Economists pay range in Charlotte
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $55,640 a year or less, while the top 10% make $238,050 or more. The middle half of economists in Charlotte earn between $74,150 and $194,210.
- $56K10th
- $74K25th
- $118KMedian
- $194K75th
- $238K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $141,330 | $11,778 | $67.95 |
| Median | $117,600 | $9,800 | $56.54 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $74,150 | $6,179 | $35.65 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $194,210 | $16,184 | $93.37 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Economists pay in Charlotte vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Economists in Charlotte earn 4% more than the North Carolina average ($136,220) and about the same as the U.S. average ($142,130). At the median the gap is -6% against the U.S. median of $124,720.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte | $141,330 | $117,600 | $55,640 | $238,050 | 80 |
| North Carolina | $136,220 | $136,150 | $35,460 | $224,270 | 290 |
| 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 Charlotte
On the average salary of $141,330, a single filer in Charlotte takes home about $102,735 a year, or $8,561 a month and $3,951 every two weeks. Taxes take 27% of gross pay.
The Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in NC | $102,735 | $8,561 |
| Working in SC | $101,468 | $8,456 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Charlotte a good place for economists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Charlotte area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.3), so the average $141,330 buys what about $145,180 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Charlotte ($49,990). A typical home costs $390,321, or 2.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Economists salary in other North Carolina cities
Charlotte ranks 2nd of 3 North Carolina metro areas for this job; Durham pays the most ($159,310).
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 Charlotte: questions
How much do economists make an hour in Charlotte?
$67.95 an hour on average, and $56.54 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level economists salary in Charlotte?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $55,640 a year and the 25th percentile is $74,150, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the economists take-home pay in Charlotte?
About $102,735 a year ($8,561 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $141,330.
Do economists earn more in Charlotte than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as 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 Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC (16740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 9.6%.
- 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.49, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.49).
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