State comparison · 2025
Economists salary: District of Columbia vs Tennessee
Economists in District of Columbia earn a median of $167,590. In Tennessee, $117,650. After cost-of-living, the gap is 19.1% — not 42.4%.
Nominal pay gap
+42.4%
District of Columbia vs Tennessee
COL-adjusted gap
+19.1%
After BEA Regional Price Parities
District of Columbia
Economists
- Median
- $167,590
- p25
- $115,910
- p75
- $224,080
- p10
- $98,350
- p90
- $299,110
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 109.9
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- -58%
Tennessee
Economists
- Median
- $117,650
- p25
- $96,170
- p75
- $145,220
- p10
- $83,610
- p90
- $162,670
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 91.9
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- -76%
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Cost-of-living adjustment from BEA Regional Price Parities (overall index). Hiring velocity from DOL OFLC public disclosure data, recent 180 days vs prior. See methodology.