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Top 15 cities for economists by average salary
| New York, NY | $184,860 |
|---|---|
| Washington, DC | $166,140 |
| Durham, NC | $159,310 |
| St. Louis, MO | $156,690 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $155,860 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $149,490 |
| Baltimore, MD | $147,800 |
| Riverside, CA | $145,870 |
| San Francisco, CA | $145,630 |
| San Diego, CA | $145,410 |
| Kansas City, MO | $141,470 |
| Charlotte, NC | $141,330 |
| Cleveland, OH | $139,600 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $137,760 |
| Richmond, VA | $137,150 |
Map: Economists salary by metro area
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Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Economists salary by state
Washington, D.C. pays economists the most statewide, $175,100 a year on average. Statewide columns cover every employer in the state; city columns cover the metro areas we publish.
| State | Statewide average | Statewide median | Jobs | Metros | Highest city average | Lowest city average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington, D.C. | $175,100 | $167,590 | 3,000 | 1 | $166,140 | $166,140 |
| New York | $168,580 | $136,660 | 910 | 2 | $184,860 | $101,340 |
| New Jersey | $161,990 | $167,550 | 280 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Kansas | $150,950 | $138,790 | 80 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Delaware | $149,020 | $159,120 | 70 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Maryland | $146,600 | $144,680 | 1,130 | 1 | $147,800 | $147,800 |
| Virginia | $144,880 | $137,590 | 950 | 2 | $137,150 | $109,300 |
| North Carolina | $136,220 | $136,150 | 290 | 3 | $159,310 | $116,990 |
| Texas | $135,080 | $121,420 | 560 | 3 | $132,100 | $115,440 |
| Missouri | $134,000 | $117,010 | 280 | 2 | $156,690 | $141,470 |
| California | $133,680 | $119,410 | 860 | 5 | $155,860 | $101,690 |
| Massachusetts | $133,270 | $106,380 | 1,030 | 3 | $137,090 | $99,860 |
| Ohio | $132,380 | $120,000 | 140 | 2 | $139,600 | $136,130 |
| Georgia | $131,680 | $122,570 | 260 | 1 | $132,880 | $132,880 |
| Alabama | $127,060 | $129,960 | 40 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Colorado | $127,020 | $121,410 | 240 | 3 | $127,170 | $117,480 |
| Tennessee | $123,810 | $117,650 | 80 | 1 | $122,610 | $122,610 |
| Alaska | $121,300 | $111,040 | 80 | 1 | $129,360 | $129,360 |
| Washington | $120,550 | $109,300 | 450 | 2 | $131,660 | $107,210 |
| Idaho | $119,930 | $131,270 | 130 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Minnesota | $117,980 | $105,120 | 500 | 1 | $127,990 | $127,990 |
| Michigan | $117,980 | $106,350 | 320 | 3 | $131,430 | $97,700 |
| Pennsylvania | $117,370 | $115,000 | 560 | 3 | $149,490 | $82,020 |
| Oregon | $116,410 | $122,120 | 320 | 2 | $119,740 | $118,550 |
| Florida | $113,290 | $102,430 | 500 | 5 | $137,760 | $78,740 |
| Connecticut | $112,760 | $101,400 | 210 | 1 | $103,090 | $103,090 |
| Oklahoma | $111,010 | $89,980 | 80 | 1 | $116,820 | $116,820 |
| New Mexico | n/a | n/a | 120 | 1 | $103,770 | $103,770 |
| Iowa | $102,020 | $96,310 | 70 | 1 | $107,440 | $107,440 |
| Arizona | $99,420 | $79,610 | 340 | 2 | $120,630 | $83,420 |
| New Hampshire | $98,080 | $86,130 | 50 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Maine | $97,410 | $91,480 | 70 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Montana | $97,330 | $89,340 | 90 | 1 | $101,740 | $101,740 |
| Indiana | $96,780 | $80,750 | 80 | 1 | $130,110 | $130,110 |
| Nevada | $96,620 | $91,340 | 70 | 1 | $98,340 | $98,340 |
| Arkansas | $94,330 | $91,560 | 50 | 1 | $90,290 | $90,290 |
| Wisconsin | $91,630 | $84,000 | 280 | 2 | $97,510 | $82,420 |
| Hawaii | $89,520 | $83,050 | 50 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Louisiana | $89,010 | $73,050 | 140 | 2 | $97,000 | $96,400 |
| Nebraska | $86,280 | $75,880 | 90 | 1 | $73,020 | $73,020 |
| Kentucky | $83,920 | $71,400 | 100 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Puerto Rico | $72,570 | $70,750 | 100 | 1 | $72,570 | $72,570 |
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Economists salary in every city we cover
Sort by any column. Each city links to its pay range, take-home pay and cost of living.
