Loading
Assembling your view…
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Real salary distribution from 288 tracked cities across 46 states. Compare entry-level, median, and senior compensation — then adjust for cost of living.
What a Economist actually takes home depends more on geography than you'd think. The national median salary for Economists in 2026 is $131,520, with entry-level positions averaging $94,694 and senior roles reaching $186,758. But those numbers flatten a reality with enormous geographic variation — Sunnyvale pays a median of $239,560, while other markets fall well below the national average. We tracked 288 cities to build the complete picture.
Economist falls within the Finance & Strategy sector, specifically in Business & Finance. The typical education path involves Master's or PhD. The career outlook? Growing. Work style is hybrid/remote — which means location flexibility varies, and so does the premium different markets are willing to pay. In the right market, this is a six-figure career path.
$145,770 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Economist in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $239,560 — $145,770 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($93,790). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. That salary-to-cost ratio is genuinely competitive.
The three-tier salary picture for Economists in 2026: $94,694 at entry (P10), $131,520 at midpoint, and $186,758 at the senior end (P90). Compare this to adjacent occupations, and the value of this career becomes clearer. The $92,064 range from bottom to top isn't just experience — it's geography, specialization, and industry mixed together. The median itself lands $51,153 above the national median household income of $80,367.
Entry-level numbers tell a different story: The top 3 paying cities (Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Irvine) average $223,740 — while the bottom 3 (Toledo, Detroit, Akron) average $94,543. That $129,197 gap means choosing the right city could be the equivalent of a major promotion. For early-career professionals, the geographic pay premium is worth the math.
A Economist in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $239,560 — $145,770 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($93,790). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
The national average entry-level (P10) salary for Economist is $94,694, while senior-level (P90) earners average $186,758. That $92,064 trajectory represents the earning growth a career in this field can deliver.
California pays the highest average median salary for Economists at $158,737 across 61 tracked cities. The gap between #1 and #5 (New Jersey at $139,555) is $19,182.
At the 90th percentile, Economists pull in an average of $186,758. In the top-paying markets, that figure climbs even higher — making this one of the more lucrative career trajectories in its field.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $94,694 | $131,520 | $186,758 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £52,994 | £73,603 | £104,516 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$72,735 | CA$101,020 | CA$143,449 |
| Australia | 13 | A$83,456 | A$115,911 | A$164,594 |
| Sweden | 24 | 494,037 kr | 686,162 kr | 974,351 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 61 | $114,291 | $158,737 | $225,407 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $110,446 | $153,398 | $217,825 |
| Hawaii | 1 | $109,836 | $152,550 | $216,621 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $101,700 | $141,250 | $200,575 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $100,480 | $139,555 | $198,168 |
| Washington | 8 | $98,547 | $136,871 | $194,357 |
| New York | 5 | $92,751 | $128,820 | $182,925 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $92,750 | $128,820 | $182,924 |
| Florida | 22 | $92,048 | $127,844 | $181,539 |
| Colorado | 11 | $90,457 | $125,635 | $178,402 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $90,310 | $125,430 | $178,111 |
| Nevada | 5 | $90,147 | $125,204 | $177,790 |
| Arizona | 12 | $89,699 | $124,583 | $176,907 |
| Oregon | 5 | $89,496 | $124,300 | $176,506 |
| Idaho | 3 | $89,225 | $123,923 | $175,971 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $88,520 | $122,944 | $174,580 |
| Utah | 4 | $88,276 | $122,605 | $174,099 |
| Virginia | 7 | $86,823 | $120,587 | $171,234 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $85,699 | $119,027 | $169,018 |
| Alaska | 1 | $85,428 | $118,650 | $168,483 |
| Illinois | 5 | $84,452 | $117,294 | $166,558 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $82,354 | $114,381 | $162,421 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $81,360 | $113,000 | $160,460 |
| Montana | 1 | $81,360 | $113,000 | $160,460 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $81,089 | $112,623 | $159,925 |
| Texas | 40 | $80,689 | $112,068 | $159,136 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $80,547 | $111,870 | $158,856 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $80,140 | $111,305 | $158,053 |
| Georgia | 6 | $79,868 | $110,928 | $157,518 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $79,733 | $110,740 | $157,251 |
| Kansas | 4 | $79,326 | $110,175 | $156,449 |
| Michigan | 6 | $79,055 | $109,798 | $155,914 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $78,106 | $108,480 | $154,042 |
| Maryland | 1 | $78,106 | $108,480 | $154,042 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $77,292 | $107,350 | $152,437 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $77,292 | $107,350 | $152,437 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $75,258 | $104,525 | $148,425 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $74,851 | $103,960 | $147,623 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $73,834 | $102,548 | $145,618 |
| Missouri | 4 | $73,834 | $102,548 | $145,617 |
| Alabama | 5 | $73,549 | $102,152 | $145,056 |
| Indiana | 3 | $72,410 | $100,570 | $142,809 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $72,410 | $100,570 | $142,809 |
| Iowa | 2 | $71,597 | $99,440 | $141,205 |
| Ohio | 6 | $71,461 | $99,252 | $140,937 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $68,342 | $94,920 | $134,786 |
The state salary map for Economists: California at $158,737, Massachusetts at $153,398, Hawaii at $152,550 lead the pack. The bottom tier — Mississippi ($94,920), Ohio ($99,252), Iowa ($99,440) — shows how regional economics reshape compensation. Across all 46 states with data, the state-level spread alone is $63,817.
