Economists Salary
In Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA, economists earn $122,120 at the median, or about $58.71 an hour. The range runs from $83K at the entry level to $153K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 105.42), so that salary is closer to $115,841 in real purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,922/month, or 26.7% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $122K get you in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro’s Regional Price Parity (105.42). 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 Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro
Economists pay in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro tracks closely to the national median, $122K locally vs. $125K nationwide, a 2% difference. Rent runs $1,922/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 27.4% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost-of-living overall is 5% above the national average (BEA RPP 105.42), so groceries and services cost more too. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for economists in metros near Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Salem | $124K | $120K |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas | $94K | $94K |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $100K | $94K |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $152K | $133K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA
Entry-level economists (10th percentile) start around $83K. Mid-career wages sit at $122K. Top earners bring in $153K or more, a $70K 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 with published data
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 Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a economist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro?
Yes — at the median salary of $122K, rent takes 27.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,922/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for economists in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new economists typically earn — is $83K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,967/month. At HUD’s $1,922/month FMR, rent would take 39% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is economist a high-paying job in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $122K locally vs. $125K nationally, a 2% difference.
How does Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro compare to the national average for economists?
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro pays $122K median vs. the U.S. average of $125K — that’s -2%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 105.42), the purchasing-power equivalent is $116K — below the national median.
How much do economists make in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA?
The median is $122,120 a year, that works out to about $59 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $82,780, and experienced economists can clear $153,150. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $122K enough to live in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,005/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,922/month, which eats 27.4% 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 Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro?
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro has a Regional Price Parity of 105.42 (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 $115,841 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.