What does a Economists salary really buy you in Maryland?
Maryland is 5.0% pricier than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-04-06
Maryland's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 105.0, meaning prices are 5.0% higher the national average. A Economists earning $134,410 in Maryland has the equivalent purchasing power of $128,009 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Maryland's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $80,640 | $76,800 | $-3,840 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $109,180 | $103,980 | $-5,199 |
| Median (P50) | $134,410 | $128,009 | $-6,400 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $170,360 | $162,247 | $-8,112 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $183,500 | $174,761 | $-8,738 |
While $134,410 sounds high, Maryland's elevated cost of living erases 5% of that salary's purchasing power. Your real buying power is $128,009. Consider whether the higher pay offsets the higher costs.
Where does Economists salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Maryland ranks #4 out of 38 states for Economists after cost-of-living adjustment.
Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.
How much do you actually take home? See Economists take-home pay in Maryland after taxes →
A Economists in Maryland earns a median salary of $134,410 per year. After adjusting for Maryland's cost of living (RPP=105.0), the real purchasing power is $128,009 — a -4.8% difference.
Maryland's cost of living is 5.0% higher than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Maryland is 105.0 (US average = 100).
Regional Price Parities (RPPs) are price indexes published by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) that measure differences in price levels across states. They are expressed as a percentage of the national average (US = 100). Higher RPP means higher cost of living.
The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Economists in Maryland: $134,410 x (100 / 105.0) = $128,009. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
Partially — a Economists's nominal salary of $134,410 in Maryland has 4.8% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $128,009. However, Maryland may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.