When you adjust the top-paying cities for cost of living, the ranking reshuffles. Sunnyvale ($239,560 nominal, 212 cost index) delivers $113,000 in purchasing power — maintaining its lead even after cost adjustment. This is the metric that matters for anyone considering a geo-based career move.
Raw salary divided by the local cost index — this shows where your paycheck buys the most.
| # | City | Nominal Salary | Cost Index | Adjusted Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunnyvale California | $239,560 | 212 | $113,000 | $135,026 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $223,740 | 198 | $113,000 | $127,583 |
| 3 | Irvine California | $207,920 | 184 | $113,000 | $120,140 |
| 4 | San Francisco California | $204,530 | 181 | $113,000 | $118,545 |
| 5 | Carlsbad California | $201,140 | 178 | $113,000 | $116,950 |
| 6 | San Jose California | $200,010 | 177 | $113,000 | $116,418 |
| 7 | Fremont California | $200,010 | 177 | $113,000 | $116,418 |
| 8 | Berkeley California | $195,490 | 173 | $113,000 | $114,292 |
| 9 | Costa Mesa California | $195,490 | 173 | $113,000 | $114,292 |
| 10 | Huntington Beach California | $190,970 | 169 | $113,000 | $112,086 |
The $92,064 gap between P10 and P90 represents the earning trajectory of a Economist career. Senior-level earners make 2.0× what entry-level professionals do — a solid progression that justifies the upfront investment. In the Finance & Strategy sector, growing, which shapes both starting salaries and long-term ceiling.
The weighted national median salary for Economists is $131,520 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $94,694, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $186,758.
The highest-paying city for Economists is Sunnyvale, California with a median salary of $239,560. The top 3 cities are Sunnyvale ($239,560), Santa Clara ($223,740), Irvine ($207,920). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median Economist salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $93,790. However, lower-paying cities often have significantly lower costs of living, which can offset the pay gap. Always compare salary data alongside local cost of living.
Entry-level Economists (10th percentile) average $94,694 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $172,483. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Economists average $186,758 nationally — $92,064 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Economists can earn up to $340,175.
The top-paying states for Economists are California ($158,737 median), Massachusetts ($153,398 median), Hawaii ($152,550 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a Economist involves Master's or PhD. The field is in the Finance & Strategy sector (Business & Finance), and the career outlook is growing. Work style is typically hybrid/remote.
With a national median of $131,520 and representation across 288 metro areas, Economist offers above-average earning potential compared to national household income. The $92,064 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: growing.
All salary data on this page is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan areas. We present 10th percentile (entry), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use our core database of 288 cities.
Salary data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. We present the 10th percentile (entry-level), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks.
Cost-of-living adjustments use Livably's core index derived from Zillow rent data, Census income surveys, and regional BLS price data. Take-home pay estimates apply simplified federal brackets, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax rates from the Tax Foundation.
State and national averages are computed as simple means across all tracked cities with data for this occupation. Rankings are updated monthly as new BLS releases become available.