Economists Salary
In Ohio, economists earn $120,000 at the median, or about $57.69 an hour. The range runs from $70K at the entry level to $217K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.45), which stretches that salary to about $131,219 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,188/month, or 15.7% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Ohio. Jump to a metro for precise data:
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What $120K actually covers in Ohio, month by month
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What this looks like in Ohio
Economists pay in Ohio tracks closely to the national median, $120K locally vs. $125K nationwide, a 4% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,188/month, 15.8% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.45 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 9% 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, Ohio
Entry-level economists (10th percentile) start around $70K. Mid-career wages sit at $120K. Top earners bring in $217K or more, a $147K spread from bottom to top.
Economists salary by metro in Ohio
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati | $121K | +1% | 40 |
| Cleveland | $105K | -12% | 50 |
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BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Ohio 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 Ohio?
Yes — at the median salary of $120K, rent takes 15.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,188/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for economists in Ohio?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new economists typically earn — is $70K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,687/month. At HUD’s $1,188/month FMR, rent would take 25% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is economist a high-paying job in Ohio?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $120K locally vs. $125K nationally, a 4% difference.
How does Ohio compare to the national average for economists?
Ohio pays $120K median vs. the U.S. average of $125K — that’s -4%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.45), the purchasing-power equivalent is $131K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do economists make in Ohio?
The median is $120,000 a year, that works out to about $58 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $69,770, and experienced economists can clear $216,920. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $120K enough to live in Ohio?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,500/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,188/month, which eats 15.8% 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 Ohio?
Ohio has a Regional Price Parity of 91.45 (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 $131,219 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.