| Metro area | Average | Median | Hourly | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | $184,860 | $176,090 | $88.87 | 850 |
| Washington, DC | $166,140 | $156,750 | $79.88 | 4,570 |
| Durham, NC | $159,310 | $152,130 | $76.59 | 120 |
| St. Louis, MO | $156,690 | $132,630 | $75.33 | 90 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $155,860 | $151,510 | $74.93 | 200 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $149,490 | $139,530 | $71.87 | 220 |
| Baltimore, MD | $147,800 | $152,730 | $71.06 | 110 |
| Riverside, CA | $145,870 | $117,920 | $70.13 | 40 |
| San Francisco, CA | $145,630 | $142,400 | $70.02 | 200 |
| San Diego, CA | $145,410 | $122,750 | $69.91 | 50 |
| Kansas City, MO | $141,470 | $128,520 | $68.01 | 150 |
| Charlotte, NC | $141,330 | $117,600 | $67.95 | 80 |
| Cleveland, OH | $139,600 | $105,340 | $67.11 | 50 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $137,760 | $136,990 | $66.23 | 30 |
| Richmond, VA | $137,150 | $112,330 | $65.94 | 120 |
| Boston, MA | $137,090 | $108,140 | $65.91 | 820 |
| Cincinnati, OH | $136,130 | $120,740 | $65.45 | 40 |
| Atlanta, GA | $132,880 | $122,570 | $63.89 | 220 |
| Austin, TX | $132,100 | $87,350 | $63.51 | 70 |
| Seattle, WA | $131,660 | $126,420 | $63.30 | 200 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | $131,430 | $128,960 | $63.19 | 50 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $130,110 | $138,260 | $62.55 | 30 |
| Anchorage, AK | $129,360 | $109,480 | $62.19 | 30 |
| Miami, FL | $129,000 | $118,030 | $62.02 | 110 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $128,880 | $122,980 | $61.96 | 90 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $127,990 | $107,030 | $61.53 | n/a |
| Fort Collins, CO | $127,170 | $121,410 | $61.14 | 40 |
| Denver, CO | $126,990 | $121,410 | $61.05 | 150 |
| Dallas, TX | $123,570 | $122,170 | $59.41 | 210 |
| Nashville, TN | $122,610 | $116,990 | $58.95 | 40 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $120,630 | $125,160 | $58.00 | 130 |
| Portland, OR | $119,740 | $122,120 | $57.57 | n/a |
| Salem, OR | $118,550 | $124,190 | $57.00 | 60 |
| Detroit, MI | $118,230 | $106,350 | $56.84 | 110 |
| Boulder, CO | $117,480 | $107,870 | $56.48 | 40 |
| Raleigh, NC | $116,990 | $96,030 | $56.25 | 40 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $116,820 | $108,620 | $56.16 | 30 |
| San Antonio, TX | $115,440 | $107,450 | $55.50 | 50 |
| Tampa, FL | $111,930 | $103,690 | $53.81 | 80 |
| Virginia Beach, VA | $109,300 | $103,600 | $52.55 | 50 |
| Amherst, MA | $108,010 | $94,030 | $51.93 | 40 |
| Des Moines, IA | $107,440 | $96,310 | $51.65 | 40 |
| Olympia, WA | $107,210 | $103,000 | $51.55 | 160 |
| Orlando, FL | $106,870 | $102,430 | $51.38 | n/a |
| Albuquerque, NM | $103,770 | $96,870 | $49.89 | 30 |
| Hartford, CT | $103,090 | $96,720 | $49.56 | 160 |
| Helena, MT | $101,740 | $89,340 | $48.92 | 30 |
| Sacramento, CA | $101,690 | $100,410 | $48.89 | 250 |
| Albany, NY | $101,340 | $99,200 | $48.72 | 90 |
| Worcester, MA | $99,860 | $99,990 | $48.01 | 50 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $98,340 | $93,830 | $47.28 | n/a |
| Lansing, MI | $97,700 | $88,320 | $46.97 | 40 |
| Madison, WI | $97,510 | $88,770 | $46.88 | 100 |
| New Orleans, LA | $97,000 | $75,510 | $46.63 | 40 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $96,400 | $74,580 | $46.35 | 50 |
| Little Rock, AR | $90,290 | $85,000 | $43.41 | 40 |
| Tucson, AZ | $83,420 | $79,610 | $40.11 | n/a |
| Milwaukee, WI | $82,420 | $76,900 | $39.63 | 100 |
| Harrisburg, PA | $82,020 | $80,010 | $39.43 | 170 |
| Tallahassee, FL | $78,740 | $70,430 | $37.86 | 50 |
| Lincoln, NE | $73,020 | $70,400 | $35.11 | 60 |
| San Juan, PR | $72,570 | $70,750 | $34.89 | 100 |
Related jobs
- Clinical and Counseling PsychologistsU.S. average $112,750
- School PsychologistsU.S. average $99,160
- Survey ResearchersU.S. average $79,580
- Urban and Regional PlannersU.S. average $94,750
- Anthropologists and ArcheologistsU.S. average $75,620
- HistoriansU.S. average $81,240
- Social Scientists and Related Workers, All OtherU.S. average $107,690
- Psychologists, All OtherU.S. average $111,210
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Economists salary: questions
Where do economists make the most money?
In New York, NY, with an average of $184,860 a year, among the 62 metro areas we cover.
What is the average economists salary in the U.S.?
$142,130 a year nationwide (BLS OEWS national estimates, May 2025); the median is $124,720, so half of economists earn more than that and half less.
What salary should economists ask for?
Start from the figures for your city: the middle half of economists nationwide earn between $89,330 (25th percentile) and $174,720 (75th percentile). Newer workers usually start near the 25th percentile and experienced ones can ask for the 75th; each city page shows the local range. See how to read salary percentiles.
Which state pays economists the most?
Washington, D.C., with a statewide average of $175,100 a year (BLS state estimates, May 2025).
Where is economists pay the lowest?
San Juan, PR, at $72,570 a year on average. Lower pay often comes with lower prices: check the cost of living on each city page.
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 19-3011.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.