Economist salary in Kansas City, MO-KS
Economists in the Kansas City, MO-KS metro area earn a median of $128,520 a year ($61.79 an hour), based on BLS data for 150 workers.
Pay ranges from $84,150 for the lowest-paid 10% to $209,570 for the top 10%. That is 3% higher than the national median of $124,720. Pay here is 10% higher than the Missouri statewide median of $117,010. There are 0.14 economists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.2× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $141,470, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for economists in Kansas City, MO-KS
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $84,150 | $40.46 |
| 25th percentile | $110,660 | $53.20 |
| Median | $128,520 | $61.79 |
| 75th percentile | $172,880 | $83.12 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $209,570 | $100.76 |
| Average (mean) | $141,470 | $68.01 |
Half of economists earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $10,710 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,355 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,943.08 |
| Weekly | $2,471.54 |
| Hourly | $61.79 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $128,520 salary, see how much house you can afford in Missouri at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Economist salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $132,630 | 90 |
Highest-paying states for economists
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $167,590 |
| New Jersey | $167,550 |
| Delaware | $159,120 |
| Maryland | $144,680 |
| Kansas | $138,790 |
| Virginia | $137,590 |
| New York | $136,660 |
| North Carolina | $136,150 |
| Idaho | $131,270 |
| Alabama | $129,960 |
See Economist pay in every state or the Missouri statewide figures.
Related jobs in Kansas City, MO-KS
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| School Psychologist | $78,090 | $37.54 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $98,110 | $47.17 |
| Urban and Regional Planners | $84,520 | $40.64 |
| Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other | $90,060 | $43.30 |
| Psychologists, All Other | $133,950 | $64.40 |
| Survey Researcher | $69,100 | $33.22 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $81,250 | $39.06 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $92,900 | $44.66 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $74,810 | $35.97 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $80,690 | $38.79 |
| Chemist | $83,420 | $40.11 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | $55,660 | $26.76 |
| Biological Technician | $52,630 | $25.30 |
| Chemical Technician | $61,560 | $29.59 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Kansas City, MO-KS
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 19-3011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a economist make in Kansas City, MO-KS?
The median salary for economists in the Kansas City, MO-KS metro area is $128,520 a year, or $61.79 an hour. Pay ranges from $84,150 for the lowest-paid 10% to $209,570 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid economists make in Kansas City, MO-KS?
The top 10% of economists in the Kansas City, MO-KS metro area earn at least $209,570 a year. The top 25% earn $172,880 or more.
What is the starting pay for economists in Kansas City, MO-KS?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $84,150 a year, and a quarter of economists earn $110,660 or less.
How many economists work in Kansas City, MO-KS?
About 150 economists are employed in the Kansas City, MO-KS metro area, not counting the self-employed.