Economists Salary
In Oklahoma, economists earn $89,980 at the median, or about $43.26 an hour. The range runs from $67K at the entry level to $172K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.46), which stretches that salary to about $102,881 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,081/month, or 19% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Oklahoma. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $90K get you in Oklahoma?
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What this looks like in Oklahoma
Pay for economists in Oklahoma runs about 28% below the U.S. median of $125K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,081/month, 19.1% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 87.46 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 13% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Oklahoma can be a reasonable trade-off for economistss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Oklahoma
Entry-level economists (10th percentile) start around $67K. Mid-career wages sit at $90K. Top earners bring in $172K or more, a $104K spread from bottom to top.
Economists salary by metro in Oklahoma
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma City | $109K | +21% | 30 |
Compare to other states
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Oklahoma numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a economist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Oklahoma?
Yes — at the median salary of $90K, rent takes 19.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,081/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for economists in Oklahoma?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new economists typically earn — is $67K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,049/month. At HUD’s $1,081/month FMR, rent would take 27% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is economist a high-paying job in Oklahoma?
Local pay runs 28% below the national median — $90K here vs. $125K nationally. Cost of living is 13% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Oklahoma compare to the national average for economists?
Oklahoma pays $90K median vs. the U.S. average of $125K — that’s -28%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 87.46), the purchasing-power equivalent is $103K — below the national median.
How much do economists make in Oklahoma?
The median is $89,980 a year, that works out to about $43 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $67,490, and experienced economists can clear $171,650. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $90K enough to live in Oklahoma?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,659/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,081/month, which eats 19.1% 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 Oklahoma?
Oklahoma has a Regional Price Parity of 87.46 (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 $102,881 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.