How much does an Economist make?

Updated Sep 15, 2022

Experience

Industry

$99,153 / yrTotal Pay
$82,581 / yrBase Pay
$16,572 / yrAdditional Pay

$99,153

 / yr
$58K$176K
Most Likely Range
Possible Range

The estimated total pay for a Economist is $99,153 per year in the United States area, with an average salary of $82,581 per year. These numbers represent the median, which is the midpoint of the ranges from our proprietary Total Pay Estimate model and based on salaries collected from our users. The estimated additional pay is $16,572 per year. Additional pay could include cash bonus, commission, tips, and profit sharing. The "Most Likely Range" represents values that exist within the 25th and 75th percentile of all pay data available for this role.

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Total Pay Trajectory

For Economist

$99,153 /yr
Economist
$85,306 /yr
Economist II
$131,215 /yr
Senior Economist
See Full Career Path

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Top Paying Companies

For an Economist in United States

Below is the total pay for the top 10 highest paying companies for an Economist in United States. Employers include IFC, Baker McKenzie and DLA Piper.

1
IFC
$229,878/yr
8
BBVA
$154,418/yr
9
$154,401/yr
Total Pay Trajectory

For Economist

$99,153 /yr
Economist
$85,306 /yr
Economist II
$131,215 /yr
Senior Economist

Download as data table

What are total pay estimates for an Economist at different companies?

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Company
Jobs
Total Pay Range
US Bureau of Labor Statistics
4.4
EconomistSee 247 salaries from all locations

$97,760

 / yr

$115,898

 / yr

$137,921

 / yr

$107,332

 / yr

$170,728

 / yr

$101,481

 / yr

$159,351

 / yr

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$151,325

 / yr

$111,218

 / yr

$91,543

 / yr

$124,277

 / yr

$111,455

 / yr

$110,933

 / yr

$107,226

 / yr

$108,233

 / yr

$113,755

 / yr

$106,874

 / yr

$126,103

 / yr

$114,123

 / yr

$110,664

 / yr
Download as data table
Viewing 1 - 20 of 800

Top Paying Industries

For an Economist in United States

The top 5 paying industries for an Economist in United States are Legal with a median total pay of $181,653, Information Technology with a median total pay of $170,728, Financial Services with a median total pay of $137,998, Energy, Mining & Utilities with a median total pay of $135,196, and Restaurants & Food Service with a median total pay of $130,024.

IndustryTotal PayTotal Pay Insight
  • LegalLegal$181,653

    38% Higher than other industries

  • Information TechnologyInformation Technology$170,728

    34% Higher than other industries

  • Financial ServicesFinancial Services$137,998

    19% Higher than other industries

  • Energy, Mining & UtilitiesEnergy, Mining & Utilities$135,196

    17% Higher than other industries

  • Restaurants & Food ServiceRestaurants & Food Service$130,024

    14% Higher than other industries

Legal

Top paying companies in Legal for Economist are Baker McKenzie and DLA Piper.

Baker McKenzieBaker McKenzie$185,953/yr
DLA PiperDLA Piper$177,353/yr

Glassdoor Economist Pay Overview

What is the pay outlook for Finance & Accounting?

Jobs in finance and accounting are expected to see continued demand, with employment growth linked to the health of the broader economy. These jobs will continue to offer above average pay but usually require higher education or certification to enter the field. While automation will replace many common tasks, it is not expected to reduce the need for these employees; it will instead allow them to focus on core soft skills like advising clients and analyzing trends.

Recent Salaries Shared

For economist

Salary Share
Anonymously share your pay to help the community

Job Title

Location

Total Pay

Base Pay | Additional Pay

Total Years of Experience

Years at Recent Employer

Submitted

Date or Time

Economist

United States of America

 | 4-6 years

$112,000

/yr

Submitted Yesterday

4-6 years
Yesterday
Economist

United States of America

 | 1-3 years

$90,000

/yr

Submitted Yesterday

1-3 years
Yesterday
Financial Economist

United States of America

 | 1-3 years

$190,000

/yr

Submitted 2 days ago

1-3 years
2 days ago
Economic Analyst

United States of America

 | 1-3 years

$50,000

/yr

Submitted 2 days ago

1-3 years
2 days ago
Economist

United States of America

 | 1-3 years

$34

/hr

Submitted 2 days ago

1-3 years
2 days ago
Economic Consultant

United States of America

 | 1-3 years

$60,000

/yr

Submitted 2 days ago

1-3 years
2 days ago
Economist

United States of America

 | 1-3 years

$48,000

/yr

Submitted 2 days ago

1-3 years
2 days ago
Economic Officer

United States of America

 | 1-3 years

$130,000

/yr

Submitted 2 days ago

1-3 years
2 days ago
Economist

United States of America

 | 4-6 years

$90,400

/yr

Submitted 2 days ago

4-6 years
2 days ago

Economist pay FAQ

The national average salary for an Economist is $82,581 per year in United States. Filter by location to see an Economist salaries in your area. Salaries estimates are based on 2521 salaries submitted anonymously to Glassdoor by an Economist employees.

The highest salary for an Economist in United States is $145,375 per year.

The lowest salary for an Economist in United States is $47,897 per year.

If you are thinking of becoming an Economist or planning the next step in your career, find details about the role, the career path and salary trajectory of an Economist.

Economists often earn six-figure salaries. This high pay reflects their relatively unique and in-demand skillset. Economists employed by the finance industry typically earn the highest pay, sometimes reaching into the seven-figure range. Economists employed by academic institutions enjoy high job security and intellectual freedom once they are tenured. Economists can frequently raise their total pay by finding freelance consulting opportunities.

Powered by Glassdoor Economic Research

Join thousands of real professionals anonymously talking about salaries in their industry

Glassdoor data reveals that around 75% of economists feel happy with the amount they make. If you want your salary to qualify as a good one, getting a bachelor's or master's degree, spending 2-4 years in the role, and additional pay of $16,571.80 may help.

Join thousands of real professionals anonymously talking about salaries in their industry

An economist's salary over time varies a lot, depending on the setting in which you work, your level of education, and your career path. Typically, you can expect to make between $175,701.10 and $57,508.48, with an average salary of $82,580.75. After bonuses and commission, this should be around $99,152.55. About 2-4 years of industry experience will qualify you to apply for senior economist roles.

Learn more about negotiating salaries from thousands of other real professionals

If you want to make more money as an economist, here's what you should do. First, consider your education. Get a bachelor's degree in economics, ideally one that allows you to focus on any areas of interest, such as international economics or fiscal policy. A master's degree or doctoral degree will make you a stronger candidate for some roles. Second, ensure your data compilation, chart production, and economic analysis skills are up to scratch and you stay up-to-date on world news and industry developments. If you want to work abroad, a foreign language is a must-have. Finally, spend time networking with peers and potential employers.

Whether you've just started browsing [economist jobs](ttps://www.glassdoor.com/Job/economist-jobs-SRCH_KO0,9.htm) or want a raise in your current job, it's important to know how to negotiate a salary. Write down all your arguments before negotiating. You should list every reason you deserve a higher salary. Why are you the best candidate for a role? Why do you deserve more than when you started in your current job? This could be new experiences you've had, courses you've taken, or new skills you've learned. If you're not sure how much to ask for, browse job listings or speak to friends and figure out what others with your level of education and experience are making.