Economists Salary
In Salem, OR, economists earn $124,190 at the median, or about $59.71 an hour. The range runs from $85K at the entry level to $137K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 103.65), that's roughly $119,817 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,560/month, or 21.3% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $124K get you in Salem?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Salem’s Regional Price Parity (103.65). 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 Salem
Economists pay in Salem tracks closely to the national median, $124K locally vs. $125K nationwide, a 0% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,560/month, 21.9% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 103.65) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for economists in metros near Salem, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro | $122K | $116K |
| 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, Salem, OR
Entry-level economists (10th percentile) start around $85K. Mid-career wages sit at $124K. Top earners bring in $137K or more, a $52K 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 Salem numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a economist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Salem?
Yes — at the median salary of $124K, rent takes 21.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,560/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for economists in Salem?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new economists typically earn — is $85K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,109/month. At HUD’s $1,560/month FMR, rent would take 31% 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 Salem?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $124K locally vs. $125K nationally, a 0% difference.
How does Salem compare to the national average for economists?
Salem pays $124K median vs. the U.S. average of $125K — that’s +0%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 103.65), the purchasing-power equivalent is $120K — below the national median.
How much do economists make in Salem, OR?
The median is $124,190 a year, that works out to about $60 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $85,150, and experienced economists can clear $136,990. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $124K enough to live in Salem?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,108/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,560/month, which eats 21.9% 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 Salem?
Salem has a Regional Price Parity of 103.65 (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 $119,817 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.