Economists Salary in New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ
In New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, economists earn $168,850 at the median — $81.18 an hour. Entry-level workers start around $80K. (BLS did not publish a top-end figure for this area.) Prices run high here (RPP 112.56), so that salary is closer to $150,009 in real purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $2,910/month, or 29.2% of estimated take-home pay.
AffordMap analysis of BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (latest release, May 2024)
So what does $169K get you in New York-Newark-Jersey City?
About economists
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ
Entry-level economists (10th percentile) start around $80K. Mid-career wages sit at $169K.BLS did not publish 90th percentile data for this occupation in this area (sample size too small).
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 |
Track economists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when New York-Newark-Jersey City numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do economists make in New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ?
The median is $168,850 a year - that works out to about $81.18 an hour. The range is wide: entry-level workers start around $80,240. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $169K enough to live in New York-Newark-Jersey City?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $9,757/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,910/month (HUD Fair Market Rent), which eats 29.8% 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 New York-Newark-Jersey City?
New York-Newark-Jersey City has a Regional Price Parity of 112.56 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median economists salary is worth about $150,009 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.