Economists salary
Economists earn a median of $124,720 a year ($59.96/hr) in the U.S. – from $70,750 in Puerto Rico to $167,590 in District of Columbia. Enter your pay below to see how you compare.
Median pay, United States$59.96/hr · $124,720 a year
Pay range
90% earn more$67,360$32.38/hr
75% earn more$89,330$42.95/hr
half earn more, half less$124,720$59.96/hr
25% earn more$174,720$84.00/hr
top 10% earn more$238,060$114.45/hr
pulled up by top earners$142,130$68.33/hr
How does my pay compare?
Enter your pay to see where you stand among economists. Nothing you type leaves your device.
Pay by state
States ranked by median annual wage for economists. Tap a state for its minimum wage.
3,000 jobs · $80.57/hr$167,590
280 jobs · $80.55/hr$167,550
70 jobs · $76.50/hr$159,120
1,130 jobs · $69.56/hr$144,680
80 jobs · $66.72/hr$138,790
950 jobs · $66.15/hr$137,590
910 jobs · $65.70/hr$136,660
290 jobs · $65.46/hr$136,150
130 jobs · $63.11/hr$131,270
40 jobs · $62.48/hr$129,960
260 jobs · $58.93/hr$122,570
320 jobs · $58.71/hr$122,120
560 jobs · $58.38/hr$121,420
240 jobs · $58.37/hr$121,410
140 jobs · $57.69/hr$120,000
860 jobs · $57.41/hr$119,410
80 jobs · $56.56/hr$117,650
280 jobs · $56.26/hr$117,010
560 jobs · $55.29/hr$115,000
80 jobs · $53.39/hr$111,040
450 jobs · $52.55/hr$109,300
1,030 jobs · $51.14/hr$106,380
320 jobs · $51.13/hr$106,350
500 jobs · $50.54/hr$105,120
500 jobs · $49.24/hr$102,430
210 jobs · $48.75/hr$101,400
70 jobs · $46.30/hr$96,310
50 jobs · $44.02/hr$91,560
70 jobs · $43.98/hr$91,480
70 jobs · $43.92/hr$91,340
80 jobs · $43.26/hr$89,980
90 jobs · $42.95/hr$89,340
50 jobs · $41.41/hr$86,130
280 jobs · $40.39/hr$84,000
50 jobs · $39.93/hr$83,050
80 jobs · $38.82/hr$80,750
340 jobs · $38.28/hr$79,610
90 jobs · $36.48/hr$75,880
140 jobs · $35.12/hr$73,050
100 jobs · $34.33/hr$71,400
100 jobs · $34.02/hr$70,750
No wage estimate published for: New Mexico, Utah.
Related jobs
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), SOC code 19-3011. Wages exclude the self-employed. All jobs · Minimum wage by state
Questions & answers
How much do economists make?
The median wage for economists in the U.S. was $59.96 an hour or $124,720 a year in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $89,330 and $174,720 a year.
Which state pays economists the most?
District of Columbia has the highest median wage for economists: $167,590 a year. The lowest published median is in Puerto Rico at $70,750. Living costs also differ a lot between states.
How many economists are there?
BLS estimates 17,790 economists were employed in the U.S. in May 2025, not counting the self-employed.
What is the difference between median and average pay?
The median is the middle wage: half of workers earn more and half earn less. The average (mean) adds everyone up and divides, so a few very high earners pull it up. The median is usually the better guide to typical pay.
What does the 10th or 90th percentile mean?
The 10th percentile is the wage that only 10% of workers earn less than – often entry-level pay. The 90th percentile is the wage that only 10% earn more than – usually the most experienced or highest-paid workers.