How much does an Economist make?
Economists in the United States bring home a median salary of $124,720 a year, or around $59.96 an hour. Pay spans a wide range: the bottom 10% earn under $67,360, while the top 10% earn $238,060.
That is $63,330 more than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Economist salary range by percentile
Half of all Economists earn between $89,330 and $174,720 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $67,360 | $32.38 | |
| 25th percentile (early career) | $89,330 | $42.95 | |
| 50th percentile (median) | $124,720 | $59.96 | |
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $174,720 | $84.00 | |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $238,060 | $114.45 |
Highest-paying states for Economist
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. District of Columbia leads the country for Economist pay at $167,590 a year, followed by New Jersey ($167,550) and Delaware ($159,120). At the other end, Kentucky posts the lowest median at $71,400 — a gap of $96,190 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
| # | State | Median salary | Hourly | vs national |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $167,590 | $80.57 | +34% |
| 2 | New Jersey | $167,550 | $80.55 | +34% |
| 3 | Delaware | $159,120 | $76.50 | +28% |
| 4 | Maryland | $144,680 | $69.56 | +16% |
| 5 | Kansas | $138,790 | $66.73 | +11% |
Economist salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 40 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
Workforce and education
About 18,000 people work as Economists in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $142,130 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a master's degree (usually 5 to 6 years of college) is typically required, per O*NET occupation data.
Frequently asked questions
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