Economist salary in the U.S.
Economists in the U.S. earn a median of $124,720 a year ($59.96 an hour), based on BLS data for 17,790 workers.
Pay ranges from $67,360 for the lowest-paid 10% to $238,060 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $142,130, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for economists in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $67,360 | $32.38 |
| 25th percentile | $89,330 | $42.95 |
| Median | $124,720 | $59.96 |
| 75th percentile | $174,720 | $84.00 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $238,060 | $114.45 |
| Average (mean) | $142,130 | $68.33 |
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 | $10,393.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,196.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,796.92 |
| Weekly | $2,398.46 |
| Hourly | $59.96 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Economist salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $167,590 | 3,000 |
| New Jersey | $167,550 | 280 |
| Delaware | $159,120 | 70 |
| Maryland | $144,680 | 1,130 |
| Kansas | $138,790 | 80 |
| Virginia | $137,590 | 950 |
| New York | $136,660 | 910 |
| North Carolina | $136,150 | 290 |
| Idaho | $131,270 | 130 |
| Alabama | $129,960 | 40 |
| Georgia | $122,570 | 260 |
| Oregon | $122,120 | 320 |
| Texas | $121,420 | 560 |
| Colorado | $121,410 | 240 |
| Ohio | $120,000 | 140 |
| California | $119,410 | 860 |
| Tennessee | $117,650 | 80 |
| Missouri | $117,010 | 280 |
| Pennsylvania | $115,000 | 560 |
| Alaska | $111,040 | 80 |
| Washington | $109,300 | 450 |
| Massachusetts | $106,380 | 1,030 |
| Michigan | $106,350 | 320 |
| Minnesota | $105,120 | 500 |
| Florida | $102,430 | 500 |
| Connecticut | $101,400 | 210 |
| Iowa | $96,310 | 70 |
| Arkansas | $91,560 | 50 |
| Maine | $91,480 | 70 |
| Nevada | $91,340 | 70 |
| Oklahoma | $89,980 | 80 |
| Montana | $89,340 | 90 |
| New Hampshire | $86,130 | 50 |
| Wisconsin | $84,000 | 280 |
| Hawaii | $83,050 | 50 |
| Indiana | $80,750 | 80 |
| Arizona | $79,610 | 340 |
| Nebraska | $75,880 | 90 |
| Louisiana | $73,050 | 140 |
| Kentucky | $71,400 | 100 |
| Puerto Rico | $70,750 | 100 |
Best-paying metro areas for economists
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $176,090 | 850 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $156,750 | 4,570 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $152,730 | 110 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $152,130 | 120 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $151,510 | 200 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $142,400 | 200 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $139,530 | 220 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $138,260 | 30 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $136,990 | 30 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $132,630 | 90 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | $128,960 | 50 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | $128,520 | 150 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $126,420 | 200 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $125,160 | 130 |
| Salem, OR | $124,190 | 60 |
Metro areas with the most economists
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 4,570 | $156,750 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 850 | $176,090 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 820 | $108,140 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 250 | $100,410 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 220 | $122,570 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 220 | $139,530 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 210 | $122,170 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 200 | $151,510 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 200 | $142,400 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 200 | $126,420 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | 170 | $80,010 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | 160 | $96,720 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | 160 | $103,000 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 150 | $121,410 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | 150 | $128,520 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $100,580 | $48.36 |
| School Psychologist | $95,990 | $46.15 |
| Urban and Regional Planners | $89,320 | $42.94 |
| Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other | $101,110 | $48.61 |
| Psychologists, All Other | $110,840 | $53.29 |
| Anthropologists and Archeologists | $70,770 | $34.02 |
| Survey Researcher | $69,460 | $33.40 |
| Political Scientist | $142,080 | $68.31 |
| Historian | $76,750 | $36.90 |
| Sociologist | $106,030 | $50.98 |
| Geographer | $102,040 | $49.06 |
| Industrial-Organizational Psychologist | $193,950 | $93.24 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $103,410 | $49.72 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $90,150 | $43.34 |
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 the U.S.?
The median salary for economists in the U.S. is $124,720 a year, or $59.96 an hour. Pay ranges from $67,360 for the lowest-paid 10% to $238,060 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid economists make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of economists in the U.S. earn at least $238,060 a year. The top 25% earn $174,720 or more.
What is the starting pay for economists in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $67,360 a year, and a quarter of economists earn $89,330 or less.
How many economists work in the U.S.?
About 17,790 economists are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.