Economist salary in Maryland
Economists in Maryland earn a median of $144,680 a year ($69.56 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,130 workers.
Pay ranges from $93,710 for the lowest-paid 10% to $195,190 for the top 10%. That is 16% higher than the national median of $124,720. Maryland ranks 4th of 40 states for economists pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 0.41 economists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 3.6× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $146,600, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for economists in Maryland
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $93,710 | $45.05 |
| 25th percentile | $118,460 | $56.95 |
| Median | $144,680 | $69.56 |
| 75th percentile | $178,780 | $85.95 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $195,190 | $93.84 |
| Average (mean) | $146,600 | $70.48 |
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 | $12,056.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $6,028.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,564.62 |
| Weekly | $2,782.31 |
| Hourly | $69.56 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Economist salary in cities in Maryland
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $156,750 | 4,570 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $152,730 | 110 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $139,530 | 220 |
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 Maryland
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other | $131,810 | $63.37 |
| School Psychologist | $109,700 | $52.74 |
| Urban and Regional Planners | $88,570 | $42.58 |
| Psychologists, All Other | $109,970 | $52.87 |
| Survey Researcher | $84,030 | $40.40 |
| Anthropologists and Archeologists | $54,160 | $26.04 |
| Geographer | $114,920 | $55.25 |
| Political Scientist | $153,380 | $73.74 |
| Historian | $120,580 | $57.97 |
| Sociologist | $100,660 | $48.39 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $106,000 | $50.96 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $121,680 | $58.50 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | $68,390 | $32.88 |
| Biological Technician | $52,900 | $25.44 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Maryland
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 Maryland?
The median salary for economists in Maryland is $144,680 a year, or $69.56 an hour. Pay ranges from $93,710 for the lowest-paid 10% to $195,190 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid economists make in Maryland?
The top 10% of economists in Maryland earn at least $195,190 a year. The top 25% earn $178,780 or more.
What is the starting pay for economists in Maryland?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $93,710 a year, and a quarter of economists earn $118,460 or less.
How many economists work in Maryland?
About 1,130 economists are employed in Maryland, not counting the self-employed.