Economists pay range in Durham
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $81,700 a year or less, while the top 10% make $224,270 or more. The middle half of economists in Durham earn between $132,040 and $198,260.
- $82K10th
- $132K25th
- $152KMedian
- $198K75th
- $224K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $159,310 | $13,276 | $76.59 |
| Median | $152,130 | $12,678 | $73.14 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $132,040 | $11,003 | $63.48 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $198,260 | $16,522 | $95.32 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Economists salary after taxes in Durham
On the average salary of $159,310, a single filer in Durham takes home about $114,307 a year, or $9,526 a month and $4,396 every two weeks. Taxes take 28% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Durham a good place for economists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Durham area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.6), so the average $159,310 buys what about $163,274 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Durham ($60,720). A typical home costs $414,340, or 2.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Economists salary in other North Carolina cities
Durham ranks 1st of 3 North Carolina metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
Highest-paying cities for economists
New York, NY pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($184,860).
- New York, NY$184,860
- Washington, DC$166,140
- Durham, NC$159,310
- St. Louis, MO$156,690
- Los Angeles, CA$155,860
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Economists salary in Durham: questions
How much do economists make an hour in Durham?
$76.59 an hour on average, and $73.14 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level economists salary in Durham?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $81,700 a year and the 25th percentile is $132,040, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the economists take-home pay in Durham?
About $114,307 a year ($9,526 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $159,310.
Do economists earn more in Durham than elsewhere?
The average here is 9% more than the U.S. metro average for this job ($145,984).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 19-3011; area Durham-Chapel Hill, NC (20500). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.0%.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 3.02, this job is 3.0 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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