Economists salary
Social & sciences · OCC code 19-3011 · gross annual wage · BLS OEWS May 2024
Economists in the US earn a median of $115,440 per year (mean $130,910) as of the BLS OEWS May 2024 survey — that is +133.2% versus the $49,500 median for all US jobs, well above the US median wage for all jobs. The middle half earn between $82,260 and $166,030; the top 10% earn $212,710 or more. The median hourly wage is $55.50. About 15,880 are employed nationally. The highest-paying state is District of Columbia ($162,610). Wages are gross (pre-tax) and vary by employer, experience and location.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024. Data as of OEWS May 2024 (BLS), retrieved June 2026.
Economists pay range (national percentiles)
What economists earn across the pay distribution, nationally (BLS OEWS, May 2024):
| Pay level | Annual wage |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile (lowest-paid 10%) | $62,340 |
| 25th percentile | $82,260 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $115,440 |
| Mean (average) | $130,910 |
| 75th percentile | $166,030 |
| 90th percentile (highest-paid 10%) | $212,710 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024. Data as of OEWS May 2024 (BLS), retrieved June 2026.
A dash (—) means BLS did not release that figure; a plus (+) means the wage is at or above the BLS top code of $239,200/yr. See what wage percentiles mean or check where your salary ranks.
Economists salary by state
Median and mean wage for economists in each of the 40 states with published data, highest median first. The national median is $115,440.
| # | State | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $162,610 | $163,820 | 3,010 |
| 2 | Virginia | $148,010 | $149,770 | 970 |
| 3 | New York | $142,300 | $169,520 | 870 |
| 4 | Maryland | $137,610 | $138,830 | 920 |
| 5 | Georgia | $127,220 | $141,820 | 340 |
| 6 | Ohio | $117,750 | $130,850 | 130 |
| 7 | Washington | $116,390 | $128,120 | 470 |
| 8 | Missouri | $115,520 | $129,370 | 210 |
| 9 | Kansas | $115,100 | $114,280 | 110 |
| 10 | Pennsylvania | $113,300 | $110,740 | 710 |
| 11 | Illinois | $112,790 | $128,330 | 590 |
| 12 | North Carolina | $111,770 | $122,470 | 250 |
| 13 | Oregon | $111,660 | $109,360 | 270 |
| 14 | Colorado | $111,540 | $112,980 | 230 |
| 15 | Tennessee | $110,320 | $110,010 | — |
| 16 | Alaska | $108,960 | $123,410 | — |
| 17 | Minnesota | $107,470 | $112,460 | 210 |
| 18 | Texas | $106,200 | $122,400 | 620 |
| 19 | Alabama | $103,400 | $114,850 | 40 |
| 20 | Connecticut | $103,200 | $113,300 | 200 |
| 21 | Massachusetts | $103,170 | $142,140 | 770 |
| 22 | New Jersey | $102,350 | $110,270 | 110 |
| 23 | California | $100,510 | $125,570 | 1,400 |
| 24 | Arizona | $96,390 | $98,750 | — |
| 25 | Montana | $95,990 | $104,200 | 70 |
| 26 | Indiana | $95,830 | $104,400 | 60 |
| 27 | Michigan | $94,850 | $147,280 | 280 |
| 28 | Iowa | $92,750 | $101,090 | 70 |
| 29 | Florida | $89,250 | $109,420 | 460 |
| 30 | Louisiana | $89,010 | $110,960 | 70 |
| 31 | Nevada | $84,540 | $87,360 | 90 |
| 32 | New Mexico | $82,490 | $91,570 | — |
| 33 | Oklahoma | $82,330 | $97,250 | — |
| 34 | Hawaii | $81,740 | $94,810 | 60 |
| 35 | Maine | $80,670 | $88,250 | 60 |
| 36 | Idaho | $78,770 | $83,550 | 110 |
| 37 | Wisconsin | $76,940 | $79,240 | 330 |
| 38 | Nebraska | $66,690 | $77,180 | 90 |
| 39 | Kentucky | $65,470 | $73,910 | 160 |
| 40 | South Carolina | $51,980 | $61,730 | 660 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024. Data as of OEWS May 2024 (BLS), retrieved June 2026.
Highest median: District of Columbia ($162,610). Lowest: South Carolina ($51,980).
Similar-paying jobs
| Occupation | Median wage | Mean wage | vs US median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Economists (this job) | $115,440 | $130,910 | +133.2% |
| Data Scientists | $112,590 | $124,590 | +127.5% |
| Electrical Engineers | $111,910 | $120,980 | +126.1% |
| Administrative Services Managers | $108,390 | $126,030 | +119.0% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $105,980 | $110,990 | +114.1% |
| Information Security Analysts | $124,910 | $127,730 | +152.3% |
Data Scientists · Electrical Engineers · Administrative Services Managers · First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives · Information Security Analysts
Frequently asked questions
How much do economists make?
Economists earn a national median of $115,440 per year (mean $130,910) as of the BLS OEWS May 2024 survey. The middle half earn between $82,260 (25th percentile) and $166,030 (75th percentile); the top 10% earn $212,710 or more and the bottom 10% earn under $62,340. These are gross, pre-tax wages.
What is the hourly wage for economists?
The median hourly wage is $55.50 and the mean is $62.94 (BLS OEWS, May 2024). BLS reports some occupations only as annual wages, in which case hourly figures are shown as a dash.
Which state pays economists the most?
District of Columbia has the highest median wage for economists at $162,610, versus a national median of $115,440. State pay reflects local cost of living, demand and industry mix. See the full state table on this page.
How many economists are there in the US?
BLS estimates about 15,880 economists are employed in the US (OEWS, May 2024). Among the 124 occupations tracked here, this job ranks #24 of 124 by median pay.
Keep exploring
Sources & accuracy
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024 (OCC 19-3011), gross annual wages, U.S. public domain, retrieved June 2026. OEWS figures are survey estimates and reflect pay before tax. Your actual pay depends on employer, experience, certifications, industry and location. This is information, not financial or career advice — see our methodology and disclaimer.
Last updated: 2026-06-20