Economist salary in Virginia
Economists in Virginia earn a median of $137,590 a year ($66.15 an hour), based on BLS data for 950 workers.
Pay ranges from $74,600 for the lowest-paid 10% to $232,410 for the top 10%. That is 10% higher than the national median of $124,720. Virginia ranks 6th of 40 states for economists pay. There are 0.23 economists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.0× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $144,880, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for economists in Virginia
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $74,600 | $35.87 |
| 25th percentile | $93,920 | $45.15 |
| Median | $137,590 | $66.15 |
| 75th percentile | $179,730 | $86.41 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $232,410 | $111.73 |
| Average (mean) | $144,880 | $69.66 |
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 | $11,465.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,732.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,291.92 |
| Weekly | $2,645.96 |
| Hourly | $66.15 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Economist salary in cities in Virginia
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $156,750 | 4,570 |
| Richmond, VA | $112,330 | 120 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $103,600 | 50 |
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 Virginia
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other | $140,670 | $67.63 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $86,520 | $41.60 |
| Urban and Regional Planners | $86,030 | $41.36 |
| School Psychologist | $85,670 | $41.19 |
| Psychologists, All Other | $140,640 | $67.61 |
| Anthropologists and Archeologists | $80,230 | $38.57 |
| Historian | $101,920 | $49.00 |
| Geographer | $108,020 | $51.93 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $93,620 | $45.01 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $90,800 | $43.66 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $82,230 | $39.53 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | $67,240 | $32.33 |
| Biological Technician | $53,360 | $25.65 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $96,030 | $46.17 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Virginia
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 Virginia?
The median salary for economists in Virginia is $137,590 a year, or $66.15 an hour. Pay ranges from $74,600 for the lowest-paid 10% to $232,410 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid economists make in Virginia?
The top 10% of economists in Virginia earn at least $232,410 a year. The top 25% earn $179,730 or more.
What is the starting pay for economists in Virginia?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $74,600 a year, and a quarter of economists earn $93,920 or less.
How many economists work in Virginia?
About 950 economists are employed in Virginia, not counting the self-employed.