Economists Salary
In Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR, economists earn $85,000 at the median, or about $40.86 an hour. The range runs from $55K at the entry level to $126K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.36), which stretches that salary to about $95,121 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,147/month, or 21.3% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $85K get you in Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway’s Regional Price Parity (89.36). 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 Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway
Pay for economists in Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway runs about 32% below the U.S. median of $125K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,147/month, 21.2% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.36 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway 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 Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington | $122K | $119K |
| Kansas City | $129K | $139K |
| St. Louis | $133K | $139K |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos | $87K | $89K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR
Entry-level economists (10th percentile) start around $55K. Mid-career wages sit at $85K. Top earners bring in $126K or more, a $70K 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 Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a economist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway?
Yes — at the median salary of $85K, rent takes 21.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,147/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for economists in Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new economists typically earn — is $55K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,308/month. At HUD’s $1,147/month FMR, rent would take 35% 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 Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway?
Local pay runs 32% below the national median — $85K here vs. $125K nationally. Cost of living is 11% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway compare to the national average for economists?
Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway pays $85K median vs. the U.S. average of $125K — that’s -32%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.36), the purchasing-power equivalent is $95K — below the national median.
How much do economists make in Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR?
The median is $85,000 a year, that works out to about $41 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $55,130, and experienced economists can clear $125,590. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $85K enough to live in Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,420/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,147/month, which eats 21.2% 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 Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway?
Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway has a Regional Price Parity of 89.36 (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 $95,121 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.