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- Resources for Students
- Careers in economics
Career earnings
What economists can expect to earn in different fields.
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook (online in 2023) reports annual wages for economists. For economists of all educational levels, the median earnings in 2023 were $115,730 with $62,520 at the tenth percentile and $216,900 at the 90th percentile.
Median Annual Wages for Economists in May 2023 in the Top Five Industries Employing Economists (from the Occupation Outlook Handbook )
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook , Economists. (Visited May 23, 2024).
Payscale.com reports its survey of people with Baccalaureate degrees (and no more) who are employed full time, showing starting salaries (typically with two-years of experience) and mid-career annual earnings. Here are selected occupations for the 2023 report.
Source: Majors That Pay You Back, Payscale.com
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