Economist salary in California
Economists in California earn a median of $119,410 a year ($57.41 an hour), based on BLS data for 860 workers.
Pay ranges from $74,030 for the lowest-paid 10% to $207,380 for the top 10%. That is 4% lower than the national median of $124,720. California ranks 16th of 40 states for economists pay. There are 0.05 economists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.41). The average (mean) salary is $133,680, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for economists in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $74,030 | $35.59 |
| 25th percentile | $91,320 | $43.91 |
| Median | $119,410 | $57.41 |
| 75th percentile | $164,770 | $79.21 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $207,380 | $99.70 |
| Average (mean) | $133,680 | $64.27 |
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 | $9,950.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,975.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,592.69 |
| Weekly | $2,296.35 |
| Hourly | $57.41 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Economist salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $151,510 | 200 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $142,400 | 200 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $122,750 | 50 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $117,920 | 40 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $100,410 | 250 |
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 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $116,000 | $55.77 |
| School Psychologist | $127,780 | $61.43 |
| Urban and Regional Planners | $109,610 | $52.70 |
| Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other | $97,900 | $47.07 |
| Anthropologists and Archeologists | $72,240 | $34.73 |
| Psychologists, All Other | $157,540 | $75.74 |
| Survey Researcher | $83,520 | $40.16 |
| Sociologist | $125,770 | $60.47 |
| Historian | $97,420 | $46.84 |
| Geographer | $114,460 | $55.03 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $136,990 | $65.86 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $102,840 | $49.44 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $106,510 | $51.21 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $113,530 | $54.58 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in California
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 California?
The median salary for economists in California is $119,410 a year, or $57.41 an hour. Pay ranges from $74,030 for the lowest-paid 10% to $207,380 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid economists make in California?
The top 10% of economists in California earn at least $207,380 a year. The top 25% earn $164,770 or more.
What is the starting pay for economists in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $74,030 a year, and a quarter of economists earn $91,320 or less.
How many economists work in California?
About 860 economists are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.