Economist salary in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
Economists in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn a median of $151,510 a year ($72.84 an hour), based on BLS data for 200 workers.
Pay ranges from $84,880 for the lowest-paid 10% to $257,000 for the top 10%. That is 21% higher than the national median of $124,720. Pay here is 27% higher than the California statewide median of $119,410. There are 0.03 economists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.28). The average (mean) salary is $155,860, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for economists in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $84,880 | $40.81 |
| 25th percentile | $108,730 | $52.28 |
| Median | $151,510 | $72.84 |
| 75th percentile | $183,890 | $88.41 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $257,000 | $123.56 |
| Average (mean) | $155,860 | $74.93 |
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 | $12,625.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $6,312.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,827.31 |
| Weekly | $2,913.65 |
| Hourly | $72.84 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $151,510 salary, see how much house you can afford in California 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 |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $142,400 | 200 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $122,750 | 50 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $117,920 | 40 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $100,410 | 250 |
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 California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $99,250 | $47.72 |
| School Psychologist | $122,390 | $58.84 |
| Urban and Regional Planners | $111,380 | $53.55 |
| Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other | $100,550 | $48.34 |
| Survey Researcher | $83,520 | $40.16 |
| Anthropologists and Archeologists | $65,240 | $31.37 |
| Psychologists, All Other | $153,630 | $73.86 |
| Sociologist | $124,540 | $59.87 |
| Historian | $98,210 | $47.22 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $134,890 | $64.85 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $102,610 | $49.33 |
| Chemist | $87,060 | $41.86 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $105,340 | $50.64 |
| Chemical Technician | $58,070 | $27.92 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
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 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA?
The median salary for economists in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $151,510 a year, or $72.84 an hour. Pay ranges from $84,880 for the lowest-paid 10% to $257,000 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid economists make in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA?
The top 10% of economists in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn at least $257,000 a year. The top 25% earn $183,890 or more.
What is the starting pay for economists in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $84,880 a year, and a quarter of economists earn $108,730 or less.
How many economists work in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA?
About 200 economists are employed in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.