The average salary for an economist in the United States is around $84,338 per year.
Avg Salary
Economists earn an average yearly salary of $84,338.
Wages typically start from $45,561 and go up to $156,117.
43% above national average Updated in 2023
Economist earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level economist earnings begin at:
$75.06 per hour
$156,117 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level economist earnings begin at:
$56.07 per hour
$116,619 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level economist earnings begin at:
$40.55 per hour
$84,338 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level economist earnings begin at:
$29.32 per hour
$60,992 per year
10th percentile
Starting level economist earnings begin at:
$21.90 per hour
$45,561 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Economist salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Minnesota | $99,880 |
| Indiana | $99,510 |
| Pennsylvania | $98,400 |
| Texas | $97,930 |
| Michigan | $96,100 |
| New Jersey | $95,480 |
| Louisiana | $93,660 |
| Utah | $90,750 |
| Missouri | $88,710 |
| Oregon | $88,330 |
| Iowa | $82,710 |
| Florida | $82,380 |
| Hawaii | $82,220 |
| Montana | $81,700 |
| Vermont | $81,700 |
| Tennessee | $81,590 |
| Delaware | $81,440 |
| Maine | $81,220 |
| North Carolina | $80,400 |
| Nevada | $79,410 |
| Arizona | $78,150 |
| Idaho | $78,010 |
| South Carolina | $75,380 |
| Wisconsin | $73,350 |
| Wyoming | $72,730 |
| Kentucky | $70,140 |
| New Mexico | $67,700 |
| Kansas | $65,970 |
| Mississippi | $65,410 |
| West Virginia | $65,350 |
| Nebraska | $62,460 |
| Arkansas | $51,850 |
| Puerto Rico | $35,640 |
| New Hampshire | $143,400 |
| District of Columbia | $134,760 |
| Massachusetts | $133,370 |
| New York | $131,720 |
| Oklahoma | $126,040 |
| California | $124,910 |
| Maryland | $119,080 |
| Virginia | $110,590 |
| Illinois | $105,980 |
| Colorado | $105,640 |
| Connecticut | $105,120 |
| Georgia | $105,090 |
| Ohio | $104,730 |
| Alaska | $104,580 |
| Alabama | $104,420 |
| Washington | $103,210 |
How do economist salaries compare to similar careers?
Economists earn 6% less than similar careers in the United States. On average, they make less than actuaries but more than mathematicians.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Actuary salary | $121K |
| Statistician salary | $101K |
| Financial manager salary | $97K |
| Financial quantitative analyst salary | $98K |
| Risk management specialist salary | $90K |
| Economist salary | $84K |
| Consultant salary | $87K |
| Program director salary | $71K |
| Investment banker salary | $79K |
| Mathematician salary | $75K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)