SOC 19-3011 · Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations

Economists

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025United States, all industries

U.S. median annual wage$124,720

U.S. median hourly wage$59.96

U.S. employment17,790

Nationally, economists earned a median of $124,720 per year as of the May 2025 OEWS estimates, across 17,790 jobs. Pay varies substantially by area — look up a specific state or metro below.

National pay distribution

Pay by state

Every state and territory with a published May 2025 estimate. “Not published” means BLS suppressed the value — it never means zero. Higher medians often track higher living costs; this is not a ranking of where the job is “best”.

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Economists: pay and employment by state
State
District of Columbia	$167,590	$80.57	3,000	4.3
New Jersey	$167,550	$80.55	280	0.1
Delaware	$159,120	$76.50	70	0.1
Maryland	$144,680	$69.56	1,130	0.4
Kansas	$138,790	$66.72	80	0.1
Virginia	$137,590	$66.15	950	0.2
New York	$136,660	$65.70	910	0.1
North Carolina	$136,150	$65.46	290	0.1
Idaho	$131,270	$63.11	130	0.2
Alabama	$129,960	$62.48	40	0.0
Georgia	$122,570	$58.93	260	0.1
Oregon	$122,120	$58.71	320	0.2
Texas	$121,420	$58.38	560	0.0
Colorado	$121,410	$58.37	240	0.1
Ohio	$120,000	$57.69	140	0.0
California	$119,410	$57.41	860	0.0
Tennessee	$117,650	$56.56	80	0.0
Missouri	$117,010	$56.26	280	0.1
Pennsylvania	$115,000	$55.29	560	0.1
Alaska	$111,040	$53.39	80	0.2
Washington	$109,300	$52.55	450	0.1
Massachusetts	$106,380	$51.14	1,030	0.3
Michigan	$106,350	$51.13	320	0.1
Minnesota	$105,120	$50.54	500	0.2
Florida	$102,430	$49.24	500	0.1
Connecticut	$101,400	$48.75	210	0.1
Iowa	$96,310	$46.30	70	0.0
Arkansas	$91,560	$44.02	50	0.0
Maine	$91,480	$43.98	70	0.1
Nevada	$91,340	$43.92	70	0.0
Oklahoma	$89,980	$43.26	80	0.0
Montana	$89,340	$42.95	90	0.2
New Hampshire	$86,130	$41.41	50	0.1
Wisconsin	$84,000	$40.39	280	0.1
Hawaii	$83,050	$39.93	50	0.1
Indiana	$80,750	$38.82	80	0.0
Arizona	$79,610	$38.28	340	0.1
Nebraska	$75,880	$36.48	90	0.1
Louisiana	$73,050	$35.12	140	0.1
Kentucky	$71,400	$34.33	100	0.0
Puerto Rico	$70,750	$34.02	100	0.1
New Mexico	Not published	Not published	120	0.1
Utah	Not published	Not published	50	0.0

Pay by metro area

All 65 metro areas where BLS publishes this occupation. Sort by median wage, employment, or local concentration — or see the highest-paying metros ranked.

Each dot is one metro area with a published median — hover any dot for the name and figure. Metros without published estimates are not drawn.

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Economists: pay and employment by metro area
Metro area
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ	$176,090	$84.66	850	0.1
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV	$156,750	$75.36	4,570	1.5
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD	$152,730	$73.43	110	0.1
Durham-Chapel Hill, NC	$152,130	$73.14	120	0.3
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	$151,510	$72.84	200	0.0
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	$142,400	$68.46	200	0.1
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD	$139,530	$67.08	220	0.1
Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN	$138,260	$66.47	30	0.0
Jacksonville, FL	$136,990	$65.86	30	0.0
St. Louis, MO-IL	$132,630	$63.77	90	0.1
Ann Arbor, MI	$128,960	$62.00	50	0.2
Kansas City, MO-KS	$128,520	$61.79	150	0.1
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	$126,420	$60.78	200	0.1
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ	$125,160	$60.17	130	0.1
Salem, OR	$124,190	$59.71	60	0.3
Pittsburgh, PA	$122,980	$59.13	90	0.1
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA	$122,750	$59.02	50	0.0
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA	$122,570	$58.93	220	0.1
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX	$122,170	$58.73	210	0.1
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA	$122,120	$58.71	Not published	Not published
Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO	$121,410	$58.37	150	0.1
Fort Collins-Loveland, CO	$121,410	$58.37	40	0.2
Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN	$120,740	$58.05	40	0.0
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL	$118,030	$56.74	110	0.0
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA	$117,920	$56.69	40	0.0
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC	$117,600	$56.54	80	0.1
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN	$116,990	$56.25	40	0.0
Richmond, VA	$112,330	$54.00	120	0.2
Anchorage, AK	$109,480	$52.64	30	0.2
Oklahoma City, OK	$108,620	$52.22	30	0.1
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH	$108,140	$51.99	820	0.3
Boulder, CO	$107,870	$51.86	40	0.2
San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX	$107,450	$51.66	50	0.0
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI	$107,030	$51.46	Not published	Not published
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI	$106,350	$51.13	110	0.1
Cleveland, OH	$105,340	$50.64	50	0.1
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL	$103,690	$49.85	80	0.1
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC	$103,600	$49.81	50	0.1
Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA	$103,000	$49.52	160	1.3
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL	$102,430	$49.24	Not published	Not published
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA	$100,410	$48.27	250	0.2
Worcester, MA	$99,990	$48.07	50	0.1
Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY	$99,200	$47.69	90	0.2
Albuquerque, NM	$96,870	$46.57	30	0.1
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT	$96,720	$46.50	160	0.3
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA	$96,310	$46.30	40	0.1
Raleigh-Cary, NC	$96,030	$46.17	40	0.1
Amherst Town-Northampton, MA	$94,030	$45.21	40	0.5
Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV	$93,830	$45.11	Not published	Not published
Helena, MT	$89,340	$42.95	30	0.7
Madison, WI	$88,770	$42.68	100	0.2
Lansing-East Lansing, MI	$88,320	$42.46	40	0.2
Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX	$87,350	$41.99	70	0.1
Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR	$85,000	$40.86	40	0.1
Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA	$80,010	$38.47	170	0.5
Tucson, AZ	$79,610	$38.28	Not published	Not published
Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI	$76,900	$36.97	100	0.1
New Orleans-Metairie, LA	$75,510	$36.31	40	0.1
Baton Rouge, LA	$74,580	$35.86	50	0.1
San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR	$70,750	$34.02	100	0.1
Tallahassee, FL	$70,430	$33.86	50	0.3
Lincoln, NE	$70,400	$33.85	60	0.4
Boise City, ID	Not published	Not published	60	0.2
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX	Not published	Not published	120	0.0
Salt Lake City-Murray, UT	Not published	Not published	30	0.0

About this data. Estimates are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 release, retrieved from bls.gov/oes/tables.htm on July 24, 2026. OEWS estimates describe metropolitan/nonmetropolitan areas and states — not city limits — and are not designed for year-over-year comparisons. See BLS methodology, our plain-English methodology, and sources. CitySalaryData is independent and not affiliated with BLS.