All careersEngineering & science

Economist

$115,440
median pay per year
full range coming in the next data update

What the job actually is

Study how people, businesses, and governments use resources, and analyze data to forecast trends.

Where you work

Government, research, and corporate offices.

The hours

Regular full-time weekday schedule

By the numbers

May 2024–25 BLS wage data · 2024–34 BLS employment projections.

Median pay
$115,440
per year
What most earn
range coming soon
Openings a year
~900
projected, 2024–34
Outlook to 2034
+1%
Little change
Working in the U.S.
17,600
people, nationwide

Openings a year counts new jobs plus the ones that open when people retire or move on — a truer picture of your odds than growth alone.

“Median” means half earn more and half earn less. Your city, employer, and years on the job move it a lot — that is what the 10th-to-90th range shows.

How you get in

Typical starting education

Master's degree

Training path: Master's degree.

License or certification

No license required to start in most places.

What it takes

Data analysisStatisticsModelingReport writing

The honest take

Strong pay for those who make it in, but a small field that leans on graduate credentials.

Standard Occupational Classification 19-3011. Pay, employment, and outlook from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS wage survey and 2024–34 employment projections). See something off? Tell us.