Economists Salary
In Maine, economists earn $91,480 at the median, or about $43.98 an hour. The range runs from $69K at the entry level to $133K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97.7), that's roughly $93,634 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,281/month, or 22.3% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Maine. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $91K get you in Maine?
About economists
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What this looks like in Maine
Pay for economists in Maine runs about 27% below the U.S. median of $125K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,281/month, 22.7% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 97.7) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Lower pay, lower costs, Maine can be a reasonable trade-off for economistss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Maine
Entry-level economists (10th percentile) start around $69K. Mid-career wages sit at $91K. Top earners bring in $133K or more, a $64K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track economists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Maine numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a economist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Maine?
Yes — at the median salary of $91K, rent takes 22.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,281/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for economists in Maine?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new economists typically earn — is $69K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,148/month. At HUD’s $1,281/month FMR, rent would take 31% 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 Maine?
Local pay runs 27% below the national median — $91K here vs. $125K nationally.
How does Maine compare to the national average for economists?
Maine pays $91K median vs. the U.S. average of $125K — that’s -27%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97.7), the purchasing-power equivalent is $94K — below the national median.
How much do economists make in Maine?
The median is $91,480 a year, that works out to about $44 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $69,140, and experienced economists can clear $132,950. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $91K enough to live in Maine?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,643/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,281/month, which eats 22.7% 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 Maine?
Maine has a Regional Price Parity of 97.7 (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 $93,634 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.