Economist salary in Texas
Economists in Texas earn a median of $121,420 a year ($58.38 an hour), based on BLS data for 560 workers.
Pay ranges from $66,760 for the lowest-paid 10% to $219,140 for the top 10%. That is 3% lower than the national median of $124,720. Texas ranks 13th of 40 states for economists pay. There are 0.04 economists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.34). The average (mean) salary is $135,080, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for economists in Texas
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $66,760 | $32.09 |
| 25th percentile | $83,900 | $40.34 |
| Median | $121,420 | $58.38 |
| 75th percentile | $175,000 | $84.14 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $219,140 | $105.36 |
| Average (mean) | $135,080 | $64.94 |
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 | $10,118.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,059.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,670 |
| Weekly | $2,335 |
| Hourly | $58.38 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Economist salary in cities in Texas
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $122,170 | 210 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $107,450 | 50 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $87,350 | 70 |
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 Texas
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| School Psychologist | $83,690 | $40.24 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $83,660 | $40.22 |
| Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other | $101,800 | $48.94 |
| Urban and Regional Planners | $82,830 | $39.82 |
| Survey Researcher | $47,330 | $22.76 |
| Anthropologists and Archeologists | $67,700 | $32.55 |
| Geographer | $79,170 | $38.06 |
| Political Scientist | $114,050 | $54.83 |
| Historian | $78,240 | $37.62 |
| Industrial-Organizational Psychologist | $139,520 | $67.08 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $79,660 | $38.30 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $80,470 | $38.69 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | $48,960 | $23.54 |
| Chemical Technician | $62,580 | $30.09 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Texas
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 Texas?
The median salary for economists in Texas is $121,420 a year, or $58.38 an hour. Pay ranges from $66,760 for the lowest-paid 10% to $219,140 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid economists make in Texas?
The top 10% of economists in Texas earn at least $219,140 a year. The top 25% earn $175,000 or more.
What is the starting pay for economists in Texas?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $66,760 a year, and a quarter of economists earn $83,900 or less.
How many economists work in Texas?
About 560 economists are employed in Texas, not counting the self-employed.