Economist salary in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD
Economists in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area earn a median of $152,730 a year ($73.43 an hour), based on BLS data for 110 workers.
Pay ranges from $80,630 for the lowest-paid 10% to $195,190 for the top 10%. That is 22% higher than the national median of $124,720. Pay here is 6% higher than the Maryland statewide median of $144,680. There are 0.08 economists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.71). The average (mean) salary is $147,800, close to the median.
Pay range for economists in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $80,630 | $38.76 |
| 25th percentile | $109,200 | $52.50 |
| Median | $152,730 | $73.43 |
| 75th percentile | $175,720 | $84.48 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $195,190 | $93.84 |
| Average (mean) | $147,800 | $71.06 |
Half of economists earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $12,727.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $6,363.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,874.23 |
| Weekly | $2,937.12 |
| Hourly | $73.43 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $152,730 salary, see how much house you can afford in Maryland at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Economist salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $156,750 | 4,570 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $139,530 | 220 |
Highest-paying states for economists
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $167,590 |
| New Jersey | $167,550 |
| Delaware | $159,120 |
| Maryland | $144,680 |
| Kansas | $138,790 |
| Virginia | $137,590 |
| New York | $136,660 |
| North Carolina | $136,150 |
| Idaho | $131,270 |
| Alabama | $129,960 |
See Economist pay in every state or the Maryland statewide figures.
Related jobs in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other | $124,590 | $59.90 |
| School Psychologist | $114,520 | $55.06 |
| Urban and Regional Planners | $84,000 | $40.39 |
| Psychologists, All Other | $96,220 | $46.26 |
| Geographer | $104,770 | $50.37 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $88,980 | $42.78 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | $63,560 | $30.56 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $83,440 | $40.11 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $83,720 | $40.25 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $111,530 | $53.62 |
| Chemist | $118,880 | $57.16 |
| Physical Scientists, All Other | $108,160 | $52.00 |
| Forensic Science Technician | $81,780 | $39.32 |
| Chemical Technician | $43,080 | $20.71 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 19-3011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a economist make in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD?
The median salary for economists in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area is $152,730 a year, or $73.43 an hour. Pay ranges from $80,630 for the lowest-paid 10% to $195,190 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid economists make in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD?
The top 10% of economists in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area earn at least $195,190 a year. The top 25% earn $175,720 or more.
What is the starting pay for economists in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $80,630 a year, and a quarter of economists earn $109,200 or less.
How many economists work in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD?
About 110 economists are employed in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area, not counting the self-employed.