Economist Salary
Economists earn a median $124,720 a year nationally. Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations
U.S. median
$124,720
$59.96 per hour
Range
$67,360 – $238,060
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
17,790
across the U.S.
Economist take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$96,512
per year · effective tax rate 22.6%
$8,043Monthly
$4,021Twice a month
$3,712Every 2 weeks
$46.40Hourly
- Federal income tax$18,667
- Social Security (6.2%)$7,733
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,808
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$96,512
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $67,360 | $32.38 | $56,218 |
| 25th percentile | $89,330 | $42.95 | $71,674 |
| Median (50th) | $124,720 | $59.96 | $96,512 |
| 75th percentile | $174,720 | $84.00 | $130,687 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $238,060 | $114.45 | $175,343 |
Best cities for economists (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $176,090 | $122,274 | $108,628 | 850 |
| 2 | Washington, DC | $156,750 | $108,049 | $99,233 | 4,570 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $108,140 | $79,719 | $73,633 | 820 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- New York, NY — $176,090
- Washington, DC — $156,750
- Boston, MA — $108,140
Economist salary by state
| State | Median | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $167,590 | $114,537 | $98,350 – $239,200+ | 3,000 |
| New Jersey | $167,550 | $117,303 | $83,990 – $195,190 | 280 |
| Delaware | $159,120 | $110,864 | $74,690 – $214,000 | 70 |
| Maryland | $144,680 | $103,518 | $93,710 – $195,190 | 1,130 |
| Kansas | $138,790 | $99,184 | $67,610 – $238,990 | 80 |
| Virginia | $137,590 | $98,211 | $74,600 – $232,410 | 950 |
| New York | $136,660 | $97,650 | $82,130 – $239,200+ | 910 |
| North Carolina | $136,150 | $99,401 | $35,460 – $224,270 | 290 |
| Idaho | $131,270 | $95,140 | $55,180 – $173,560 | 130 |
| Alabama | $129,960 | $93,861 | $74,520 – $175,170 | 40 |
| Georgia | $122,570 | $89,304 | $78,190 – $187,330 | 260 |
| Oregon | $122,120 | $84,879 | $81,620 – $147,600 | 320 |
| Texas | $121,420 | $94,249 | $66,760 – $219,140 | 560 |
| Colorado | $121,410 | $89,608 | $73,450 – $193,480 | 240 |
| Ohio | $120,000 | $90,732 | $69,770 – $216,920 | 140 |
| California | $119,410 | $84,407 | $74,030 – $207,380 | 860 |
| Tennessee | $117,650 | $91,597 | $83,610 – $162,670 | 80 |
| Missouri | $117,010 | $86,584 | $73,260 – $229,510 | 280 |
| Pennsylvania | $115,000 | $86,202 | $64,500 – $164,650 | 560 |
| Alaska | $111,040 | $86,947 | $80,110 – $141,270 | 80 |
| Washington | $109,300 | $85,723 | $80,320 – $167,960 | 450 |
| Massachusetts | $106,380 | $78,569 | $74,080 – $222,610 | 1,030 |
| Michigan | $106,350 | $79,378 | $72,860 – $178,170 | 320 |
| Minnesota | $105,120 | $77,157 | $58,380 – $197,870 | 500 |
| Florida | $102,430 | $80,890 | $65,850 – $174,900 | 500 |
| Connecticut | $101,400 | $76,163 | $74,740 – $166,060 | 210 |
| Iowa | $96,310 | $73,576 | $59,980 – $144,750 | 70 |
| Arkansas | $91,560 | $69,884 | $55,130 – $136,990 | 50 |
| Maine | $91,480 | $68,141 | $69,140 – $132,950 | 70 |
| Nevada | $91,340 | $73,088 | $70,960 – $128,420 | 70 |
| Oklahoma | $89,980 | $68,627 | $67,490 – $171,650 | 80 |
| Montana | $89,340 | $67,994 | $69,850 – $116,210 | 90 |
| New Hampshire | $86,130 | $69,422 | $60,080 – $157,110 | 50 |
| Wisconsin | $84,000 | $64,853 | $53,340 – $132,270 | 280 |
| Hawaii | $83,050 | $62,474 | $66,370 – $120,270 | 50 |
| Indiana | $80,750 | $63,285 | $47,350 – $163,380 | 80 |
| Arizona | $79,610 | $63,054 | $75,000 – $138,990 | 340 |
| Nebraska | $75,880 | $59,639 | $45,000 – $135,300 | 90 |
| Louisiana | $73,050 | $58,415 | $60,680 – $136,970 | 140 |
| Kentucky | $71,400 | $56,679 | $59,810 – $124,380 | 100 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a economist make?
The national median salary for economists is $124,720 a year ($59.96 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $67,360 and the top 10% earn over $238,060. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays economists the most?
District of Columbia has the highest median pay at $167,590. After taxes and local prices, New York, NY offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many economists are there in the U.S.?
About 17,790 people work as economists nationwide.