Economists Salary
In Missouri, economists earn $117,010 at the median, or about $56.26 an hour. The range runs from $73K at the entry level to $230K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.97), which stretches that salary to about $131,516 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,097/month, or 14.8% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Missouri. Jump to a metro for precise data:
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What $117K actually covers in Missouri, month by month
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What this looks like in Missouri
Economists pay in Missouri tracks closely to the national median, $117K locally vs. $125K nationwide, a 6% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,097/month, 15.3% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.97 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Missouri
Entry-level economists (10th percentile) start around $73K. Mid-career wages sit at $117K. Top earners bring in $230K or more, a $156K spread from bottom to top.
Economists salary by metro in Missouri
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis | $133K | +13% | 90 |
| Kansas City | $129K | +10% | 150 |
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BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Missouri numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a economist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Missouri?
Yes — at the median salary of $117K, rent takes 15.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,097/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for economists in Missouri?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new economists typically earn — is $73K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,769/month. At HUD’s $1,097/month FMR, rent would take 23% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is economist a high-paying job in Missouri?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $117K locally vs. $125K nationally, a 6% difference.
How does Missouri compare to the national average for economists?
Missouri pays $117K median vs. the U.S. average of $125K — that’s -6%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $132K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do economists make in Missouri?
The median is $117,010 a year, that works out to about $56 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $73,260, and experienced economists can clear $229,510. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $117K enough to live in Missouri?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,158/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,097/month, which eats 15.3% 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 Missouri?
Missouri has a Regional Price Parity of 88.97 (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 $131,516 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.