California Median
$119,410
per year
Hourly Rate
$57.41
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-4% vs US median
US median $124,720
State Rank
#16 of 40
860 employed here
How much does an Economist make in California?
Economists in California take home a median of $119,410 annually — roughly $57.41 an hour — which runs 4% below the national median of $124,720.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $74,030 while the top 10% make $207,380 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $91,320 and $164,770 a year.
Economist salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $74,030 | $35.59 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $91,320 | $43.90 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $119,410 | $57.41 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $164,770 | $79.22 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $207,380 | $99.70 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 16th out of 40 states and territories for Economist pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Economist salary in other states
District of Columbia $167,590New Jersey $167,550Delaware $159,120Maryland $144,680Kansas $138,790Virginia $137,590New York $136,660North Carolina $136,150Idaho $131,270Alabama $129,960Georgia $122,570Oregon $122,120Texas $121,420Colorado $121,410Ohio $120,000Tennessee $117,650Missouri $117,010Pennsylvania $115,000Alaska $111,040Washington $109,300Massachusetts $106,380Michigan $106,350Minnesota $105,120Florida $102,430Connecticut $101,400Iowa $96,310Arkansas $91,560Maine $91,480Nevada $91,340Oklahoma $89,980Montana $89,340New Hampshire $86,130Wisconsin $84,000Hawaii $83,050Indiana $80,750Arizona $79,610Nebraska $75,880Louisiana $73,050Kentucky $71,400
Working as an Economist in California
Nationally, about 18,000 people work as Economists in the United States. A master's degree (usually 5 to 6 years of college) is typically required.
Considering a move? Compare California pay ($119,410) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an Economist make in California?
The median Economist salary in California is $119,410 per year, or about $57.41 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $74,030 at the entry level to $207,380 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Economists about 4% less than the national median of $124,720. California ranks 16th out of 40 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Economists?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $119,410 a year. About 860 Economists are employed in California. A lower cost of living can offset the smaller paycheck, so compare take-home value, not just salary.
What are the highest-paying jobs in California?
The highest-paying occupations in California include Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($400,150), Neurologist ($357,080), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($353,900), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Economist salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.