Economist salary in Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA
Economists in the Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA metro area earn a median of $80,010 a year ($38.47 an hour), based on BLS data for 170 workers.
Pay ranges from $56,410 for the lowest-paid 10% to $114,440 for the top 10%. That is 36% lower than the national median of $124,720. Pay here is 30% lower than the Pennsylvania statewide median of $115,000. There are 0.52 economists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 4.5× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $82,020, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for economists in Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $56,410 | $27.12 |
| 25th percentile | $63,150 | $30.36 |
| Median | $80,010 | $38.47 |
| 75th percentile | $93,830 | $45.11 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $114,440 | $55.02 |
| Average (mean) | $82,020 | $39.43 |
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 | $6,667.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,333.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,077.31 |
| Weekly | $1,538.65 |
| Hourly | $38.47 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $80,010 salary, see how much house you can afford in Pennsylvania 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $139,530 | 220 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $122,980 | 90 |
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 Pennsylvania statewide figures.
Related jobs in Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $84,860 | $40.80 |
| School Psychologist | $77,160 | $37.10 |
| Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other | $135,390 | $65.09 |
| Urban and Regional Planners | $97,600 | $46.92 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $84,410 | $40.58 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $82,220 | $39.53 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | $64,590 | $31.05 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $81,260 | $39.07 |
| Chemist | $73,670 | $35.42 |
| Biological Technician | $51,320 | $24.67 |
| Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health | $55,220 | $26.55 |
| Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers | $79,780 | $38.36 |
| Chemical Technician | $49,390 | $23.75 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Technicians | $61,340 | $29.49 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA
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 Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA?
The median salary for economists in the Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA metro area is $80,010 a year, or $38.47 an hour. Pay ranges from $56,410 for the lowest-paid 10% to $114,440 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid economists make in Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA?
The top 10% of economists in the Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA metro area earn at least $114,440 a year. The top 25% earn $93,830 or more.
What is the starting pay for economists in Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $56,410 a year, and a quarter of economists earn $63,150 or less.
How many economists work in Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA?
About 170 economists are employed in the Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA metro area, not counting the self-employed.