Economists Salary
In Lincoln, NE, economists earn $70,400 at the median, or about $33.85 an hour. The range runs from $44K at the entry level to $102K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.58), which stretches that salary to about $76,873 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,141/month, or 24.7% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $70K get you in Lincoln?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Lincoln’s Regional Price Parity (91.58). 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 Lincoln
Pay for economists in Lincoln runs about 44% below the U.S. median of $125K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,141/month, 24.9% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.58 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 8% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Lincoln 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 Lincoln, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial | $121K | , |
| Kansas City | $129K | $139K |
| St. Louis | $133K | $139K |
| Boulder | $108K | , |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Lincoln, NE
Entry-level economists (10th percentile) start around $44K. Mid-career wages sit at $70K. Top earners bring in $102K or more, a $58K 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 Lincoln numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a economist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Lincoln?
Yes — at the median salary of $70K, rent takes 24.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,141/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for economists in Lincoln?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new economists typically earn — is $44K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,659/month. At HUD’s $1,141/month FMR, rent would take 43% 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 Lincoln?
Local pay runs 44% below the national median — $70K here vs. $125K nationally. Cost of living is 8% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Lincoln compare to the national average for economists?
Lincoln pays $70K median vs. the U.S. average of $125K — that’s -44%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.58), the purchasing-power equivalent is $77K — below the national median.
How much do economists make in Lincoln, NE?
The median is $70,400 a year, that works out to about $34 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $44,310, and experienced economists can clear $102,000. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $70K enough to live in Lincoln?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,578/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,141/month, which eats 24.9% 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 Lincoln?
Lincoln has a Regional Price Parity of 91.58 (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 $76,873 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.