Economist salary in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH
Economists in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area earn a median of $108,140 a year ($51.99 an hour), based on BLS data for 820 workers.
Pay ranges from $74,080 for the lowest-paid 10% to $227,210 for the top 10%. That is 13% lower than the national median of $124,720. Pay here is 2% higher than the Massachusetts statewide median of $106,380. There are 0.30 economists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.6× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $137,090, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for economists in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $74,080 | $35.62 |
| 25th percentile | $91,270 | $43.88 |
| Median | $108,140 | $51.99 |
| 75th percentile | $161,740 | $77.76 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $227,210 | $109.24 |
| Average (mean) | $137,090 | $65.91 |
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 | $9,011.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,505.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,159.23 |
| Weekly | $2,079.62 |
| Hourly | $51.99 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $108,140 salary, see how much house you can afford in Massachusetts 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Worcester, MA | $99,990 | 50 |
| Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | $94,030 | 40 |
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 Massachusetts statewide figures.
Related jobs in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| School Psychologist | $98,670 | $47.44 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $121,270 | $58.30 |
| Urban and Regional Planners | $103,460 | $49.74 |
| Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other | $105,670 | $50.81 |
| Psychologists, All Other | $112,900 | $54.28 |
| Sociologist | $106,530 | $51.22 |
| Political Scientist | $133,930 | $64.39 |
| Survey Researcher | $74,890 | $36.01 |
| Anthropologists and Archeologists | $117,080 | $56.29 |
| Historian | $121,710 | $58.51 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $129,500 | $62.26 |
| Biochemists and Biophysicists | $131,550 | $63.25 |
| Biological Technician | $61,610 | $29.62 |
| Chemist | $127,290 | $61.20 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH
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 Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH?
The median salary for economists in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area is $108,140 a year, or $51.99 an hour. Pay ranges from $74,080 for the lowest-paid 10% to $227,210 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid economists make in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH?
The top 10% of economists in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area earn at least $227,210 a year. The top 25% earn $161,740 or more.
What is the starting pay for economists in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $74,080 a year, and a quarter of economists earn $91,270 or less.
How many economists work in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH?
About 820 economists are employed in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, not counting the self-employed.