Economists pay range in Boulder
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $68,120 a year or less, while the top 10% make $195,190 or more. The middle half of economists in Boulder earn between $80,100 and $130,460.
- $68K10th
- $80K25th
- $108KMedian
- $130K75th
- $195K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $117,480 | $9,790 | $56.48 |
| Median | $107,870 | $8,989 | $51.86 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $80,100 | $6,675 | $38.51 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $130,460 | $10,872 | $62.72 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Economists pay in Boulder vs. Colorado and the U.S.
Economists in Boulder earn 8% less than the Colorado average ($127,020) and 17% less than the U.S. average ($142,130). At the median the gap is -14% against the U.S. median of $124,720.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boulder | $117,480 | $107,870 | $68,120 | $195,190 | 40 |
| Colorado | $127,020 | $121,410 | $73,450 | $193,480 | 240 |
| United States | $142,130 | $124,720 | $67,360 | $238,060 | 17,790 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Economists salary after taxes in Boulder
On the average salary of $117,480, a single filer in Boulder takes home about $87,016 a year, or $7,251 a month and $3,347 every two weeks. Taxes take 26% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Colorado's FAMLI premium and the flat monthly occupational privilege taxes of Denver, Aurora and a few other cities are not included.
Is Boulder a good place for economists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Boulder area are 5% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 105.2), so the average $117,480 buys what about $111,671 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Boulder ($69,580). A typical home costs $727,954, or 6.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Economists salary in other Colorado cities
Boulder ranks 3rd of 3 Colorado metro areas for this job; Fort Collins pays the most ($127,170).
- Fort Collins$127,170
- Denver$126,990
- Boulder$117,480
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 Boulder: questions
How much do economists make an hour in Boulder?
$56.48 an hour on average, and $51.86 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level economists salary in Boulder?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $68,120 a year and the 25th percentile is $80,100, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the economists take-home pay in Boulder?
About $87,016 a year ($7,251 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $117,480. Colorado's FAMLI premium and the flat monthly occupational privilege taxes of Denver, Aurora and a few other cities are not included.
Do economists earn more in Boulder than elsewhere?
The average here is 17% less than the U.S. average for this job ($142,130).
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 Boulder, CO (14500). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.3%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- 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). Colorado's FAMLI premium and the flat monthly occupational privilege taxes of Denver, Aurora and a few other cities are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.86, this job is 1.9 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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