Economist salary in North Carolina
Economists in North Carolina earn a median of $136,150 a year ($65.46 an hour), based on BLS data for 290 workers.
Pay ranges from $35,460 for the lowest-paid 10% to $224,270 for the top 10%. That is 9% higher than the national median of $124,720. North Carolina ranks 8th of 40 states for economists pay. There are 0.06 economists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.52). The average (mean) salary is $136,220, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for economists in North Carolina
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,460 | $17.05 |
| 25th percentile | $79,790 | $38.36 |
| Median | $136,150 | $65.46 |
| 75th percentile | $172,860 | $83.11 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $224,270 | $107.82 |
| Average (mean) | $136,220 | $65.49 |
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 | $11,345.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,672.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,236.54 |
| Weekly | $2,618.27 |
| Hourly | $65.46 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $136,150 salary, see how much house you can afford in North Carolina at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Economist salary in cities in North Carolina
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $152,130 | 120 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $117,600 | 80 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $103,600 | 50 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $96,030 | 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 |
Related jobs in North Carolina
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $92,130 | $44.29 |
| Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other | $81,420 | $39.15 |
| Urban and Regional Planners | $81,230 | $39.06 |
| School Psychologist | $73,220 | $35.20 |
| Psychologists, All Other | $126,440 | $60.79 |
| Survey Researcher | $96,560 | $46.43 |
| Anthropologists and Archeologists | $73,130 | $35.16 |
| Sociologist | $126,760 | $60.94 |
| Historian | $73,440 | $35.31 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $102,980 | $49.51 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $86,650 | $41.66 |
| Chemist | $82,620 | $39.72 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $74,130 | $35.64 |
| Social Science Research Assistant | $63,710 | $30.63 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in North Carolina
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 North Carolina?
The median salary for economists in North Carolina is $136,150 a year, or $65.46 an hour. Pay ranges from $35,460 for the lowest-paid 10% to $224,270 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid economists make in North Carolina?
The top 10% of economists in North Carolina earn at least $224,270 a year. The top 25% earn $172,860 or more.
What is the starting pay for economists in North Carolina?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $35,460 a year, and a quarter of economists earn $79,790 or less.
How many economists work in North Carolina?
About 290 economists are employed in North Carolina, not counting the self-employed.