Average Salary for Economists
SOC 19-3011 · Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · 2024 data
The median annual wage for Economists in the United States is $115,440 ($55.50/hr), based on 2024 BLS OEWS data. Wages range from $62,340 at the 10th percentile to $212,710 at the 90th percentile nationally. An estimated 15,880 people work in this occupation across the country. The national median wage has grown 20.6% since 2014.
Median Annual
$115,440
Mean Annual
$130,910
10th Pct
$62,340
75th Pct
$166,030
Employment
15,880
Salary Distribution
$62k
10th
$82k
25th
$115k
Median
$166k
75th
$213k
90th
Highest Paying Metro Areas
| Metro Area | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $168,850 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $157,980 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $134,410 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $131,160 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $129,280 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $127,220 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $125,630 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $124,780 |
| Anchorage, AK | $124,590 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $123,140 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $121,820 |
| Cleveland, OH | $121,740 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | $120,410 |
| Richmond, VA | $118,610 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $118,190 |
Salary by State
| State | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $162,610 |
| Virginia | $148,010 |
| New York | $142,300 |
| Maryland | $137,610 |
| Georgia | $127,220 |
| Ohio | $117,750 |
| Washington | $116,390 |
| Missouri | $115,520 |
| Kansas | $115,100 |
| Pennsylvania | $113,300 |
| Illinois | $112,790 |
| North Carolina | $111,770 |
| Oregon | $111,660 |
| Colorado | $111,540 |
| Tennessee | $110,320 |
| Alaska | $108,960 |
| Minnesota | $107,470 |
| Texas | $106,200 |
| Alabama | $103,400 |
| Connecticut | $103,200 |
| Massachusetts | $103,170 |
| New Jersey | $102,350 |
| California | $100,510 |
| Arizona | $96,390 |
| Montana | $95,990 |
| Indiana | $95,830 |
| Michigan | $94,850 |
| Iowa | $92,750 |
| Florida | $89,250 |
| Louisiana | $89,010 |
| Nevada | $84,540 |
| New Mexico | $82,490 |
| Oklahoma | $82,330 |
| Hawaii | $81,740 |
| Maine | $80,670 |
| Idaho | $78,770 |
| Wisconsin | $76,940 |
| Puerto Rico | $68,180 |
| Nebraska | $66,690 |
| Kentucky | $65,470 |
| South Carolina | $51,980 |
Salary by Industry
National median wage for Economists broken down by industry sector, 2024 data.
| Industry | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Oil and Gas Extraction | $222,980 |
| Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | $222,980 |
| Oil and Gas Extraction | $222,980 |
| Accounting, Tax Preparation, Bookkeeping, and Payroll Services | $213,290 |
| Monetary Authorities-Central Bank | $200,980 |
| Monetary Authorities-Central Bank | $200,980 |
| Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities | $200,660 |
| Credit Intermediation and Related Activities (5221 and 5223 only) | $184,380 |
| Credit Intermediation and Related Activities | $173,600 |
| Finance and Insurance | $165,960 |
| Computer Systems Design and Related Services | $149,980 |
| Nondepository Credit Intermediation | $142,840 |
| Other Nondepository Credit Intermediation | $142,840 |
| Federal Government, including the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $141,590 |
| Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) | $141,590 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | $141,190 |
| Postal Service (Federal Government) | $138,510 |
| Postal Service (Federal Government) | $138,510 |
| Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences | $136,680 |
| Manufacturing | $135,180 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $135,100 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $135,100 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $135,100 |
| Utilities | $130,400 |
| Utilities | $130,400 |
| Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution | $130,400 |
| Scientific Research and Development Services | $129,430 |
| Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities | $129,280 |
| Cross-industry, Private Ownership only | $121,820 |
| Wholesale Trade | $121,530 |
| Employment Services | $120,470 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $113,300 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $113,300 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $113,030 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $113,030 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, including State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $112,360 |
| Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations | $108,540 |
| Offices of Physicians | $107,780 |
| Ambulatory Health Care Services | $107,780 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | $107,780 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | $107,290 |
| Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $105,040 |
| Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services | $102,450 |
| Insurance Carriers and Related Activities | $102,180 |
| Insurance Carriers | $102,180 |
| Direct Health and Medical Insurance Carriers | $101,290 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | $100,900 |
| Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations | $100,900 |
| Grantmaking and Giving Services | $97,250 |
| Educational Services | $93,580 |
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $92,440 |
| Engineering Services | $92,270 |
| Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services | $92,270 |
| Local Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $91,970 |
| Social Assistance | $90,590 |
| Administrative and Support Services | $90,460 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | $90,460 |
| Social Advocacy Organizations | $89,900 |
| Information | $87,040 |
| Educational Services | $87,020 |
| Office Administrative Services | $82,680 |
| State Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $75,710 |
| State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $74,520 |
National Wage Trend
View data table
| Year | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $115,440 |
| 2023 | $115,730 |
| 2022 | $113,940 |
| 2021 | $105,630 |
| 2020 | $108,350 |
| 2019 | $105,020 |
| 2018 | $104,340 |
| 2017 | $102,490 |
| 2016 | $101,050 |
| 2015 | $99,180 |
| 2014 | $95,710 |