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What does a Economists salary really buy you in Alabama?
Alabama is 12.2% cheaper than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19
Alabama's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 87.8, meaning prices are 12.2% lower the national average. A Economists earning $129,960 in Alabama has the equivalent purchasing power of $148,018 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Alabama's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $74,520 | $84,874 | +$10,354 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $91,210 | $103,883 | +$12,673 |
| Median (P50) | $129,960 | $148,018 | +$18,058 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $153,570 | $174,908 | +$21,338 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $175,170 | $199,510 | +$24,340 |
A Economists in Alabama earns $129,960 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 14% further — like earning $148,018 in an average-cost state. This makes Alabama one of the best value states for this occupation.
Alabama's Regional Price Parity (RPP) of 87.8 means a basket of goods and services costs about 12.2% less than the national average. For a Economists, every dollar earned effectively buys more here than in a 100-RPP state.
Adjusting $129,960 for Alabama's cost of living yields $148,018 — a 13.9% gain in real purchasing power. This magnitude usually reflects either a materially cheaper or materially pricier metro mix than the national average.
Ranked on COL-adjusted median pay for Economists, Alabama places #4 of 40 states — top quartile. Either nominal wages run high, cost of living runs low, or both.
Where does Economists salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Alabama ranks #4 out of 40 states for Economists after cost-of-living adjustment.
How much do you actually take home? See Economists take-home pay in Alabama after taxes →
A Economists in Alabama earns a median salary of $129,960 per year. After adjusting for Alabama's cost of living (RPP=87.8), the real purchasing power is $148,018 — a +13.9% difference.
Alabama's cost of living is 12.2% lower than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Alabama is 87.8 (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 Alabama: $129,960 x (100 / 87.8) = $148,018. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Economists in Alabama enjoys 13.9% more buying power than the nominal salary suggests, because living costs are below the national average. However, other factors like job availability, career growth, and quality of life also matter.
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