | 280 |
| Iowa | $93K | -20% | 70 |
| Florida | $89K | -23% | 460 |
| Louisiana | $89K | -23% | 70 |
| Nevada | $85K | -27% | 90 |
| New Mexico | $82K | -29% | N/A |
| Oklahoma | $82K | -29% | N/A |
| Hawaii | $82K | -29% | 60 |
| Maine | $81K | -30% | 60 |
| Idaho | $79K | -32% | 110 |
| Wisconsin | $77K | -33% | 330 |
| Nebraska | $67K | -42% | 90 |
| Kentucky | $65K | -43% | 160 |
| South Carolina | $52K | -55% | 660 |
Showing 1–10 of 39 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 Lansing-East Lansing numbers change.
Related careers in Science
Frequently asked questions
How much do economists make in Lansing-East Lansing, MI?
The median is $78,670 a year, that works out to about $38 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $62,030, and experienced economists can clear $143,090. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $79K enough to live in Lansing-East Lansing?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,032/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,268/month, which eats 25.2% 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 Lansing-East Lansing?
Lansing-East Lansing has a Regional Price Parity of 94.99 (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 $82,819 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.