Economists: salary, outlook & degrees
Conduct research, prepare reports, or formulate plans to address economic problems related to the production and distribution of goods and services or monetary and fiscal policy. May collect and process economic and statistical data using sampling techniques and econometric methods.
Middle half $89,330–$174,720. 17,790 jobs.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
100% hold a bachelor's or higher. Those with one: $106,133.
Census ACS 2020-2024 microdata, workers with at least a high school diploma; EducationGuide calculation
About 1,100 openings a year, including replacements.
BLS Employment Projections 2025-35
Extensive preparation (usually a graduate degree).
BLS; O*NET 31.0 job zone
Degrees that lead to this career
What workers ages 25-34 in this job studied, among those with a bachelor's or higher. This is what people actually did, not a requirement.
| Field of bachelor's degree | Share | Degree pages |
|---|---|---|
| Economics | 40% | Economics |
| Finance | 7% | Finance · Insurance |
| Political Science And Government | 5% | Political Science |
| Mathematics | 3% | Mathematics |
| Communications | 3% | Communications · Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other |
| Architecture | 3% | Architecture · Architectural Sciences and Technology |
| Biology | 3% | Biology |
| Chemistry | 2% | Chemistry |
| Accounting | 2% | Accounting |
| General Business | 2% | Business |
Census ACS 2020-2024 microdata (ages 25-34, employed, bachelor's or higher; top 10 fields); EducationGuide calculation.
Education workers say the job requires
O*NET 31.0 survey of workers (“required level of education”); small samples, so treat shares as approximate.
Pay by state and metro
| State | Median wage |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $167,590 |
| New Jersey | $167,550 |
| Delaware | $159,120 |
| Maryland | $144,680 |
| Kansas | $138,790 |
| Virginia | $137,590 |
| New York | $136,660 |
| North Carolina | $136,150 |
| Idaho | $131,270 |
| Alabama | $129,960 |
| Georgia | $122,570 |
| Oregon | $122,120 |
| Texas | $121,420 |
| Colorado | $121,410 |
| Ohio | $120,000 |
| California | $119,410 |
| Tennessee | $117,650 |
| Missouri | $117,010 |
| Pennsylvania | $115,000 |
| Alaska | $111,040 |
| Washington | $109,300 |
| Massachusetts | $106,380 |
| Michigan | $106,350 |
| Minnesota | $105,120 |
| Florida | $102,430 |
| Connecticut | $101,400 |
| Iowa | $96,310 |
| Arkansas | $91,560 |
| Maine | $91,480 |
| Nevada | $91,340 |
| Oklahoma | $89,980 |
| Montana | $89,340 |
| New Hampshire | $86,130 |
| Wisconsin | $84,000 |
| Hawaii | $83,050 |
| Indiana | $80,750 |
| Arizona | $79,610 |
| Nebraska | $75,880 |
| Louisiana | $73,050 |
| Kentucky | $71,400 |
| PR | $70,750 |
Florida metro areas
- Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach$118,030
- Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater$103,690
- Tallahassee$70,430
- Jacksonville$136,990
- Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford$102,430
Virginia metro areas
- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria$156,750
- Richmond$112,330
- Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk$103,600
California metro areas
- Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom$100,410
- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim$151,510
- San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont$142,400
- San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad$122,750
- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario$117,920
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025: median annual wage, all workers in the job. Metro areas: the largest by employment.
What the work takes
Top skills
- Reading Comprehension
- Mathematics
- Critical Thinking
- Active Listening
- Writing
Knowledge used
- Mathematics
- Economics and Accounting
- English Language
- Computers and Electronics
- Education and Training
Work styles
- Intellectual Curiosity
- Attention to Detail
- Achievement Orientation
- Dependability
- Integrity
People in this job tend to have Investigative (analytical), Conventional (organizing), Enterprising (leading) interests.
O*NET 31.0 (U.S. Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0): skills and knowledge by importance; work styles; interest high points.
Economists: questions
How much do economists make?
Economists earn a U.S. median $124,720 a year; the middle half earn $89,330 to $174,720 (BLS, May 2025). Workers ages 25-34 in this job earn a median $106,133 (Census ACS 2020-2024).
Is economists a growing field?
BLS projects growth of 4.7% from 2025 to 2035, with about 1,100 openings a year, including replacements.
What degree do you need to be an economist?
BLS lists the typical entry education as master's degree. In O*NET's survey, 100% of workers say a bachelor's or higher is required. Among workers ages 25-34 with a bachelor's, the most common field of degree is economics (40%).
How much do economists make in Florida?
The median in Florida is $102,430 a year (BLS, May 2025), compared with $124,720 nationally.
Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35); O*NET 31.0 (U.S. Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0); U.S. Census Bureau ACS microdata. SOC 19-3011. Method
Data: JSON · Markdown · all careers
Cite this: “Economists: salary, outlook and degrees,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/careers/economists.