Economists Salary
In Oklahoma City, OK, economists earn $108,620 at the median, or about $52.22 an hour. The range runs from $72K at the entry level to $190K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 90.41), which stretches that salary to about $120,142 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,244/month, or 18.1% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $109K get you in Oklahoma City?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Oklahoma City’s Regional Price Parity (90.41). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About economists
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What this looks like in Oklahoma City
Pay for economists in Oklahoma City runs about 13% below the U.S. median of $125K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,244/month, 18.6% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 90.41 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Oklahoma City can be a reasonable trade-off for economistss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for economists in metros near Oklahoma City, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington | $122K | $119K |
| Kansas City | $129K | $139K |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial | $121K | , |
| St. Louis | $133K | $139K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Oklahoma City, OK
Entry-level economists (10th percentile) start around $72K. Mid-career wages sit at $109K. Top earners bring in $190K or more, a $118K spread from bottom to top.
Economists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Economists salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $168K | +34% | 3,000 |
| New Jersey | $168K | +34% | 280 |
| Delaware | $159K | +28% | 70 |
| Maryland | $145K | +16% | 1,130 |
| Kansas | $139K | +11% | 80 |
| Virginia | $138K | +10% | 950 |
| New York | $137K | +10% | 910 |
| North Carolina | $136K | +9% | 290 |
| Idaho | $131K | +5% | 130 |
| Alabama | $130K | +4% | 40 |
| Georgia | $123K | -2% | 260 |
| Oregon | $122K | -2% | 320 |
| Texas | $121K | -3% | 560 |
| Colorado | $121K | -3% | 240 |
| Ohio | $120K | -4% | 140 |
| California | $119K | -4% | 860 |
| Tennessee | $118K | -6% | 80 |
| Missouri | $117K | -6% | 280 |
| Pennsylvania | $115K | -8% | 560 |
| Alaska | $111K | -11% | 80 |
| Washington | $109K | -12% | 450 |
| Massachusetts | $106K | -15% | 1,030 |
| Michigan | $106K | -15% | 320 |
| Minnesota | $105K | -16% | 500 |
| Florida | $102K | -18% | 500 |
| Connecticut | $101K | -19% | 210 |
| Iowa | $96K | -23% | 70 |
| Arkansas | $92K | -27% | 50 |
| Maine | $91K | -27% | 70 |
| Nevada | $91K | -27% | 70 |
| Oklahoma | $90K | -28% | 80 |
| Montana | $89K | -28% | 90 |
| New Hampshire | $86K | -31% | 50 |
| Wisconsin | $84K | -33% | 280 |
| Hawaii | $83K | -33% | 50 |
| Indiana | $81K | -35% | 80 |
| Arizona | $80K | -36% | 340 |
| Nebraska | $76K | -39% | 90 |
| Louisiana | $73K | -41% | 140 |
| Kentucky | $71K | -43% | 100 |
Showing 1–10 of 40 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track economists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Oklahoma City numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a economist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Oklahoma City?
Yes — at the median salary of $109K, rent takes 18.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,244/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for economists in Oklahoma City?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new economists typically earn — is $72K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,299/month. At HUD’s $1,244/month FMR, rent would take 29% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is economist a high-paying job in Oklahoma City?
Local pay runs 13% below the national median — $109K here vs. $125K nationally. Cost of living is 10% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Oklahoma City compare to the national average for economists?
Oklahoma City pays $109K median vs. the U.S. average of $125K — that’s -13%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 90.41), the purchasing-power equivalent is $120K — below the national median.
How much do economists make in Oklahoma City, OK?
The median is $108,620 a year, that works out to about $52 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $71,650, and experienced economists can clear $189,990. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $109K enough to live in Oklahoma City?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,678/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,244/month, which eats 18.6% 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 City?
Oklahoma City has a Regional Price Parity of 90.41 (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 $120,142 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.