Economist salary in Wisconsin
Economists in Wisconsin earn a median of $84,000 a year ($40.39 an hour), based on BLS data for 280 workers.
Pay ranges from $53,340 for the lowest-paid 10% to $132,270 for the top 10%. That is 33% lower than the national median of $124,720. Wisconsin ranks 34th of 40 states for economists pay. There are 0.10 economists per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $91,630, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for economists in Wisconsin
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $53,340 | $25.64 |
| 25th percentile | $72,920 | $35.06 |
| Median | $84,000 | $40.39 |
| 75th percentile | $110,970 | $53.35 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $132,270 | $63.59 |
| Average (mean) | $91,630 | $44.05 |
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 | $7,000 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,500 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,230.77 |
| Weekly | $1,615.38 |
| Hourly | $40.39 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Economist salary in cities in Wisconsin
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $107,030 | n/a |
| Madison, WI | $88,770 | 100 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $76,900 | 100 |
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 Wisconsin
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| School Psychologist | $83,330 | $40.06 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $113,360 | $54.50 |
| Urban and Regional Planners | $84,290 | $40.53 |
| Psychologists, All Other | $81,860 | $39.36 |
| Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other | $88,830 | $42.71 |
| Survey Researcher | $92,660 | $44.55 |
| Historian | $45,810 | $22.03 |
| Anthropologists and Archeologists | $63,130 | $30.35 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $82,530 | $39.68 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $84,750 | $40.74 |
| Chemist | $78,730 | $37.85 |
| Biological Technician | $51,750 | $24.88 |
| Chemical Technician | $59,440 | $28.58 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | $47,210 | $22.70 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Wisconsin
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 Wisconsin?
The median salary for economists in Wisconsin is $84,000 a year, or $40.39 an hour. Pay ranges from $53,340 for the lowest-paid 10% to $132,270 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid economists make in Wisconsin?
The top 10% of economists in Wisconsin earn at least $132,270 a year. The top 25% earn $110,970 or more.
What is the starting pay for economists in Wisconsin?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $53,340 a year, and a quarter of economists earn $72,920 or less.
How many economists work in Wisconsin?
About 280 economists are employed in Wisconsin, not counting the self-employed.