SOC 19-3011 · Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations
Economists wages by metro
National median annual wage
$124,720
- 10th percentile
- $67,360
- 25th percentile
- $89,330
- Median
- $124,720
- 75th percentile
- $174,720
- 90th percentile
- $238,060
- Mean
- $142,130
Annual wage from the May 2025 OEWS estimates.
National employment in May 2025: 17,790.
That median is 144.6% higher than the all-occupations national median of $50,980.
The metro and state figures below are the same May 2025 release. A blank wage means BLS did not publish it. See when a wage is not published.
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Highest published medians
| Occupation | Employment | 10th | Median | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 850 | $86,930 | $176,090 | $297,870 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 4,570 | $93,440 | $156,750 | $259,290 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 110 | $80,630 | $152,730 | $195,190 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | 120 | $81,700 | $152,130 | $224,270 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 200 | $84,880 | $151,510 | $257,000 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 200 | $82,670 | $142,400 | $213,980 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 220 | $81,470 | $139,530 | $214,000 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | 30 | $67,360 | $138,260 | $170,280 |
| Jacksonville, FL | 30 | $66,510 | $136,990 | $217,110 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | 90 | $75,800 | $132,630 | $296,630 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | 50 | $86,610 | $128,960 | $174,910 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | 150 | $84,150 | $128,520 | $209,570 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 200 | $80,320 | $126,420 | $181,940 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 130 | $75,000 | $125,160 | $169,260 |
| Salem, OR | 60 | $85,150 | $124,190 | $136,990 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 90 | $79,410 | $122,980 | $171,620 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 50 | $87,110 | $122,750 | $278,090 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 220 | $81,880 | $122,570 | $187,330 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 210 | $68,640 | $122,170 | $179,030 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | Not available | $82,780 | $122,120 | $153,150 |
Where employment is largest
| Occupation | Employment | 10th | Median | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 4,570 | $93,440 | $156,750 | $259,290 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 850 | $86,930 | $176,090 | $297,870 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 820 | $74,080 | $108,140 | $227,210 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 250 | $63,960 | $100,410 | $138,150 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 220 | $81,880 | $122,570 | $187,330 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 220 | $81,470 | $139,530 | $214,000 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 210 | $68,640 | $122,170 | $179,030 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 200 | $84,880 | $151,510 | $257,000 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 200 | $82,670 | $142,400 | $213,980 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 200 | $80,320 | $126,420 | $181,940 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | 170 | $56,410 | $80,010 | $114,440 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | 160 | $74,740 | $96,720 | $131,020 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | 160 | $88,790 | $103,000 | $134,590 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 150 | $73,450 | $121,410 | $195,190 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | 150 | $84,150 | $128,520 | $209,570 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 130 | $75,000 | $125,160 | $169,260 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | 120 | $81,700 | $152,130 | $224,270 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 120 | Not available | Not available | Not available |
| Richmond, VA | 120 | $77,220 | $112,330 | $267,110 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 110 | $80,630 | $152,730 | $195,190 |
States and territories
| Occupation | Employment | 10th | Median | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | 3,000 | $98,350 | $167,590 | $299,110 |
| New Jersey | 280 | $83,990 | $167,550 | $195,190 |
| Delaware | 70 | $74,690 | $159,120 | $214,000 |
| Maryland | 1,130 | $93,710 | $144,680 | $195,190 |
| Kansas | 80 | $67,610 | $138,790 | $238,990 |
| Virginia | 950 | $74,600 | $137,590 | $232,410 |
| New York | 910 | $82,130 | $136,660 | $292,850 |
| North Carolina | 290 | $35,460 | $136,150 | $224,270 |
| Idaho | 130 | $55,180 | $131,270 | $173,560 |
| Alabama | 40 | $74,520 | $129,960 | $175,170 |
| Georgia | 260 | $78,190 | $122,570 | $187,330 |
| Oregon | 320 | $81,620 | $122,120 | $147,600 |
| Texas | 560 | $66,760 | $121,420 | $219,140 |
| Colorado | 240 | $73,450 | $121,410 | $193,480 |
| Ohio | 140 | $69,770 | $120,000 | $216,920 |
| California | 860 | $74,030 | $119,410 | $207,380 |
| Tennessee | 80 | $83,610 | $117,650 | $162,670 |
| Missouri | 280 | $73,260 | $117,010 | $229,510 |
| Pennsylvania | 560 | $64,500 | $115,000 | $164,650 |
| Alaska | 80 | $80,110 | $111,040 | $141,270 |
| Washington | 450 | $80,320 | $109,300 | $167,960 |
| Massachusetts | 1,030 | $74,080 | $106,380 | $222,610 |
| Michigan | 320 | $72,860 | $106,350 | $178,170 |
| Minnesota | 500 | $58,380 | $105,120 | $197,870 |
| Florida | 500 | $65,850 | $102,430 | $174,900 |
| Connecticut | 210 | $74,740 | $101,400 | $166,060 |
| Iowa | 70 | $59,980 | $96,310 | $144,750 |
| Arkansas | 50 | $55,130 | $91,560 | $136,990 |
| Maine | 70 | $69,140 | $91,480 | $132,950 |
| Nevada | 70 | $70,960 | $91,340 | $128,420 |
| Oklahoma | 80 | $67,490 | $89,980 | $171,650 |
| Montana | 90 | $69,850 | $89,340 | $116,210 |
| New Hampshire | 50 | $60,080 | $86,130 | $157,110 |
| Wisconsin | 280 | $53,340 | $84,000 | $132,270 |
| Hawaii | 50 | $66,370 | $83,050 | $120,270 |
| Indiana | 80 | $47,350 | $80,750 | $163,380 |
| Arizona | 340 | $75,000 | $79,610 | $138,990 |
| Nebraska | 90 | $45,000 | $75,880 | $135,300 |
| Louisiana | 140 | $60,680 | $73,050 | $136,970 |
| Kentucky | 100 | $59,810 | $71,400 | $124,380 |
| Puerto Rico | 100 | $51,050 | $70,750 | $85,630 |
| New Mexico | 120 | Not available | Not available | Not available |
| Utah | 50 | Not available | Not available | Not available |
Other life, physical, and social science occupations
- Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists
- Occupational Health and Safety Specialists
- Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health
- Chemists
- Clinical and Counseling Psychologists
- Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other
- Biological Technicians
- School Psychologists
Questions this page answers
What is the national median wage for Economists?
In the May 2025 OEWS estimates, the national median annual wage for Economists is $124,720. Employment is 17,790.
How does Economists pay compare with all occupations?
The national median for Economists is 144.6% higher than the all-occupations median of $50,980.
Which metro has the highest published median for Economists?
Among metros with a published annual median in the May 2025 tables, New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ is highest on this page's list at $176,090.